Kynoch
member
I was just thinking how Billy Ruger was such a superb copy cat. The MKI .22 pistol that really started the company was largely a knock-off of the Japanese Nambu pistol. Without the MKI, Ruger would not have made it as an arms manufacturer. I wonder if Billy ever paid any royalties to General Kijiro Nambu?
Then came the knock-offs of the historic Colt Single Action Revolvers. Again I have to wonder if he paid any royalties? At the very least Ruger keep the SA revolvers affordable and available while making him a ton of cash.
The Mini-14 is little more than a downsized/re-chambered Garand with a removable magazine. I wonder if Billy had to pay any royalties to the US Government?
Ruger's SR-556 (the very sort of weapon Billy said he had no intention of ever building) is a nice knock-off of the Colt AR-15. The piston system was largely designed by any number of AR-15 copycats who improved the basic design.
The ever-growing number of polymer framed Ruger pistols are thanks to the pioneering work of Gaston Glock and crew. Glock wasn't the absolute first, but his company's designs are the very basis for Ruger's newest handgun offerings along with just about every other semi-automatic handgun manufacturer.
Long after Billy's death the company he founded jumped on the bandwagon and finally knocked off a version of John Browning's M1911 with their own SR1911.
I'm sure there are other examples of copying by Ruger. Nothing illegal or immoral about it (I don't think at least) but I am amazed at just how big of a deal copying has played in post WWII gun design.
Then came the knock-offs of the historic Colt Single Action Revolvers. Again I have to wonder if he paid any royalties? At the very least Ruger keep the SA revolvers affordable and available while making him a ton of cash.
The Mini-14 is little more than a downsized/re-chambered Garand with a removable magazine. I wonder if Billy had to pay any royalties to the US Government?
Ruger's SR-556 (the very sort of weapon Billy said he had no intention of ever building) is a nice knock-off of the Colt AR-15. The piston system was largely designed by any number of AR-15 copycats who improved the basic design.
The ever-growing number of polymer framed Ruger pistols are thanks to the pioneering work of Gaston Glock and crew. Glock wasn't the absolute first, but his company's designs are the very basis for Ruger's newest handgun offerings along with just about every other semi-automatic handgun manufacturer.
Long after Billy's death the company he founded jumped on the bandwagon and finally knocked off a version of John Browning's M1911 with their own SR1911.
I'm sure there are other examples of copying by Ruger. Nothing illegal or immoral about it (I don't think at least) but I am amazed at just how big of a deal copying has played in post WWII gun design.