David Bradshaw Photos Vol. 105 - Bill Ruger Jr.

[Lee Martin]

William Batterman Ruger, Jr.
4 June 1939 to 15 September 2018

Family and friends of Bill Ruger, Jr., gathered Saturday 22 Sep 2018 for a memorial service to celebrate the man and his unique spirit. Around two hundred gathered on a sun-bathed field in Blue Mountain Forest, in Croydon, New Hampshire. The setting of William B. Ruger’s service in 2002.

Donna Leslie pastored, with piano and hymn accompaniment. Scripture followed the opening prayer, with readings by Thompson Ruger Whiteley, Adrienne Ruger Conzelman, and Kurt Vogel. Words of remembrance were delivered by childhood and lifelong friend Stephen Paneyko; friend Neil Lavesque (“If you don’t want to Google it, call Bill Ruger, Jr., and Ruger it.”); with closing oration by friend and automotive raconteur Jean Jennings.

Start to finish the gathering soared on the moment, clear as a fine shot. We sang. Fortunately, my croaking attempt at hymn drowned in the operatic octaves the a woman behind me. Fine and coarse tongue together held Billy’s spirit aloft.

A photo essay,
David Bradshaw
________________________________________

Solemnity. Molly Ruger Vogel with rose, stands beside her late brother, and the fire truck he bought before he had a driver’s license.



Andy Swift, firefighter turned master of firetruck restoration, with Molly Ruger Vogel.



Molly Ruger Vogel, bracketed by Bill, Jr.’s Newport property caretaker Arnold Moulton (left), and firetruck master Andy Swift.



L-toR: Mike Hallet, Arnold Moulton, David Bradshaw. Hallet is caretaker of Ruger house in Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island, Maine. Moulton manages house in Newport



Molly Ruger Vogel and Jean Jennings. Jean Jennings a top automotive journalist, irreverent to be sure, with screen credits to smother a phone book.





Reginald D. Dodge, supervisor of Ruger woodworking shop in Newport, and Mary Dodge, each with 35+ years service for Sturm, Ruger. Mary Dodge started at Winchester in New Haven, moved to Newport, checkering



Jerry Moran, a friend of Bill, Jr.’s going back to early IHMSA days. A steel shooting champion a master machinist and Colt Python mechanic, wrote his competitive career on the Python, mostly with the Sierra .357 170 FMJ. On year as Bill, Jr., Bradshaw, and Moran toured Yellowstone National Park, Jerry had to be restrained from leaping out to fight a forest fire.



A friend of the Rugers for many years, Eric Unger managed the casting foundry, and introduced innovative work with titanium. An avid hiker, Eric Unger created the Super Redhawk Alaskan. Unger cast frames for a titanium model, which Bill Ruger, Jr., and Unger agreed was too much of a good thing.



Eric Unger and Patti Dustin jawbone following the Memorial Service for WBR II. Patti Dustin worked in checkering, and then double action assembly, at the Newport factory. Patti later continued as Bill's secretary at his mill on the Sugar River----a short paddle downriver of the factory----and then in the barn-office adjacent the ballroom of his house.



Deb & Ben Kilham from up the road in Lyme, New Hampshire. Kilham is America’s foremost authority on black bears, turning conventional biology on its head with the most successful work in re-introducing orphaned and injured black bears to the wild. Ben’s pioneering methods attracted Chinese interest. Over the past few years, Ben’s technique extends to China, and re-introduction of the Giant Panda. Kilham crossed paths with Bill Ruger, Sr., decades ago, also hunting in Blue Mountain Forest, and meeting Bill, Jr., later on.



Three experienced Colt hands: Ben & Deb Kilham worked and met at Colt’s in Hartford. Jerry Moran ran a Fisher body plant in Michigan, specialized in shooting IHMSA Silhouette with the Colt Python——and keeping Colt’s flagship double action running (a task shared by Kilham). Deb Kilham shares nurturing orphaned bears. Another leg in the Kilham story: Ben’s sister Phoebe (not present), devotes life to serving and learning from black bears



-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[Lee Martin]

Newport caretaker Arnold Moulton, and Fred Atherton, prized architect to Bill Ruger, Jr.



Bill’s house, restoration and new construction under the architectural touch of Fred Atherton.



Troy Simino talks shop with Ben Kilham. Troy Simino came to Bill Ruger, Jr., as a logger, became a forester to continue working with Bill. Troy’s eldest son is enrolled in a bear course under Kilham.



Top: Ruger 03, factory one-of-a-kind Bisley Blackhawk .45 Colt/.45 ACP 5-1/2 inch. Bottom: Vaquero .45 Colt 4-3/4 inch. Both pistols were were in camp at Blue Mountain Forest, when Troy Simino unlimbered the Vaquero to show to Bradshaw. Bill, Jr., prepared spaghetti and cautioned other hunters present to “pay attention,” as David touched-up the Vaquero trigger. (Photo taken at Bill’s house in Newport 2014, some years after trigger work at Blue Mountain.)





Jerry Moran, Molly Ruger Vogel, David Bradshaw



Molly Ruger Vogel and Ben Kilham beside 1924 American LaFrance firetruck.



Andy Swift steps in to check out the Ruger 03, after Molly gets her paws on it.





On a day to celebrate her one-of-a-kind brother, Molly Ruger Vogel holds the one-of-a-kind Ruger 03. Muzzle Control her first act, Molly opens loading gate, checks each chamber



Molly squeezes Ruger 03 trigger...



Bill Ruger, Jr., squeezes trigger job by Bradshaw on the Ruger 03, shortly before Christmas in 2013. Neither Bill nor sister Molly jiggle gun on follow-through. Smooth squeeze looks pure Ruger.



Molly takes aim with Ruger 03



Molly cocks Ruger 03



-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[Lee Martin]

Molly Ruger Vogel squeezes Bradshaw trigger job on Ruger 03. Light touch on a one pound trigger.









David watches as Molly dry fires Ruger 03





As a glorious celebration of Bill Ruger, Jr., draws down, Kurt Vogel cranks siren on his uncle’s 1924 American LaFrance firetruck.



Kurt Vogel catches tips from firetruck restoration master Andy Swift. A Bill Ruger, Jr., restoration is total; from the ground up, made to run. Which is why Andy Swift has restored six firetrucks for Ruger. As a former fireman, dedicated to firetrucks and their working preservation, Andy has a huge following.



Kurt Vogel and Andy Swift sit Bill’s 1924 American LaFrance...



Heading out of Blue Mountain Forest, aka Corbin Park, in Croydon, New Hampshire. Farewell, Bill.



-Lee
www.singleactions.com
"Chasing perfection five shots at a time"

[ezekiel38]

What a touching pictorial, thank you David!

[Rimfire69]

Thank you Mr. Bradshaw.

[ericp]

Thanks for the great photos.




Eric

[wheelguns]

Great pictures! Thanks for sharing!

[seminolewind]

Well done Mr. Bradshaw. A fitting tribute to a firearms industry icon.

[45MAN]

DB: REALLY COOL PICTURES, MANY THANKS

[bradshaw]

My appreciation to members of Singleactions who grasp the significance of the Rugers, from Bill Ruger, Sr., through his children Bill, Molly, and Tom, and particularly Bill, Jr., in the recent era. There would not be disciplined handgunning as we know it without a manufacturer, or manufacturers, supplying the Blue Collar citizen with sound, durable instruments. And supplying real SHARPSHOOTERS with durable, accurate instruments. A standard of quality which proves itself in the most exacting of competition sets a mark by which to measure others. Without that standard, and proving it on the FIRING LINE, the industry and the shooters who rely on it suffer.

The celebration of William B. Ruger, Jr., exceeded all expectations, certainly mine.
David Bradshaw

[z1r]

Oct 4, 2018 9:29:11 GMT -5 bradshaw said:

My appreciation to members of Singleactions who grasp the significance of the Rugers, from Bill Ruger, Sr., through his children Bill, Molly, and Tom, and particularly Bill, Jr., in the recent era. There would not be disciplined handgunning as we know it without a manufacturer, or manufacturers, supplying the Blue Collar citizen with sound, durable instruments. And supplying real SHARPSHOOTERS with durable, accurate instruments. A standard of quality which proves itself in the most exacting of competition sets a mark by which to measure others. Without that standard, and proving it on the FIRING LINE, the industry and the shooters who rely on it suffer.

The celebration of William B. Ruger, Jr., exceeded all expectations, certainly mine.
David Bradshaw

David, I was thinking when I saw the picture of the two revolvers, the Bisley and the Vaquero, just how lucky we consumers are to have a company that does provide a sturdy, accurate and reliable product for us. A company that is responsive to the wants of their customers.  I think this is particularly true of the large bore offerings they came out with that one would normally have to go to one of the smaller specialty firms for.

My first Ruger was a New Model 9.5" Single Six convertible.  I can routinely break clay pigeons with it at 75 yards.

Me second was a used SS 7.5" SBH that I used to put on average 500 rounds a week through during my first couple of years at college.

I appreciate your pointing out how good we have it and how much we owe the family for making it so easy on us as shooters.

[jfs]

Oct 3, 2018 16:52:31 GMT -5 seminolewind said:

Well done Mr. Bradshaw. A fitting tribute to a firearms industry icon.

[cmh]

A very touching pictorial.......what a benefit the Rugers have been to the gun culture.

[bradshaw]

Looks like the photo function is down this morning; trust it is restored soon.

*****

z1r..... much as we grouse over Quality Control, strength issues of Ruger revolvers are not and have never been in question. Once, at the dinner table of Bill Ruger, Sr., I questioned the heat treatment of a non-Ruger .44 Mag single action. I described frame peening. Bill leveled his eyes at me and said, “What makes you think it’s heat treated?”

Bill was right. of course. But he didn’t let it go at that. “It doesn’t cost any more to do heat treat RIGHT, than to do it WRONG.” It should go without saying, that a heat treatment correct for the metal and correct for the job cannot be grasped at the layman level. My point is, that Sturm, Ruger, Inc., worked hard to make a Ruger a Ruger. Smaller shops do not come by that experience and knowledge easily. Which is why I question the working strength of a revolver or pistol until I know enough to not question it. Smith & Wesson certainly knows heat treatment. Colt knows it, or did. I never had a strength issue with a Ruger on the firing line. Some other revolvers I had to back away from, as I began to doubt the instrument. You cannot shoot straight with doubt anywhere about you.

I was talking with Jerry Moran a couple nights ago.... I was going for a record. Gun went “clack” when it should have gone BANG! Broke the transfer bar. Got home from the match, called Bill Ruger, Jr. “I’ll send you some more,” says Bill. (I gave him the broken transfer bar when I saw him next.)

“I put a Super Blackhawk in the DRY FIRE MACHINE,” says Bill. "Shut it off after a week. Didn’t do anything to the gun, but the electricity was cutting into beer money.”

And, No, my transfer bar was not pinched between hammer and frame. Those Rugers took an ungodly amount of fire, both on and off the tournament firing line. I would not trade a New Model for the Peacemaker lockwork. Oh, the “old model” is beaucoup reliable, but you cannot load it ALL SIX. It may even be argued that the “old model” is simpler and a hair more reliable, but that is literally shaving hairs. Handle ‘em both roughly----as in live-ammo fast draw----the New Model wins.

Jerry Moran drove back to Michigan with a piece missing. That piece is Bill Ruger, Jr.
David Bradshaw

[Joe S.]

A great thread!

Thanks for sharing!!