Ruger 10/22 22LR,18" barrel marked "Hanen Sportsman",serial # 54481 made in 1966.
In the 1960's, one of the larger firearms distributors in the United States was Dayton Gun Headquarters. The president and the owner of this organization was Joseph Hanen. Besides his gun business, Hanen was also a gun collector, an avid shooter and had enough overall knowledge of guns and their workings to be classified as a firearms expert by many.
Although Bill Ruger had intentionally sought to lighten the 10/22 via cutouts in the forearm and holes in the butt, Hanen felt the gun was too light. Because he liked the basic qualities of the 10/22, he set out to make it better. The three faults that he ascribed to the gun were: poor overall balance, generally too light in weight, and a rough trigger pull. These were all correctible.
According to a previous employee of Dayton Gun Headquarters, Hanen had working for him an elderly woman who was very competent in a variety of gunsmithing chores. Hanen laid out the task for her to improve the 10/22, and she turned out nearly 200 of what became known as the "Hanen Sportman."
These guns had the trigger workings honed and approximately 1 1/2 pounds of lead added the the forearm and butt to increase heft and balance. The lead in the forearm required no wood removal. Two holes were drilled deep in the butt and these, too, were filled with lead. The holes were of smaller diameter than the single hole applied by Overton. (Ruger stockmaker '64-'71)
Examination of one of these lead-filled stocks reveals what appears to be traces of a glue or epoxy around the edge of the lead. Perhaps such a material was placed in the holes, prior to their being filled with lead, to ensure that the lead would not fall out.
Each of the Hanen conversions bears a stamp on the right side of the barrel which reads, "HANEN SPORTSMAN." These guns were made up in a variety of models. To date, only five Hanens have been reported (are known). The ex-employee, from the Dayton Gun Headquarters, who provided the information to the author, comma, owns one that is an International.
A carbine recently surfaced. It is serial number 115941. Among the rarest are two checkered Fingergrooves. Their serial numbers are 74228 and 74385. And there is a non-checkered Fingergroove which is D115112. The 74228 gun was shipped in May of 1966 and the "D" gun in May of 1968. Thus it appears that this venture was spread over at least a two year period.?
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