Vaughns (Primarily) Wrightson Gallery :: My Primarily Wrightson Gallery

One Millionth - Ruger Standard Automatic Pistol - James M Triggs

Artists: James Triggs (All) , Ray Viramontez (Finisher)

2 Comments - 5,155 Views - 0 Like

One Millionth - Ruger Standard Automatic Pistol - James M Triggs Comic Art

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Additional Images:

One Millionth Flyer - Reverse

One Millionth Flyer - Front

Prior to inlay - Photo 2

Prior to inlay - Photo 1

Framed

Presentation Case

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Artwork Details

Title:	One Millionth - Ruger Standard Automatic Pistol - James M Triggs
Artist:	James Triggs (All)
Artist:	Ray Viramontez (Finisher)
Media Type:	Paint - Acrylic
Art Type:	Interior Page
For Sale Status:	Offers Considered
Views:	5,155
Likes on CAF:	0 1
Comments:	2
Added to Site:	7/9/2014
Comic Art Archive:

Description

This will be my last update for a while and probably the most meaningful piece I'll ever have in my collection ever.

When I was a young man, 1979 - 1980 (19-20), my father was commissioned by William Ruger at the request of James Triggs, after James and my dad met. Over time, I got to watch this work come to fruition, and I can remember to this day the pride I felt for my father.

He engraved a lot of guns for a lot of people, but only a few which were really given "honorable mention" to the public, beyond appearing on covers and articles in magazines.

Anyway, I'll never own the gun, but I do have the original artwork James Triggs provided to my dad which was the template he used for the engraving. I've included a few extra photos, with a couple others I found of the finished engraving before the gold inlay.

I did find the article below which I took from the Nov/Dec 1980 issue of The American Handgunner, if you're interested in learning more about how the gun came to be.

To this day, I still couldn't be more proud of my father and his accomplishments,

-Vaughn

The article:

When the one millionth Ruger Standard Automatic Pistol came out of the Sturm, Ruger & Co. factory in 1979 it was designated the first Ruger anniversary commemorative. Engraved and gold inlaid by master engraver Ray Viramontez of Dayton, OH, and ivory handled by Ron Lang of Hays, KS. The pistol was donated to the International Shooter Development Fund, a non-profit organization affiliated with the NRA. The ISDF offered it to the highest bidder, to raise funds for the U.S: Shooting Team. It brought a high bid of $27,200, from Austin M. Wortley, Chairman of Penguin Industries of Coatesville, PA, who is now the proud owner of the one millionth Ruger Standard Auto. In continuous production since the company was founded in 1949, the .22 caliber Ruger pistol represents a design that was so successful from the very beginning that it became the cornerstone upon which one of the most comprehensive lines of sporting firearms ever made in the U.S. was established.

Old style Ruger "Red Eagle" medallions were inset in the grip panels, marking the pistol as the first Ruger firearm to be produced bearing ted medallions since 1951 when the color was changed to black by William B. Ruger to commemorate the passing of this friend and partner, Alexander M. Sturm. The pistol is contained in a special glass-topped display case and was shown at the SHOT show in San Francisco and at the NRA meeting in Kansas City. The signature of William B. Ruger has been gold inlaid into the barrel of the pistol, and the serial number 1000000 and other standard roll markings have been gold inlaid on the receiver. In addition, the Ruger trademark and 30th Anniversary logo have been inlaid in gold on the top of the receiver. W

Update 7/12/2014:

In my father's paperwork, I also found a couple of flyer's which were printed showing this One Millionth Ruger, providing the story, and announcing the auction.

Social/Sharing

About the Owner

	Joseph Vaughn
Joined:	September 2012
Last Login:	June 2025
Ebay Id:	Cheechwizard
Country:	UNITED STATES
On CAF:	Joseph's Want List Artworks Commented On Liked Art Site Activity on CAF

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Comments on this Artwork

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Troy C. Punswick
Member Since 2008

Posted on 7/9/2014

Great story, great art, and a cool looking gun!!!

Jeff Spain
Member Since 2006

Posted on 7/10/2014

I loved these in the 1970s and own several. A classic 22

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