Description
Item Description
Bryant Ridge Auction Company is pleased to present this ULTRA RARE over and under shotgun today for auction; this is the Ruger Red Label Factory Pre-Production Prototype!
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This example is 1 of only 51 pre-production experimental Ruger Red Label over-and-under shotguns made!
According to the included factory letter, "The Following is a list of 51 serial numbers which represent the first preproduction experimental group of .20 gauge stainless steel Over and Under Shotguns.
These were originally produced and boxed in 1979. In January of 1985, a decision was made by the management of Sturm, Ruger, & Company to sell these units to employees and friends of the company."
SPECIFICATIONS:
Manufacturer: Ruger
Model: Red Label
Serial: 400-13530
Date of Manufacture: 1979
Caliber: 20 Gauge 3" Chambered
Finish: Stainless Frame with Blue Barrel
Barrel Length: 26" Vent Rib Barrels with Full (Top) & Modified (Bottom) Choke Bore
Optics/Sights: Brass Bead Front
Stock/Grips: Checkered Walnut Pistol Grip Stock and Forearm
Action: Break Over & Under
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Ruger Red Label was an over-and-under shotgun that Sturm, Ruger & Co. built at the direction of William B. Ruger. When the Browning Superposed was introduced in 1931, American sportsmen soon fell in love with the concept of a stacked barrel double gun. Unlike traditional side-by-side double-barrel shotguns that have issues with aiming points and recoil, a shotgun with two barrels stacked one on top of the other offers a single sighting plane and lighter recoil.
The Superposed became the first mass-produced Over/Under (O/U) shotgun. By the 1970s, the Belgian-made Browning Superposed and other over-and-under shotguns imported from Europe had become so expensive that they were out of reach of most American shooters, and there were no domestically produced over-and-under shotguns that did not cost more.
The Red Label was introduced in 1977 in 20 Gauge with a 26" barrel for a price of $480.00 (equal to $2,074.95 in 2018). The design was born of William B. Ruger's desire to produce a quality US-made over and under shotgun. In order to achieve this and put quality on par with hand-made European shotguns, Ruger invested in expensive machinery to do most of the work.
At the time, the Remington Model 3200 was the only other quality American-made over-under, and it cost nearly twice as much. The Red Label soon proved a hit with the American shooting public for its affordability, reliability, and handling. It remained in production for over three decades. In 1979, Ruger began to offer the Red Label in 12 Gauge and eventually a scaled-down version in 28 Gauge (1994). The design was born of William B. Ruger's desire to produce a quality US-made over-and-under shotgun. In order to achieve this and put quality on par with hand-made European shotguns, Ruger invested in expensive machinery to do most of the work.
The Red Label originally featured a blued receiver. Later models utilized a stainless steel receiver with hammer-forged barrels. The shooter could determine which barrel to fire by means of a selector mounted on the tang. Early production models typically had fixed chokes, but most Red Labels manufactured since the mid-1980s were tapped to accept screw-in choke tubes for various purposes. The butt stock and forend are oil-finished American walnut with machine-cut checkering on the grip and forend. The Red Label was available with either an English straight stock or a pistol grip stock.
Contents:
This example is what we believe to be Factory New Old Stock condition, showing no evidence of consumer use or handling that we can see whatsoever! Additionally, it will ship with the original factory matching Ruger box, Ruger factory letter, and papers seen pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Model: Red Label
Serial: 400-13530
Date of Manufacture: 1979
Caliber: 20 Gauge 3" Chambered
Finish: Stainless Frame with Blue Barrel
Barrel Length: 26" Vent Rib Barrels with Full (Top) & Modified (Bottom) Choke Bore
Optics/Sights: Brass Bead Front
Stock/Grips: Checkered Walnut Pistol Grip Stock and Forearm
Action: Break Over & Under
Markings: Standard
Bryant Ridge's Analysis:
The Ruger Red Label was an over-and-under shotgun that Sturm, Ruger & Co. built at the direction of William B. Ruger. When the Browning Superposed was introduced in 1931, American sportsmen soon fell in love with the concept of a stacked barrel double gun. Unlike traditional side-by-side double-barrel shotguns that have issues with aiming points and recoil, a shotgun with two barrels stacked one on top of the other offers a single sighting plane and lighter recoil.
The Superposed became the first mass-produced Over/Under (O/U) shotgun. By the 1970s, the Belgian-made Browning Superposed and other over-and-under shotguns imported from Europe had become so expensive that they were out of reach of most American shooters, and there were no domestically produced over-and-under shotguns that did not cost more.
The Red Label was introduced in 1977 in 20 Gauge with a 26" barrel for a price of $480.00 (equal to $2,074.95 in 2018). The design was born of William B. Ruger's desire to produce a quality US-made over and under shotgun. In order to achieve this and put quality on par with hand-made European shotguns, Ruger invested in expensive machinery to do most of the work.
At the time, the Remington Model 3200 was the only other quality American-made over-under, and it cost nearly twice as much. The Red Label soon proved a hit with the American shooting public for its affordability, reliability, and handling. It remained in production for over three decades. In 1979, Ruger began to offer the Red Label in 12 Gauge and eventually a scaled-down version in 28 Gauge (1994). The design was born of William B. Ruger's desire to produce a quality US-made over-and-under shotgun. In order to achieve this and put quality on par with hand-made European shotguns, Ruger invested in expensive machinery to do most of the work.
The Red Label originally featured a blued receiver. Later models utilized a stainless steel receiver with hammer-forged barrels. The shooter could determine which barrel to fire by means of a selector mounted on the tang. Early production models typically had fixed chokes, but most Red Labels manufactured since the mid-1980s were tapped to accept screw-in choke tubes for various purposes. The butt stock and forend are oil-finished American walnut with machine-cut checkering on the grip and forend. The Red Label was available with either an English straight stock or a pistol grip stock.
Contents:
This example is what we believe to be Factory New Old Stock condition, showing no evidence of consumer use or handling that we can see whatsoever! Additionally, it will ship with the original factory matching Ruger box, Ruger factory letter, and papers seen pictured above!
Return Policy:
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Shipping Details
Handgun Standard Shipping $50.00
Long Gun Standard Shipping $65.00
We strive to ship orders within the close of the following business day after payment and documentation is received.
Payment Details
We accept all forms of Payment including Personal Check, Business Check, PO Money Orders, Certified Check, Etc.
Please note we place a 7 business day hold on shipment, for all non-certified payments.
Return Policy
We gladly offer a 3 day unfired inspection policy from the time that the firearm is delivered to your FFL. Refunds are available for all qualifying orders.
Additional Details
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