Trade names.................

[Bob Wright]

I was on Facebook and the musing was what if the Ruger Blackhawk had been available contemporary with the Colt Single Action Army, would shooters choose it over the Colt.

My response was that the name Colt was so ingrained in the minds of the buying public that they would have chosen the Colt. All of which reminded me of certain names being the standard of products.

I've heard many use the name Colt as being synonymous with revolver. The same for Winchester for rifles, Stetson for hats, Levis for jeans. And my Dad used Waterbury for watches, Boker for pocket knives, especially Boker Tree Brand.

Today, thanks to TV commercial, rather no thanks, we are not so much set on brands.

Bob Wright

 

[Dan in MI]

I beg to differ Bob.

If Ruger was a contemporary Colt may not have received all the name recognition we see. Ruger would have been a quality competitor taking away from Colt or at least gaining its own reputation.

Think Winchester/Remington/Browning/Marlin.... All big names and contemporaries in that time frame.

Now don't get upset you'll have to grab a Kleenex. :lol:

 

[Snake45]

My impression is that if the Colt SAA had still been in production, neither the Ruger Blackhawks or the Great Westerns would have existed. Everything I've read says that Ruger and GW were trying to fill a vacancy in the market left by Colt's discontinuation of the SAA.

 

[blume357]

What has changed in the marketing world is that now a 'brand' will have a generic logo.... just an image... no writing at all ... look at Niki and Starbucks as an example.... it can even be a color.... the orange on reeces cups....

 

[RSIno1]

I beg to differ Bob.

If Ruger was a contemporary Colt may not have received all the name recognition we see. Ruger would have been a quality competitor taking away from Colt or at least gaining its own reputation.

Ruger would not have been the Ruger we know in that time frame. Quality metal casting that could withstand even the lower pressures of the time was not available. Ruger would need to machine out solid blocks of steel just like everyone else while trying to build a gun that got around Colt's patent.

 

[caryc]

I beg to differ Bob.

If Ruger was a contemporary Colt may not have received all the name recognition we see. Ruger would have been a quality competitor taking away from Colt or at least gaining its own reputation.

Ruger would not have been the Ruger we know in that time frame. Quality metal casting that could withstand even the lower pressures of the time was not available. Ruger would need to machine out solid blocks of steel just like everyone else while trying to build a gun that got around Colt's patent.

Remember, Bob said "if". And we don't know what Bill Ruger would have come up with if he had been around in that time frame. Remember the transfer bar? Can anyone "prove" that Bill Ruger didnt come up with that?

 

[protoolman]

I beg to differ Bob.

If Ruger was a contemporary Colt may not have received all the name recognition we see. Ruger would have been a quality competitor taking away from Colt or at least gaining its own reputation.

Ruger would not have been the Ruger we know in that time frame. Quality metal casting that could withstand even the lower pressures of the time was not available. Ruger would need to machine out solid blocks of steel just like everyone else while trying to build a gun that got around Colt's patent.

Remember, Bob said "if". And we don't know what Bill Ruger would have come up with if he had been around in that time frame. Remember the transfer bar? Can anyone "prove" that Bill Ruger didnt come up with that?

Uh yeah- pretty sure the transfer bar existed in several guns long before Ruger used it. Iver Johnson comes to mind?

 

[blackhawknj]

Browning was not a trade name/brand back then, he was an inventor and designer, the people he sold his designs to-the Winchester M1886, the M1892 put their names on them. S&W's production was tied up in government contracts, the Schofield, the Russian models, few got to the civilian market. For whatever reasons the Remington M1875 didn't sell.
Then there were the house brands, people did a lot of their shopping by mail order.

 

[jgt]

Ruger would have made tools, golf club, or automobiles depending on what time period you want to put him in. He was an intelligent man and had many interests.