by October 22nd or 10/22 is National Ruger Day. Obviously, it is a play on words about their best-selling .22LR carbine the Ruger 10/22.
The Ruger 10/22 was the first firearm I purchased when I turned 18. I remember getting it at the now-defunct Best Products in Greensboro, North Carolina for the lordly price of $55. I stupidly sold it sometime in the mid-1980s because I was short on cash. I now have two Ruger 10/22s. One is the International version with a full Mannlicher stock and the other is synthetic-stocked version with fiber optic sights.
I own a few other Rugers as well. They range from M77 rifles to 20 gauge Red Label to numerous pistols and revolvers. I even have a couple of Security-Six revolvers that I picked up used at good prices.
So on this October 22nd, let us thank Bill Ruger and Harry Sefried II for designing this wonderful rimfire carbine that is commemorated today. By the last estimate in 2015, over seven million had been made and sold. I’d wager that the total now is probably closer to eight million or more.