This month marks the 60th anniversary of the introduction of the Ruger 10/22 as well as the 75th anniversary of Sturm, Ruger & Co.
They have two new 10/22s for sale, just the typical sporter rifles in "natural" and "walnut stained hardwood".
I thought I might show the guns that were entered, since it has been 10 years now to see how the contestants might have fared if the competition were held today.
Below are the entrants:
This take-down would be a good choice, but in my opinion the 50th Anniversary should celebrate the past.
I'm not sure what to say about this one.
Does the R stand for "Red" or "Race" or "Ruger"
The one below looks gawdy, but gold is the theme for 50th Anniversaries, so there is that.....and I do dig the straight grip.
I am not even sure how this one got into the competition.
I liked this one, monte-carlo walnut stock, bull barrel, sling with swivels, traditional, the only thing I would add would be an ebony fore tip, leather sling and white spacers in the grip cap and recoil pad.
Another take-down, I like 'em, but it wouldn't be my choice.
This last one was the winner. It is functional, stainless, has an adjustable stock, threaded barrel and good sights with the option for a scope. However, I still feel like this looks too modern.
I have a few of my own that I think would have been good candidates:
This gun is a tribute to the late 19th century carbines (it even has a saddle ring!) that inspired the M1 Carbine, the Ruger 44 Carbine and 10/22.
In addition, it uses only a few non-standard parts, so it would not have been overly expensive to mass produce.
They could have even stepped it up a notch by making the receiver out of brass or color case hardened steel.
My 10/22 Continental project would have also been a good choice, in my opinion of course. It's got a steel receiver, aluminum trigger housing, high polish bluing and the checkered walnut Mannlicher style stock.
Of course, they could have just built the 50th Anniversary model the same way they built the 10/22 in 1964:
My pseudo finger groove stock project, steel receiver and standard barrel, both with high polish blued finish, the aluminum butt plate and trigger housing were Cerakoted. The factory walnut stock was cut down and modified with finger grooves on the forend, a more refined pistol grip and a grip cap were added. Then sling swivels, similar to what the original Finger Groove Sporter stocks had were installed.
Or they could just reproduce the original Finger Groove Sporter, except with a steel receiver. Give the metal a high polish blued finish.
Of course, they could have just built the 50th Anniversary model the same way they built the 10/22 in 1964:
Walnut stock, aluminum trigger housing, butt plate and barrel band, then anodize those parts as well as the receiver in a satin black finish.
This is my opinion, what say you?