This whole thread is wearing thin on me. I have been a Member of the RCA since it's inception in 1975, having Member #72.
I have been a subscriber to the Red Eagle News Exchange ever since it has been called that; to the Ruger News Exchange before that, and Faulks Collector's Service before that. I have submitted and had published articles in the RCA Journal and have made numerous submissions of data to the RENE. I furnished the Display of Ruger No.1 rifles for the RCA Display at the 1996 Dallas NRA Convention.
My Membership and association with other Members has been a real asset in furthering my Ruger collection So has the RENE and so has all the books published concerning Rugers.
If you have a problem with the RCA, fine, then don't join. I have been as frustrated over the years as many, but I have stuck with the Association.
On the subject of the 10" .357 Special Issue, How many of you even know how many previous "Special Issues" there have been? There were 2 Old Army's, 2 Auto Chamber Seals, some Bisley's? and the 10th Anniversary Ruger No.1. That is the only I bought! There were to be 50 of them made, I got my $$ in the day I got the letter. I got one; however 50 of them weren't ordered, so they only made the number to fill the order. I never knew how many it was
When this idea of the 10" .357 Anniversary came up, I was in on it. We had serious concerns of selling them all, as 35 was the original number considered. 50 was the number decided on and several of the Leaders agreed to take (and Pay) for any unsold. BTW, Ruger wants their $$.
With all the RCA bashing on this Forum, who would have thought they would have all sold! This was the first time in 20 years(?) that a special issue had been done. Older Collectors may remember that Steve Vogel ran the RCA until his untimely death in 1991. He had a real in at the Factory-paying for Special Issues was not a big problem for him. For all you youngsters, Steve was WBR's Son-in-Law. The RCA has struggled since Steve's passing. Many of us have stuck with it, many haven't.
A lot of complaints about no Journals, that why they quit. Good reason, there weren't many (or any) for a number of years. Well, they have been being published on a regular promised schedule for the last two years( the last in color!!) How many of you have submitted articles??
I have run out of gas!
If you don't want to be a Member and/or not a Member, fine-QUIT BITCHING! If you do want to be a Member, GREAT, please Help, as it is obvious we need ALL the GOOD HELP we can get.
Lee Newton