Do any of the books on Red Eagle pistols discuss why Ruger made the changes they did to the series. What caused them to go to 5 groove rifling (versoion 1A) and then go back to 6 groove rifling on version 2. The recoil spring support on the version 2 seems obvious but what was the malfunction or degradation they were experiencing to cause the change.
There is plenty of info on serial numbers and dates for the changes and the change description but I don't see the underlying reason.
I appreciate any comments. Opinions are ok, but would like to find something in writing. Thanks
Steve Vaughn
Red Eagle pistols
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outta_ammo
- Posts: 37
- Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
- Location: Oregon
Re: Red Eagle pistols
The best reference that I'm aware of (and own) is 'Encyclopedia of Ruger Semi-Automatic Rimfire Pistols, 1949-1992' by Chad Hiddleson. I don't know that it covers every "why" of the changes but it is the most detailed book on the Standard Model through Mark IIs.
https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Sem ... 152&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Sem ... 152&sr=1-1
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Watertender
- Posts: 1053
- Joined: Tue Sep 08, 2015 3:42 pm
Re: Red Eagle pistols
Perhaps the change in the rifling is because Ruger bought barrel stock from Marlin for the first run of pistols and that happened to be how it was rifled. I believe the stock was 24 inches long.
The support on the recoil spring rod was added to stabilize the bolt and prevent the ears on the back of rod from breaking. The entire bolt was replaced on the pistols sent back for repair of the recoil spring rod.
John Dougan's book about the first 10 years of Ruger goes into detail about some of the changes in the early pistols.
The support on the recoil spring rod was added to stabilize the bolt and prevent the ears on the back of rod from breaking. The entire bolt was replaced on the pistols sent back for repair of the recoil spring rod.
John Dougan's book about the first 10 years of Ruger goes into detail about some of the changes in the early pistols.
Some people sit on $.05 of knowledge like it is the treasure of Egypt. I will teach anyone $.10 worth just to prove a point...
Re: Red Eagle pistols
The changes were made to the early red eagles either for cost consideration or common sense aesthetic/practicality reasons.
The safety button small to large so you could work it easier.
The rear sight from small square dovetail to contoured for aesthetics as well as keeping your palm/hand from getting chewed up.
a blued bolt probably because the blued rear end offered better protection from rust.
Losing the silver colored grip screw escutcheons for cost purposes.
ejection port from square to contoured ends for aesthetics.
rounded muzzle crown to flat muzzle crown... probably because it was easiest just to lop off the end of the barrel.
They made an internal change on the hammer as well... early hammers have a spring washer that is assembled to the side of the hammer I suppose to keep "wobble" off of the hammer when firing. So some smart guy decided to just start casting (?) the hammers with a round washer sized plateau of metal on that side of the hammer.
Don Findley has a slip of paper that shows a handwritten accounting by the penny of WBR's cost to produce the .22 pistol. His days at Ruger Corp and building tools probably made him start scrunching his numbers a little tighter.... hence, WBR's ability to keep costs lower than Colt and High Standard competitve models.
Chet15
The safety button small to large so you could work it easier.
The rear sight from small square dovetail to contoured for aesthetics as well as keeping your palm/hand from getting chewed up.
a blued bolt probably because the blued rear end offered better protection from rust.
Losing the silver colored grip screw escutcheons for cost purposes.
ejection port from square to contoured ends for aesthetics.
rounded muzzle crown to flat muzzle crown... probably because it was easiest just to lop off the end of the barrel.
They made an internal change on the hammer as well... early hammers have a spring washer that is assembled to the side of the hammer I suppose to keep "wobble" off of the hammer when firing. So some smart guy decided to just start casting (?) the hammers with a round washer sized plateau of metal on that side of the hammer.
Don Findley has a slip of paper that shows a handwritten accounting by the penny of WBR's cost to produce the .22 pistol. His days at Ruger Corp and building tools probably made him start scrunching his numbers a little tighter.... hence, WBR's ability to keep costs lower than Colt and High Standard competitve models.
Chet15