Curious Relics #077: Ruby at The Range – Spanish Ruby Pistol
Sam.S 11.15.23
Welcome to the 4th and final installment of our Spanish Ruby pistol series. In the previous parts, we explored the history, variations, dating intricacies, and accessory landscape of these World War I relics. To wrap things up, we’ll now take a look at how these vintage pistols handle in a modern range session. After learning about the Ruby’s cobbled-together origins, it will be enlightening to test their real-world accuracy and reliability today. Let’s dive right in!
Other Curious Relics:
- Curious Relics #074: A Historic Gem – The Spanish Ruby
- Curious Relics #075: A Dime a Dozen – The Spanish Ruby Pistol
- Curious Relics #076: Ruby in The Rough – Spanish Ruby Pistol
- Curious Relics #065: Eight Times Better Than 22 – 30 Rimfire
- Curious Relics #060: Best Tool For the Job – Paul Mauser Book Review
Welcome to our recurring series of “Curious Relics.” Here, we want to share all of our experiences, knowledge, misadventures, and passion for older firearms that one might categorize as a Curio & Relic – any firearm that is at least 50 years old according to the ATF. Hopefully along the way you can garner a greater appreciation for older firearms like we do, and simultaneously you can teach us things as well through sharing your own expertise and thoughts in the Comments. Understanding the firearms of old, their importance, and their development which lead to many of the arms we now cherish today is incredibly fascinating and we hope you enjoy what we have to share, too!
Range Time: Spanish Ruby Pistol
Having handled this particular Ruby before, I’m very familiar with its crude, heavy all-steel design. The grip fits my average-sized hand decently, though the pistol feels a bit muzzle-light in terms of balance. Despite the fairly straight grip angle, the Ruby points naturally when I raise it up to aim down range. The sights are admittedly basic but adequate for a pocket pistol of its era.
Loading the single-stack magazine and inserting it into the mag well went smoothly during my recent range session. However, my particular magazine can cause rounds to nose-dive if I try loading it too quickly or carelessly. On a positive note, the strong magazine heel release lever was noticeably easier to operate than some other vintage pistols I’ve tried out.
Once at the range, the century-old Ruby ran flawlessly with no malfunctions whatsoever through several full magazines of FMJ ammunition. The mild .32 ACP recoil impulse felt very soft and manageable due to the Ruby’s all-steel-heavy frame. However, I did struggle to achieve consistent accuracy with most slow-fire groups landing disappointingly low and left compared to my intended point of aim at 15 yards.
The trigger pull was quite heavy and gritty, though it exhibited a reasonably crisp break when firing. Despite its advanced age, racking the Ruby’s slide felt smooth and light, and manipulating the various controls like the safety lever was intuitive throughout my entire range test. While slow, deliberate aiming is certainly required, the rugged Ruby ultimately proved a reliable companion at the range, offering me a uniquely tangible connection to the past as a firearms enthusiast. Getting to test fire this fascinating relic brought history to life in a way static museum displays simply cannot. Although I hardly see these Ruby pistols in display cases.
Firing the Ruby was comfortable and controllable thanks to its thick wooden grips filling the hand and the pistol’s all-steel heft taming recoil. The minimal impulse of .32 ACP made for an overall very soft-shooting and manageable experience. The nicely checkered grip panels supplied a secure, ergonomic hold, even with sweaty palms after extended shooting.
Though crude and basic compared to modern pistols, operating the Ruby provided enlightening glimpses into the austere realities of early 20th-century firearms manufacturing. Testing this fascinating historical relic first-hand was an educational privilege and a true joy.
Final Thoughts: Spanish Ruby Pistol
While admittedly crude in design, the decades-old Spanish Ruby proved reliable during my range session, with no malfunctions across several magazines of ammo. Accuracy left something to be desired, with groups consistently landing low and left, but I attributed this more to the pistol’s rudimentary sights than any mechanical deficiency. The heavy all-steel construction soaked up .32 ACP recoil effortlessly. The Ruby remains a fascinating case study of innovation under pressure. This range test brought new life to a fascinating but often overlooked relic.
In closing, I hope our Curious Relics segment informed as well as entertained. This all was written in hopes of continued firearm appreciation and preservation. We did not just realize how guns were supposed to look and function. It was a long and tedious process that has shaped the world we live in. So, I put it to you! Is there a firearm out there that you feel does not get much notoriety? What should our next Curious Relics topic cover? As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback.
