Mr Bradshaw - Bill Ruger, Pete Kriendler and 21 Club

[marcruger]

Hello David,

I was recently kindly gifted a signed copy of the "Ruger and His Guns" book. I am trying to understand if there is a relationship between the 21 Club Ruger No.1s, the 21 Club restaurant in NYC run by Pete Kriendler, and Bill's relationship with Pete. Did you know Pete Kriendler?

I was surprised that the gifted copy was signed, as by that point Bill's arthritis was reportedly pretty awful. The inscription reads, "To Peter Kriendler, with warm regards and many thanks for keeping the "21" going until I could afford it, (occasionally). Bill Ruger". Wikipedia says "The 21 Club, often simply 21, was a traditional American cuisine restaurant and former prohibition-era speakeasy, located at 21 West 52nd Street in New York City. Prior to its closure in 2020, the club had been active for 90 years, and it had hosted almost every US president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt." Pete Kriendler died in 2001 at 96.

Bill Ruger and Pete Kriendler both appreciated western art and hunting, so perhaps that is the connection. The NY Times story on Kriendler noted "Mr. Kriendler built a large collection of Western art, specializing in the works of Frederic Remington. Several Remingtons were kept on display at ''21.'' Mr. Kriendler donated others to the Whitney Gallery of Western Art at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo., where he also endowed a gallery devoted to contemporary Western art in 1995 and was a trustee."

Any more information would be greatly appreciated. Best wishes, Marc

[marcruger]

Oh yes, I have photos of the inscription if anyone could post it for me.

[contender]

I posted to this question on the Ruger Forum! I've also sent a message to one of the top Ruger No 1 collectors out there,,, Lee Newton. I hope he'll get with you soon.

[bradshaw]

Feb 23, 2024 8:45:16 GMT -5 marcruger said:

Oh yes, I have photos of the inscription if anyone could post it for me.

*****

Marc.... did not know Peter Kriendler. The Club 21 was a Ruger favorite. Had lunch their with Bill, Jr., but not the Old Man.

Bill and Bill, Jr., had bronze sculptures by Frederic Remington, original and recasts. Bill had a keen interest in 19th Century American art. He sent Mrs. Ruger to an art auction in New York, instructions to bid on Sharpshooter, Winslow Homer’s oil painting of 1863. I’ve also heard it called “Union Sharpshooter” and “Union Sniper.” Winslow Homer was a top illustrator but a better painter. Bill set a limit of $300,000. The painting hammered over Bill’s cutoff, and he told me regretted not getting iconic piece. In the early 1980’s, Bill told me his biggest business regret was not buying Smith & Wesson for 14 or 17 million (don’t remember exact number).


Bill, Jr., liked antiques, but didn’t much care about art. However, Bill, Jr., fully absorbed his father’s deep technical knowledge of cars and automobile manufacturing, past and present, especially classic.
David Bradshaw

[bigbore5]

S&W for $14-17M? If he could've swung it at the time, I bet he really did regret it. Picture a Redhawk with the sweet S&W trigger.
Or a M19 with the grip spike from the GP.

[mike454]

I didn't think rugers 21 club had anything to do with the resturant of that name. I thought it was a group of gunwriters etc who received a engraver ruger no1 rifle

[bradshaw]

Feb 24, 2024 9:40:15 GMT -5 mike454 said:

I didn't think rugers 21 club had anything to do with the resturant of that name. I thought it was a group of gunwriters etc who received a engraver ruger no1 rifle

*****

Had lunch at Club 21 with Bill, Jr. Think he had partridge. As I had eaten my share of partridge in college, collected alternately with my K-22 and Marlin M-39 Mountie takedown carbine, with Williams peep/ivory bead combo, I probably had something else. Club 21 shared the distinction, along with places like Small’s Paradise and the Cotton Club in Harlem, of a class speak easy during prohibition.
David Bradshaw

[contender]

marcruger,, I have gotten a message from Lee Newton. He'd be THE one to ask your questions,, and if anybody will have the answer,, he would.

He hasn't been on the Ruger Forum in a very long time. He said to contact him at the "Ruger Owners & Collectors Society" forum. There is a section there on Ruger No 1 rifles. His handle over there is; "ElNumeroUno"

[marcruger]

Many thanks to all for the information and memories. It appears that the 21 Club mentioned in the Bill Ruger inscription is not related to the 21 Club No.1 rifles.

Sadly Pete Kriendler and his wife had no kids. Makes me wonder what the path was for this book coming from his hands in NY to my hands in the South. I'll never know.

Best wishes and God Bless, Marc

[contender]

marcruger,, I just got a message from Chad Hiddleson,, the publisher of the Red Eagle News Exchange,, (Ruger collecting guide). He's kinda a true historian of Ruger stuff.

Apparently there was a form of connection between the "21 Club" guns and the Restaurant. Bill used to frequent the place, and got the idea for the guns from that place.
If you PM me,, I can get you in touch with Chad for more details.

[jkriendler]

Feb 23, 2024 8:44:30 GMT -5 marcruger said:

Hello David,

I was recently kindly gifted a signed copy of the "Ruger and His Guns" book. I am trying to understand if there is a relationship between the 21 Club Ruger No.1s, the 21 Club restaurant in NYC run by Pete Kriendler, and Bill's relationship with Pete. Did you know Pete Kriendler?

I was surprised that the gifted copy was signed, as by that point Bill's arthritis was reportedly pretty awful. The inscription reads, "To Peter Kriendler, with warm regards and many thanks for keeping the "21" going until I could afford it, (occasionally). Bill Ruger". Wikipedia says "The 21 Club, often simply 21, was a traditional American cuisine restaurant and former prohibition-era speakeasy, located at 21 West 52nd Street in New York City. Prior to its closure in 2020, the club had been active for 90 years, and it had hosted almost every US president since Franklin Delano Roosevelt." Pete Kriendler died in 2001 at 96.

Bill Ruger and Pete Kriendler both appreciated western art and hunting, so perhaps that is the connection. The NY Times story on Kriendler noted "Mr. Kriendler built a large collection of Western art, specializing in the works of Frederic Remington. Several Remingtons were kept on display at ''21.'' Mr. Kriendler donated others to the Whitney Gallery of Western Art at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyo., where he also endowed a gallery devoted to contemporary Western art in 1995 and was a trustee."

Any more information would be greatly appreciated. Best wishes, Marc

[jkriendler]

Hi,
Pete was my Grand Uncle. I’d love to hear more about the book you received. I could try to track down info on his interactions with Ruger. Please DM me.

Jason