Abstract: A variable rake stair rail assembly which includes a hand rail, a shoe rail, and a plurality of elongated balusters extending intermediate the shoe rail and the hand rail. Means are provided for joining each of the balusters to the hand rail and the shoe rail. The hand rail and shoe rail may be channel shaped. The means comprises an elongated member extending into at least one end of each baluster and having a generally enlarged axial extremity disposed in spaced relationship to the baluster which cooperates with a strip shaped member fixed to at least one of the rails. The strip shaped member has an opening disposed therein for accepting the enlarged axial extremity of the elongated member, without removal from the end of the baluster. In a preferred embodiment, each of the strip shaped members may include a tongue shaped portion defining one side of each of the openings. Each of the tongues may be elongated and have a width at a first axial portion which is smaller than at a second axial portion.