BlackVenom,
Just so you know, the LugerForum is inhabited by some of the most knowledgeable and highly respected collectors in the world (I am certainly NOT one of them, but a recent newcomer like yourself). These guys have forgotten more about collectable pistols than you and I will ever know. I post on gun boards all over the internet, but these guys are at the top of the food chain.
That being said, the Ruger is indeed an absolute classic. After World War II, many skilled laborers came from Europe to the US. Colt and other manufacturers were producing pistols of extremely high quality. Even the "low end" models (like the Colt Challenger .22 (1950) pictured below) were of very high quality and not inexpensive in their day. Ruger designed a pistol that could be produced more economically, with a lower level of finish but similar performance. His pistol was very successful and filled a niche for economical/accurate pistols to be carried afield and to the range. His design has withstood the test of time and continues to enjoy robust sales. The "Ruger" (nothing to do with Luger except grip design and a rhyming name) is truly an American classic.
Jack
