The other day I was looking at my 50th Anniversary Marlin Model 60, and I was reminded again of how disappointed I was at how Ruger handled the 50th Anniversary of the 10/22.
As a bit of a last hurrah before Remington shut them down, the folks at the real Marlin factory in North Haven, CT did it up right with the Model 60. A nice walnut stock, hooded front sight, Marbles style rear sight, rubber butt pad, gold trigger and lettering, deep blued barrel...
For me, it's a keeper. Something to treasure.
I hoped when the 50th came around for Ruger, they would have done something similar- a 10/22 carbine with a walnut stock, and as close to an original as reasonably possible (metal butt pad and barrel band would have been very do-able. Trigger? Most likely not). Instead, the contest they did was ridiculous. With all due respect for the finalists and eventual winner, the designs they submitted did nothing to pay homage to what is arguably the most successful .22 rifle ever made.
I did the best I could with what Ruger offered. I bought a new deluxe sporter that year, which at least says 50th Anniversary on it. It's a very nice rifle, but it's not a special edition. Ruger really missed an oppprtunity.
As a bit of a last hurrah before Remington shut them down, the folks at the real Marlin factory in North Haven, CT did it up right with the Model 60. A nice walnut stock, hooded front sight, Marbles style rear sight, rubber butt pad, gold trigger and lettering, deep blued barrel...
For me, it's a keeper. Something to treasure.
I hoped when the 50th came around for Ruger, they would have done something similar- a 10/22 carbine with a walnut stock, and as close to an original as reasonably possible (metal butt pad and barrel band would have been very do-able. Trigger? Most likely not). Instead, the contest they did was ridiculous. With all due respect for the finalists and eventual winner, the designs they submitted did nothing to pay homage to what is arguably the most successful .22 rifle ever made.
I did the best I could with what Ruger offered. I bought a new deluxe sporter that year, which at least says 50th Anniversary on it. It's a very nice rifle, but it's not a special edition. Ruger really missed an oppprtunity.