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                                                                       EXHIBIT 5


                 OPINION OF PATTERSON, BELKNAP, WEBB & TYLER LLP



                                                                January 5, 2001

Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
Lacey Place
Southport, Connecticut 06490

        Re: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. 2001 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee
            Directors

Dear Sirs:

         We have acted as counsel to Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the proposed registration by the
Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of 200,000
shares (the "Shares") of the Company's common stock, par value $1.00 per share
(the "Common Stock"), pursuant to the Company's registration statement on Form
S-8 (the "Registration Statement") filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") on the date hereof.

         In rendering this opinion we have examined the Company's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended to date and the minutes of the
corporate proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the authorization
of the Shares. We have also examined the originals, or copies certified or
otherwise identified to us, of the corporate records of the Company,
certificates of public officials and representatives of the Company, and such
other documents and records, and have made such investigations of law, as we
have deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion. We have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the conformity to the original of all copies and
the factual accuracy of all certificates submitted to us.

         On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company and when sold and delivered as contemplated by the Registration
Statement will constitute duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock.

         We express no opinion as to any laws other than the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware and the federal laws of the United States of
America.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In furnishing this opinion and giving
this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose
consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder.

                                        PATTERSON, BELKNAP, WEBB & TYLER LLP

                                        By: /s/
                                            Jeffrey E.LaGueux
                                            --------------------
                                            A Member of the Firm







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