The Shooter’s Companion

Shotguns·makers·models·history

An independent reference on sporting shotguns, for shooters, collectors, buyers and sellers.

Sturm, Ruger & Company

Drawing of a river passing houses and mill buildings among the wooded hills around Newport, New Hampshire.
Drawing: Newport in the New Hampshire hills.

Origins

Bill Ruger founded the business with Alexander Sturm in 1949, in a small shop in Southport, Connecticut.2 Sturm supplied the capital and designed the company's logo.3 The company incorporated in its present form under Delaware law in 1969.1 Its 2025 annual report places its design and manufacturing operations in the United States, with almost all product content domestic.4

Ruger established a casting company in 1963, the year its shares were first offered to the public.5 Its shares have traded on the New York Stock Exchange as RGR since 1990.6 Its brands include Ruger, Marlin and Glenfield.7

Factories and partners

Ruger's first shop stood in Southport, Connecticut.2 Its Newport, New Hampshire, plant opened in 1963 to manufacture the company's own components.2 In its February 2014 earnings call Ruger confirmed that it made the redesigned Red Label at Newport.8, 9 In 2025 Ruger made firearms at Newport, Prescott in Arizona, Mayodan in North Carolina and Hebron in Kentucky.10, 11

Ruger announced the Red Label III in December 2025, naming Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing Company as its builder.12, 13 Ruger offered it in with 28- or 30-inch barrels.14

Timeline

1949

Bill Ruger and Alexander Sturm establish the firearm business in Southport.2

1951

Sturm dies, and Ruger changes its eagle logo from red to black in his memory.15

1963

Ruger opens its Newport plant to produce firearm components.2

1963

Ruger establishes its casting company and offers stock to the public.5

1969

Ruger incorporates in its present form under Delaware law.1

1977

Ruger launches the original Red Label.16

1978

Ruger's original Red Label production table begins.17

1979

Ruger adds a Red Label.18

1990

Ruger lists on the New York Stock Exchange as RGR.6

1992

Ruger offers a Red Label.18

1994

Ruger scales the Red Label receiver for barrels.18

2011

Ruger suspends Red Label production.19

24 October 2013

Ruger announces the redesigned Red Label.20

2015

Ruger confirms that it has retired the revived Red Label after missing its manufacturing goals.21, 22

July 2025

Ruger acquires its Hebron, Kentucky, facility.11

24 December 2025

Ruger announces the Red Label III.12

Families and models

Ruger launched the Red Label in 1977, and the production table for the original begins in 1978.16, 17 The followed in 1979, a Sporting Clays version in 1992 and a smaller receiver for the in 1994.18 Ruger suspended production in 2011.19 It announced a redesigned in October 2013 and confirmed its retirement in 2015.20, 23, 21, 22

The Red Label III followed in December 2025.12 It is a sporting shotgun for upland game, , sporting clays and wildfowling.24 It has a that resets through recoil, an automatic tang with a , and a walnut with a hand-rubbed .14

Reading the names and numbers

Red Label was at first the name of the planned field grade of Ruger's Over and Under.25 Ruger also planned Blue Label and Gold Label grades, but shelved them as the public adopted Red Label as the gun's name.25

Marks

Alexander Sturm designed Ruger's logo.3 After his death in 1951 Ruger changed the eagle from red to black, and it stayed black through the company's 1999 anniversary.15 The Red Label III bears the Red Label name and Roman numeral III on its polished, blued frame.26

Ruger's serial tables give the approximate first number shipped in each year.27 Serial blocks can be made out of order, and guns can stay in storage before shipment.27 For an individual gun, Ruger offers a Letter of Authenticity confirming its details.27

Drawing of the action of an over-and-under shotgun.
Drawing: Detail of an over-and-under action.

Sources

  1. Ruger Annual Report 2025, Origins and incorporation. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  2. Congressional tribute to William B. Ruger: founding and Newport plant, Founding and Newport opening. United States Congress, 2002. magazine
  3. Sturm, Ruger & Company: A History, Founders. American Rifleman, 2022. magazine
  4. Ruger Annual Report 2025, American operations. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  5. Sturm, Ruger & Company: A History, Casting and public ownership. American Rifleman, 2022. magazine
  6. Ruger investor relations, Public listing. Sturm, Ruger & Company. maker website
  7. Ruger investor relations, Group brands. Sturm, Ruger & Company. maker website
  8. Ruger fourth-quarter 2013 earnings call: Newport shotgun production, Call date. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2014. maker website
  9. Ruger fourth-quarter 2013 earnings call: Newport shotgun production, Newport production. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2014. maker website
  10. Ruger Annual Report 2025, Report year. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  11. Ruger Annual Report 2025, Current factories. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  12. Ruger Announces the Return of an American Legend: The Ruger Red Label III, Dated announcement. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  13. Ruger Announces the Return of an American Legend: The Ruger Red Label III, CSMC partnership. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  14. Ruger Announces the Return of an American Legend: The Ruger Red Label III, Gauge and barrels. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  15. Sturm, Ruger & Company: A History, Eagle logo. American Rifleman, 2022. magazine
  16. Ruger Announces the Return of an American Legend: The Ruger Red Label III, Original launch. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  17. Ruger original 20-gauge Red Label serial history, Production table. Sturm, Ruger & Company. maker website
  18. The Ruger Red Label Shotgun: A Look Back, Gauge and sporting changes. American Rifleman, 2016. magazine
  19. The Ruger Red Label Shotgun: A Look Back, First discontinuation. American Rifleman, 2016. magazine
  20. Ruger Announces Redesigned Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun, Dated announcement. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2013. maker website
  21. Ruger annual meeting 2015: Red Label retirement, Annual meeting date. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2015. maker website
  22. Ruger annual meeting 2015: Red Label retirement, Retirement. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2015. maker website
  23. Ruger Announces Redesigned Red Label Over-and-Under Shotgun, Redesigned shotgun. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2013. maker website
  24. Ruger Announces the Return of an American Legend: The Ruger Red Label III, Sporting uses. Sturm, Ruger & Company, 2025. maker website
  25. Ruger Red Label III Shotgun: Full Review, Red Label name. Guns & Ammo, 2026. magazine
  26. Ruger Red Label III Shotgun: Full Review, III receiver marking. Guns & Ammo, 2026. magazine
  27. Ruger revived 12-gauge Red Label serial history, Dating caveat and authenticity letters. Sturm, Ruger & Company. maker website

Revised 2026-10-14