UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED)
                                OCTOBER 20, 2004

                          STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC.
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)




         DELAWARE                     001-10435                 06-0633559
(State or Other Jurisdiction   (Commission File Number)       (IRS Employer 
      of Incorporation)                                   Identification Number)


               ONE LACEY PLACE, SOUTHPORT, CONNECTICUT    06890
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

        Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 259-7843


         Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

         [ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the 
             Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

         [ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the 
             Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

         [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
             Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

         [ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
             Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))


                                   Page 1 of 8

ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION

         On October 20, 2004, the Company issued a press release to stockholders
and other interested parties regarding financial results for the third quarter
and nine months ended September 30, 2004. A copy of the press release is
furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated
herein by reference.

         The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K and the Exhibit
attached hereto shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in
any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except as
expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

                                       STURM, RUGER & COMPANY, INC.



                                       By:  /S/ THOMAS A. DINEEN
                                            ----------------------------------
                                            Name:  Thomas A. Dineen
                                            Title: Principal Financial Officer,
                                                   Treasurer and Chief Financial
                                                   Officer

Dated: October 20, 2004

                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

          EXHIBIT NUMBER                               DESCRIPTION

               99.1                          Press release of Sturm, Ruger & 
                                          Company, Inc., dated October 20, 2004,
                                             reporting the financial results 
                                                for the third quarter and 
                                           nine months ended September 30, 2004.