Ruger Collectors Association

Hello everyone,

I am researching the experimental Ruger knife blade project from1966. There were probably less than 75-80 blades investment cast at Pine Tree Casting Corp.. A few of these blades are in collections and if you you have any would you please contact me, I need photos and want to ask some question about them so as to develop a more complete picture of the project. Chad, what do you know about these?

915.478.1868 or skiatookguncompany@att.net

Thanks, John

John, here is a picture from one of the calendars I did years ago. I can try and get some better photos. The upper knife has the number stamped on the handle end.

John, I remember somebody in the past telling me they were directly involved with the project, but don't remember who that was.
I'm pretty sure though it was Jim Hoobler who authored a fine article on the blades in one of the past RCA Journals.
Chet15

Chad,

Hoobler was the author of the RCA JOURNAL blade article, March 1983 Vol. 7 No.1. I remember when Jim bought his blades, we only lived about 100 miles apart up in the panhandle of Texas, which is as you can guess, "just down the road a piece" in Texas vernacular, So, we saw each other and talked long distance a lot and hunted & fished on his places. His blades were from Walter Berger's collection and are now in mine since 1984, and documented by Ruger & RCA.

My knife article is coming together, with the help of Bennett and Verzal and a couple other guys. There was a lot more to the project than one might think, but hopefully I will get it sorted out and in readable rational form. Did you do a RENE article on the blades?

Anyway, if you know of any blades out there I would appreciate it if you could direct the owners my way.

John

I never did do an article on the blades... wasn't much info around on them besides the Hoobler article. As I remember they were done in the mid 1960's, and I remember that polishing one alloy of blade (beryllium copper I think) gave off a toxic gas.
Chet15

Chad,

the blades were cast in late 1966. There were sample batches of 5 different alloys. Only two of them have 1.5 - 3% beryllium in the alloy. Beryllium Nickle and beryllium copper. The dust and fumes from grinding and polishing is toxic and can cause problems in the lungs. When my article comes out, everything will make sense, most of what we have always assumed about the blades in not true.

John