Why the name "Red Label" ?

[kmeyer]

Ok...ok. I'm sure the jokes are incoming, but in all seriousness.

A buddy and I were talking yesterday about this. Anyone know why when they first started making the "Red Label" shotgun in 1977, why did they chose that name? I know they later offered a limited "Gold Label" for a short time. My thought is they at one time maybe planned to offer multiple grades.

 

[22/45 Fan]

That nomenclature probably came from whisky. Jack Daniels sells "Green Label" and the more expensive "Black Label" versions of it's sour mash whisky and there are other makes using similar naming.

 

[gewehrfreund]

The original Ruger logo was red and the first examples of their shotguns had a red Ruger logo in the grip cap. I think you'll find it's as simple as that.

Then again, maybe not.


Pretty sure it has nothing to do with whisky.. . . .

 

[ruger700]

it may have to do with the original redhawk that turned black when Sturm died. It could be a silent tribute to Sturm.

 

[TBear77]

Originally there were 3 grades. The Red Label Grade was the base model. There was a Blue Label Grade, which is similar to the Woodside shotgun. Then a Gold Label Grade, an engraved Red Label Grade. These 'Grades' were discontinued within the first year. The Blue Label Grade was dropped, and the Red Label Grade and Gold Label Grade became the Red Label and Engraved Red Label. The name Gold Label was reused on their side-by-side; the Blue Label name hasn't been reused.

Ted

 

[T.A. WORKMAN]

Originally there were 3 grades. The Red Label Grade was the base model. There was a Blue Label Grade, which is similar to the Woodside shotgun. Then a Gold Label Grade, an engraved Red Label Grade. These 'Grades' were discontinued within the first year. The Blue Label Grade was dropped, and the Red Label Grade and Gold Label Grade became the Red Label and Engraved Red Label. The name Gold Label was reused on their side-by-side; the Blue Label name hasn't been reused.

Ted

Bingo!

This was my understanding also.
Terry

 

[kmeyer]

Nice. Thanks for the info guys. I did not know there was ever a "Blue Label" grade.

 

[chet15]

The blue label was a bar in wood (later known as woodside) model in blue chrome-moly, known by prototype only
And the gold label was also a woodside type, also known in prototype form only which had a highly engraved stainless receiver.
Chet15

 

[Cordite]

That nomenclature probably came from whisky. Jack Daniels sells "Green Label" and the more expensive "Black Label" versions of it's sour mash whisky and there are other makes using similar naming.

I still like to think whiskey was involved. After all, I have been able to solve all the world's problems after 3 or 4 fingers of Buffalo Trace...

 

[mikld]

I believe the term "Red Label" is based on booze nomenclature. I remember some fine brandy/cognac (been a looooong time since I was a bartender) that was labeled "V.S.O.P. Red Label Cognac"...

 

[chet15]

Red Label to me means "plain jane".
Not sure if that's what Ruger meant by it, but the blue label and gold label were each meant to have an incrementally higher price structure.
Chet15

 

[black029]

The red, blue, and gold are all fine as incremental improvements...........it's the word "label" that is weird for a gun.
As others have said, it is more prominent in the world of spirits and beer. Most of Ruger's other guns involve predatory birds.