Ruger Armorer School

[circlergrugers]

Would anyone know the inception of the Ruger Armorer school. I'm guessing the early 1980's?? Help here anyone? Thanks

 

[contender]

I'm thinking it was in the 1970's. I'll see if I can study any of my paperwork & see what it says. I seem to recall where the school started using the "Six" series of DA revolvers.

 

[circlergrugers]

Tyrone, As far back as I can trace is with the "P" series Pistols. ??? any more thoughts, Anyone

 

[El Numero Uno]

If anyone had copies of the Ruger Insights and they go far enough back, you might find it. I can not recall if the Insights was just for Newport, or included Prescott.

 

[contender]

I haven't gotten into my stuff. Between getting sick this week & trying to work, I got side-tracked.

Ok, I went & grabbed my Armorer's manual. I'm seeing some stuff regarding classes & such, but many of the info letters are not dated. In one, it allows attendees to the armorers class to purchase "one firearm listed in the LEO Catalog with the exception of the fully automatic rifle." Now, this letter isn't dated, but it bears thinking that the first LEO catalogs were in 1977 or 1978 I believe. Also in this letter, they "include" the allowance of the Redhawk as part of the purchase list.

Ok, I've found one class schedule for September 20-24 1982. In this schedule, they have classes scheduled for double action revolvers.
I also have a list of names of attendees of this class. (It was sent to Tom Ruger, and it came from Walter Sych.)

So, right now, I can trace it back to 1982 at least.

 

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

I attended twice. If I recall correctly, the first time was in 1983, then in 1985. The first time I attended, the school was well-established so start time in the late 70s seems about right.

The school was at the Ruger facility in Newport, New Hampshire. The first time I attended, I was there two weeks. The first session was only on the security six. At the time, Ruger was marketing heavily to police departments to use the security six instead of the Smith & Wesson. A federal study and come out that was critical of Smith & Wesson and favored Ruger. We were all given a very nice spare parts kit for the security six revolvers. The second week was on the mini 14. Likewise, Ruger was marketing this carbine to police departments at the time.

We got a very nice factory tour and saw all phases of the manufacture done at Newport, New Hampshire. This includes casting, stock making, assembly and test firing. Ruger's staff took us to lunch a couple of times, and there was a very nice closing dinner. At least one of the two times I was there, we were taken out one afternoon for range shooting. This was at Bill Ruger senior's farm. I never got to see or meet Mr. Ruger and he was not at the farm we were there. I did look in the garage and see one of his custom cars (did he call it a Blackhawk?)

I attended again a couple of years later, in 1985 I think. By that time, P-85 had just been announced and we got to handle them, but they were not available to test fire.

As part of attending the Armorer school program, we were permitted to buy one firearm at 62% of retail, excluding the AC-556. Upon completion, we were given a certificate, armorers school pin and patch.

If I recall correctly, the head instructor when I was there was a fellow named Mike Miller. The second time I went, Ed "C. E." Harris worked at Ruger and was around a lot.

If I recall other details, I will post them. Ruger did a first-class job with the Armorers school. They were competing with Smith & Wesson who also did a fine job.

 

[contender]

Jeff, A lot of what you say mirrors what the gentleman I got my stuff from told me.

 

[Ruger168]

According to a very reliable source the earliest record that could be found was 1977 and the class was run by Jim Kruschenski. Hope this helps !

 

[circlergrugers]

Ruger 168, Thank you very much, its what I was looking for. also thanks to Jeff and Tyrone, thanks guys

 

[Ruger168]

My pleasure Sir, this info came directly from someone that knows the Armorer School inside out and was a long time Ruger employee.

 

[rugerguy]

wasn't Rob Deardon,, ( the son of the plant manager Bob Deardon) at some time in charge of the armorer school, many years ago I had talked to them when I had gotten a couple of his dads guns ( serial number #31)
and I was "supposed" to go to the armorer school, but work prevented it (had three jobs back then!!)
Years earlier I was up at S&W , as well as Dan Wesson, in Monson,Mass. Yes, Ruger tried HARD to land 'law enforcement' contacts and contracts, but Smith ,Colt and then Beretta had the market cornered, our shop sold and serviced police equipment and we worked closely with the other large' LE distributors in this area, and our friend Les Dees, down in Montgomery ,AL ran Gulf States Dist, and was the editor ,publisher of Police Marksman magazine & the association................

 

[eveled]

Jeff, that sounds like a dream vacation to me. Thanks for sharing.

When I was in elementary school a kid moved into my town. He had Ruger rifle stocks for toys, Just the stocks, I can't remember how finished they were. He said every kid in his town had them to play with because almost everybody had a relative who worked at Ruger. They would bring home the seconds for the kids to play with.

 

[Ruger168]

eveled, that must have been a while ago. I worked there from 94 - 2005 and at that time they would cut the scrap stocks in half before they let them leave the factory. A lot of guys took them home to burn for firewood.

 

[eveled]

It was in the late 70's.

 

[Jeff in Cincinnati]

Bob Deardon was one of the guys we interacted with at the Armorers' School. Nice guy.

 

[mr.deerstalker]

Tyrone,

I have an armors pin from "back in the day" if youd like it for a display or what ever....

let me know.....Scott

 

[Dienekes]

Don't have my notes handy but Rob Deardon came to my city for the 1 week school. Most of the course was on the GP-100, and some time on the Mini-14;
but by request he spent some time on the Security Sixes and gave out handouts on them as well. We later were sent armorer parts packages; still have most of the parts in the envelopes. I enjoyed it all.

Still have the armorer patch.

 

[chet15]

The first Ruger Armorer School was definitely late 1977, according to a Ruger printed "Ruger Newsletter" from the era.
Chet15

 

[Toyman]

I just found this thread. I attended a 1 week session at the New Port plant in fall 1980. We were put up at motel outside of town. Our Ruger host was Jim Kraskinski (spelling) and training was near fire arms indoor range. Sid Spreadbury ran the range and allowed us to test fire guns.
I spent a lot of time test firing the new REDHAWK. We went out to Mr. Ruger's hunting area and shot rifles and shot guns.
I ordered a REDHAWK and had to wait for sometime to receive it.
While at Mr. Ruger's house I wandered over a hill and found his RUGERMOBILE>

 

[contender]

GREAT pics!!!!!!!

 

[Toyman]

A Ruger Armorers School pin. These were not available when I went through I purchased this at Tulsa