Friday, December 30, 2016

"REMEMBERING BILL" by Robert Weil


Bill Ruggie who passed on Nov 26, 2016 was a great friend indeed. 

When I was first attempting to assemble a collection of rifles to photograph for my book, Bill was the first collector to step up and offer his entire collection of Fred Riley guns!!!!  That was a big shot for me considering it was very difficult to convince most of the gun crowd to send theirs.

Bill was a player from the beginning of the revival. He had great taste and amassed a wonderful collection of guns, knives, bags and accouterments. 

His enthusiasm carried over into all his show displays, and also his term as a CLA President.  Our group is a mixed and varied bunch. The makers themselves cannot be fully appreciated or validated without the other side of the coin. And there you had Bill Ruggie.
RIP PAL.

Fred Riley Pistols from "Contemporary Makers" by Robert Weil.

Copy and photos supplied by Robert Weil.

1 comment:

  1. A fine tribute to a great guy. I only knew Bill for a few years but he was a friend and a great supporter if the Contemporary Longrifle movement.

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