The Ruger 10/22 Finger Groove and Deluxe Sporter Models

Back in 2018 I detailed the history of the 10/22 carbine and in 2020 we looked at the International model.

This year we will talk about the Sporter model beginning with the Finger Groove Sporter and ending with the current production DSP or Deluxe Sporter.

The Finger Groove Sporter model was introduced in the American Rifleman magazine centerfold in February of 1966
It was debuted along side the International model.

The Finger Groove Sporter were sold for an additional $10 over the $54.50 price of the standard carbine.

The stocks were a Monte Carlo style with a raised comb, beavertail forend (with aforementioned finger grooves) and an accentuated pistol grip that was capped off with a plastic cap emblazoned with the Ruger "SR" logo.

The plastic butt plate was grooved with the Ruger hawk emblem molded in.

The sling swivels were also unique. The front had a two screw plastic base that appeared to be a copy of a Mauser base, the swivel was stamped steel flat stock.

The rear has a similar swivel, but the base was a thinned down version of a typical sling stud.

The first 10/22 to wear the Finger Groove stock was serial # 43908. The vast majority of the FGS models came with the plain walnut stock and around 500 or so were ordered with checkering.

In 1967 Ruger made a run of special edition FGS models to commemorate the Canadian Centennial. There were about 4,400 made that year. The stocks had an coin inletted into the stock and the receivers featured some engraving.

The Canadian Centennial guns were packaged together with Remington model 742 Woodsmaster rifles.

The Canadian firm Peterborough Guns Ltd put together the sets. There were 3,025 checkered and 1,399 standard Centennial 10/22s produced for the occasion.

In 1970 production of all 10/22s was moved to a new facility in Newport, NH.

A year later (1971) the last of the Finger Groove Sporter models left the factory, it was serial # 110-78890.

Picking up where the Finger Groove Sporter (FGS) model left off (just 11,177 rifles later) the first Deluxe Sporter (DSP) model was produced in Newport, serial # 110-90067. 

All of the original Finger Groove Sporter stocks were made by S.E. Overton and the production of the new Deluxe Sporter happened at Ruger's Newport facility.

1975 advertisement

It featured the same plastic butt plate, but instead of the accentuated comb and pistol grip, the lines of this stock were more subdued.

Below is serial # 110-93159, it was one of the prototypes for the Deluxe Sporter. 
The curve of the pistol grip is different and thinner near the trigger guard. Also the checkering was 16 lines per inch, where as the production units has 20 lines per inch

pictures courtesy of Rugerforum.com

below pictures and excerpt are from Bill Workman's book The Ruger 10/22, citation below

The DSP below is one of only three known to have left the factory without checkering

photo courtesy of Rugerforum.net

The top two DSP models in the picture below feature unmarked 24" and 22" barrels, they were prototypes for the Australian market, but were never produced.

photo courtesy of Rugerforum.net

For a time the sling swivels changed to a standard stud, then went back to the more traditional non-QD style loops

In 1987 the plastic butt plate was replaced with a rubber recoil pad 

the model has come and gone from the catalog. At one point a buyer could get a walnut, beechwood or maple DSP.

beechwood

maple

walnut

The walnut one above will be the basis for another rifle build. I will be using the barreled action from my Finger Groove Sporter project as that stock will be getting vintage components.

As of this posting, there are several Deluxe Sporter rifles available on Ruger's website


Time Line of Events

1964: The 10/22 Rifle is introduced
1966: Ruger introduces two new 10/22 offerings including the Finger Groove Sporter
1967: The Canadian Centennial model introduced
1970: Production of all 10/22 rifles is moved to Newport, NH
1971: The Finger Groove Sporter is discontinued, that same year the Deluxe Sporter is introduced. That same year Ruger begins making the 10/22 stocks in house
1976: The Bicentennial roll mark added to the barrels
1978: The Warning label is added to the barrels
1987: The plastic butt plate on the Deluxe Sporter models replaced with a rubber recoil pad.

Sources:

Ruger Forum.com

Wilson, R.L. (2007) Ruger & His Guns, New York, NY: Chartwell Books Inc.

Lee, Jerry, (2014), The Standard Catalog of Ruger Firearms, Lola, WI: Gun Digest Books

Workman, William E. (1994) The Ruger 10/22, University Park, PA: Krause Publications

Workman, William E. (1986) Know Your Ruger 10/22, North Hampton, OH: Blacksmith Corporation