Standing Wolf
Member in memoriam
Actually, I believe he has a good eye for design and marketing people.
Who's the "Steve Jobs" of the gun industry?
- Thread starter Skans
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Actually, I believe he has a good eye for design and marketing people.
A lot of great ...
...responses here.
For pure innovation of existing products, Bill Ruger surely has an edge. He brought investment casting to the fore. He also "single-handedly" (sorry for the pun) brought back the single-action revolver, making great advancements, so the familiar design would handle hotter modern cartridges, something the old Colt Model P could never do. He also brought to modernization the single-shot rifle. The Ruger No. 1 is absolutely elegant.
The Model 77 just about slammed the door on the Model 70 (post-64). They're accurate, reasonably priced, and great value for the money.
He also entered into the modern revolver fray with the Security Six. Not taking either side (Colt v. S&W), he brought a very innovative design to the market.
Most famously however, is the Ruger Mark I. Simple in concept, it brought real affordability to the average shooter wanting a semiauto, but unable to afford a Colt Woodsman.
Granted, none of his designs were original in the sense that they broke new ground, but Bill Ruger knew how to get the most from his modifications.
In the 19th century, there were lots of designs, in both handguns and rifles, which didn't survive in the market place. Savage and Remington both had revolvers which didn't survive. Any number of repeating rifle designs died because they weren't strong enough or were much too "Rube Goldberg-ish" in their designs. There were semiatuo designs (Mauser and Luger) which died after a few years. And probably many hundreds more we can't remember.
Right now, the PC world is broken into roughly two camps - Apple and Intel. Apple still carries the day when it comes to innovation. However, for pure utility, Intel-type PC's rule the world. When it comes to software, again Apple is innovative, but Microsoft Office rules the business world.
For pure genius over a breadth of firearm designs, John M. Browning is probably the best. Who else designed as many different firearms?
Based on sheer diversity of products, Browning surely has the edge.
...responses here.
For pure innovation of existing products, Bill Ruger surely has an edge. He brought investment casting to the fore. He also "single-handedly" (sorry for the pun) brought back the single-action revolver, making great advancements, so the familiar design would handle hotter modern cartridges, something the old Colt Model P could never do. He also brought to modernization the single-shot rifle. The Ruger No. 1 is absolutely elegant.
The Model 77 just about slammed the door on the Model 70 (post-64). They're accurate, reasonably priced, and great value for the money.
He also entered into the modern revolver fray with the Security Six. Not taking either side (Colt v. S&W), he brought a very innovative design to the market.
Most famously however, is the Ruger Mark I. Simple in concept, it brought real affordability to the average shooter wanting a semiauto, but unable to afford a Colt Woodsman.
Granted, none of his designs were original in the sense that they broke new ground, but Bill Ruger knew how to get the most from his modifications.
In the 19th century, there were lots of designs, in both handguns and rifles, which didn't survive in the market place. Savage and Remington both had revolvers which didn't survive. Any number of repeating rifle designs died because they weren't strong enough or were much too "Rube Goldberg-ish" in their designs. There were semiatuo designs (Mauser and Luger) which died after a few years. And probably many hundreds more we can't remember.
Right now, the PC world is broken into roughly two camps - Apple and Intel. Apple still carries the day when it comes to innovation. However, for pure utility, Intel-type PC's rule the world. When it comes to software, again Apple is innovative, but Microsoft Office rules the business world.
For pure genius over a breadth of firearm designs, John M. Browning is probably the best. Who else designed as many different firearms?
- Model 1885 Winchester
- Model 1886 Winchester
- Early Model 19xx semiautos
- Model 1911
- Model 1935 (with post-mortem finishing design by Dieudonne Saive)
- Browning Automatic Rifle
- Browning Automatic Shotgun
- Browning light and medium (Model 1918, etc.) machine guns
- Browning .50 caliber machine gun
- Browning Superposed shotgun
Based on sheer diversity of products, Browning surely has the edge.
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That would be Ron Coburn, and he gets my vote, too. He took a bankrupt company and made it one of the most successful rifle manufacturers in the country.
Browning was a great designer and employee, but it never occurred to him to make and market his own designs, so he isn't a businees type or CEO.
Coburn was also a leader. As he walked through the Savage plant in its dark days, he noticed it was really dark. Then he noticed how dirty the windows were. He didn't have money for anything, he later said. But it only took a ladder, bucket and mop (along with some elbow grease) to fix that problem. So he rounded up the necessary equipment and cleaned as many windows as he could before he had to go back to his "other job" in the front office. When he came back through the plant, all the windows had been washed, and people were starting to clean up the place, like it mattered once more.
Justin Moon
The steve jobs of modern gun manufacturing is Justin Moon ( or Kook to His family ). Kind of a mix of a Modern American education ( Harvard ) and a cult like Father for investment capital ( Daddy Moonie ) and the usual American youth bravado ( chose Kahr for the name of His company because it sounded cool, like a muscle car ) meets designer capitalist of CCW weapons.
Bill Ruger is more like the Ray Kroc of guns in my opinion..........WVleo
The steve jobs of modern gun manufacturing is Justin Moon ( or Kook to His family ). Kind of a mix of a Modern American education ( Harvard ) and a cult like Father for investment capital ( Daddy Moonie ) and the usual American youth bravado ( chose Kahr for the name of His company because it sounded cool, like a muscle car ) meets designer capitalist of CCW weapons.
Bill Ruger is more like the Ray Kroc of guns in my opinion..........WVleo
aroundchicago
New member
JMB
Gaston Glock
Eugene Stoner
Mikhail Kalashnikov
Gaston Glock
Eugene Stoner
Mikhail Kalashnikov
I second the suggestion about Gaston Glock. After all Steve Jobs did a good job in making a few useful improvement in electronics (especially design and interface improvements) a matter of "cult".
Same applies so Glocks. They have a breaktrhough in materials when compared to the mainstream (plastics), some other in ergonomics (I compare the trigger of the Glock to the one button mouse of the Apples either you love it or you hate it) and most of it in creating a sort of "mystic aura" around a weapon that does the same things the others do. Like Apple vs PC....
K.
Same applies so Glocks. They have a breaktrhough in materials when compared to the mainstream (plastics), some other in ergonomics (I compare the trigger of the Glock to the one button mouse of the Apples either you love it or you hate it) and most of it in creating a sort of "mystic aura" around a weapon that does the same things the others do. Like Apple vs PC....
K.
When you think of the SJ of the gun industry, think of what his company represents and produces. An influential character is not necessarily the SJ of the gun industry.
In my opinion, it would have to be someone who is trendy, advertises guns as fashion/looks, and produces a product that is more convenient. Kahr represents this in every way in my eyes. Just look at their last catalog and tell me they aren't appealing to fashion (Asian girl in several outfits posing with their guns). I also tend to think that apple makes under-powered and expensive gadgets, like kahr.
In my opinion, it would have to be someone who is trendy, advertises guns as fashion/looks, and produces a product that is more convenient. Kahr represents this in every way in my eyes. Just look at their last catalog and tell me they aren't appealing to fashion (Asian girl in several outfits posing with their guns). I also tend to think that apple makes under-powered and expensive gadgets, like kahr.
GoOfY-FoOt
New member
Who at FN Herstal designed the FN Five seveN and the PS-90???
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Take a look at KelTec's lineup...seriously. As far as innovative & forward thinking, I can't think of any other manufacturer doing what KT is doing. The folding SUB-2000 and SU-16 carbines, RFB, KSG, PMR-30, upcoming RMR-30...etc, etc.
KelTec is the one to look out for with George Kellgren at the helm...
KelTec is the one to look out for with George Kellgren at the helm...