The Ruger logo

Jesse H · December 17, 2001, 12:47 AM

I was unable to find any information about it from Ruger's website. I just think it's a neat logo and was curious if there was any story behind it.

thanks

**Mal H** · December 17, 2001, 01:09 AM

Alexander Sturm designed the logo based on the legendary Phoenix bird. The original was red, but when Sturm died, Bill Ruger ordered that the red Phoenix be retired and that future Phoenix's would be in black in Sturm's honor (he also ordered that the name of the company would always have Sturm's name in first place; they were very close friends). The red Phoenix was resurrected (ironic, eh?) for the 50th anniversary of their first pistol.

Ballenxj · March 28, 2017, 08:55 PM

Mal H, that's a very interesting story, and makes sense now.
Sorry about reviving an ancient thread, but I think this should be seen again.
Thanks.

rickyrick · March 28, 2017, 09:37 PM

Funny, I always thought that it was red.

UncleEd · March 29, 2017, 06:04 PM

The Logo sometimes, but only sometimes, has the SR in the enter of the bird.

Mostly it's just R nowadays.

Corporately, Sturm is a nearly forgotten figure, I believe, despite Bill Ruger's intentions.

I doubt one in 50 buyers even thinks of the Sturm Ruger products, only Ruger.

North East Redneck · March 30, 2017, 09:41 PM

Learn something new everyday. Even in a 16 year old thread.

Pahoo · March 31, 2017, 10:24 AM

Quote:

The red Phoenix was resurrected (ironic, eh?) for the 50th anniversary of their first pistol

Mal,
Thanks for the information and perhaps you can help explain why you see MK-III's Hunters with the RED eagle. I thought the Hunter came out after the anniversary year. Is the RED eagle still being issued? .....

Be Safe !!!

Arnold S · April 1, 2017, 04:44 PM

Damn who unburied this one

It's a nice to know fact though!

bamaranger · April 7, 2017, 01:34 AM

Glad they did.

The comment was made that the SR eagle was based on the "Phoenix bird".

I don't know the full story on the "legendary Phoenix", other than it was a mythical creature from Greece and the middle east. But Alexander Sturm apparently had an interest and collected all sorts of cultural things, swords, gun, auto's.....and he had an interest in heraldry, the old concept of symbols on flags and shields.

What I find is that the eagle was Teutonic/Germanic based, and that fits with Sturm, (Germanic/nordic type name) and his interst in heraldry. Think of the German Bundesadler or the Reichsadler from modern Germany.

Maybe the Germans drew from the Greeks.....but I suspect thats two different cultures.

**44 AMP** · April 7, 2017, 11:27 AM

It's an Eagle, its a Phoenix, its a Dragon, its on some of Hank Williams Jr.'s albums (with permission!). Neither Sturm, nor Ruger are around to ask, anymore, and unless you have something in print, from them, stating Sturm's inspiration, its all just guesses.

Eagles have been used throughout history, throughout the world as symbols. If Eagles lived there (or had lived there) somebody used some variant of a stylized Eagle in their standard, logo, coat of arms, on their flag, etc.

Several of the ruling houses of Europe used eagles as their sign. Many different governments have also. The US does, the ROMANS did! Its not just a Nordic thing. (ok the Germans use it a LOT

)

Personally, I think the reason that the nobility and governments use(d) the Eagle is because a vulture was too close to the truth.

shuvelrider · April 7, 2017, 08:20 PM

All I know is that I own a Mark I Standard from the first
year of production, with the original grips and red eagle. I've put those away to preserve them, and put a pair of checkered walnut on the pistol for regular use. The gun came from an uncles estate back in 2004, he was 90 when he passed.

**4V50 Gary** · April 7, 2017, 08:57 PM

If you ever go to Phoenix, Arizona, look at their storm drains/manhole cover. I think I first noticed one at Pioneer Village. Pioneer Village is a collection of older houses, some of which were relocated there, and serves to interpret the frontier days of Phoenix. Fun place but it's also the first place where I noticed a storm drain/manhole cover.

Chris_B · April 8, 2017, 08:20 AM

Mal did not post that the red background was only for the 50th anniversary.

And re: the mythos of the Phoenix, we don't need to look to Europe etc. I'm surprised that you guys have forgotten the origins of the city of Phoenix's name. Take a look at the seal for that city, too.

December 17, 2001, 12:47 AM	#1
Jesse H Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2001 Location: Sugar Land, TX Posts: 573	The Ruger logo I was unable to find any information about it from Ruger's website. I just think it's a neat logo and was curious if there was any story behind it. thanks __________________ Jesse "We’ll raise up our glasses against evil forces Singing whiskey for my men, beer for my horses" -Toby Keith

March 30, 2017, 09:41 PM	#6
North East Redneck Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2012 Location: Berkshire Hills Posts: 741	Learn something new everyday. Even in a 16 year old thread. __________________ NRA Patron Member SAF Life Member GOAL Member

April 1, 2017, 04:44 PM	#8
Arnold S Junior Member Join Date: March 10, 2017 Location: On the range Posts: 12	Damn who unburied this one It's a nice to know fact though! __________________ Rifle Scope Reviews "I have a very strict gun control policy: if there's a gun around, I want to be in control of it." -Clint Eastwood

April 7, 2017, 01:34 AM	#9
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,303	Germanic Glad they did. The comment was made that the SR eagle was based on the "Phoenix bird". I don't know the full story on the "legendary Phoenix", other than it was a mythical creature from Greece and the middle east. But Alexander Sturm apparently had an interest and collected all sorts of cultural things, swords, gun, auto's.....and he had an interest in heraldry, the old concept of symbols on flags and shields. What I find is that the eagle was Teutonic/Germanic based, and that fits with Sturm, (Germanic/nordic type name) and his interst in heraldry. Think of the German Bundesadler or the Reichsadler from modern Germany. Maybe the Germans drew from the Greeks.....but I suspect thats two different cultures.

April 7, 2017, 11:27 AM	#10
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,820	Eagle icons It's an Eagle, its a Phoenix, its a Dragon, its on some of Hank Williams Jr.'s albums (with permission!). Neither Sturm, nor Ruger are around to ask, anymore, and unless you have something in print, from them, stating Sturm's inspiration, its all just guesses. Eagles have been used throughout history, throughout the world as symbols. If Eagles lived there (or had lived there) somebody used some variant of a stylized Eagle in their standard, logo, coat of arms, on their flag, etc. Several of the ruling houses of Europe used eagles as their sign. Many different governments have also. The US does, the ROMANS did! Its not just a Nordic thing. (ok the Germans use it a LOT ) Personally, I think the reason that the nobility and governments use(d) the Eagle is because a vulture was too close to the truth. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

December 17, 2001, 01:09 AM	#2
Mal H Staff Join Date: March 20, 1999 Location: Somewhere in the woods of Northern Virginia Posts: 16,949	Alexander Sturm designed the logo based on the legendary Phoenix bird. The original was red, but when Sturm died, Bill Ruger ordered that the red Phoenix be retired and that future Phoenix's would be in black in Sturm's honor (he also ordered that the name of the company would always have Sturm's name in first place; they were very close friends). The red Phoenix was resurrected (ironic, eh?) for the 50th anniversary of their first pistol.

March 28, 2017, 08:55 PM	#3
Ballenxj Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2006 Posts: 312	Mal H, that's a very interesting story, and makes sense now. Sorry about reviving an ancient thread, but I think this should be seen again. Thanks.

March 28, 2017, 09:37 PM	#4
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	Funny, I always thought that it was red.

March 29, 2017, 06:04 PM	#5
UncleEd Senior Member Join Date: April 13, 2013 Location: N. Georgia Posts: 1,150	The Logo sometimes, but only sometimes, has the SR in the enter of the bird. Mostly it's just R nowadays. Corporately, Sturm is a nearly forgotten figure, I believe, despite Bill Ruger's intentions. I doubt one in 50 buyers even thinks of the Sturm Ruger products, only Ruger.

April 7, 2017, 08:20 PM	#11
shuvelrider Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2011 Location: West Coast of Michigan Posts: 132	All I know is that I own a Mark I Standard from the first year of production, with the original grips and red eagle. I've put those away to preserve them, and put a pair of checkered walnut on the pistol for regular use. The gun came from an uncles estate back in 2004, he was 90 when he passed.

April 7, 2017, 08:57 PM	#12
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	If you ever go to Phoenix, Arizona, look at their storm drains/manhole cover. I think I first noticed one at Pioneer Village. Pioneer Village is a collection of older houses, some of which were relocated there, and serves to interpret the frontier days of Phoenix. Fun place but it's also the first place where I noticed a storm drain/manhole cover. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

April 8, 2017, 08:20 AM	#13
Chris_B Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2007 Posts: 3,101	Mal did not post that the red background was only for the 50th anniversary. And re: the mythos of the Phoenix, we don't need to look to Europe etc. I'm surprised that you guys have forgotten the origins of the city of Phoenix's name. Take a look at the seal for that city, too.