Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Ruger No. 1 - would fine matte models outsell a polished blue?

Thinking for hunting, it'd be more practical. IIRC Dakota's are matte correct?

Thoughts?

I sure hope not. Nothing uglier than matte anything.

Either one works for me; but generally, I think the blue is preferred. I really do not care for the "high polish" blue on the 2 Cabelas specials; ie, the .30/40 and the .300 H&H.

I guess uglier is safer for glare control is my thinking Brent.

If a wall hanger or bench gun, no doubt, polished blue, AAA wood, and scroll/engraving and inlays of your choice are fine LOL.

Seriously - alot of custom (synthetic stocked hunting rifles) and even factory rifles have gone to matte blue when not SS.

I strongly dislike ROUGH matte - don't get me wrong. I like a very fine bead blast.

Of course I am the rare No. 1 fan that also likes K1As - when in pretty wood as my last Swede.

Wonder how the 77 Hawkeye sales are in matte vs polished blue?

I respect everyones right to like different things - but me personally,
I prefer the gloss. I get aggravated because most of the scopes I like are hard to find in anything but matte. Have you looked at the Boddington series of No.1's?
If you're really hankering for matte... They gots it.

Jeff, I prefer gloss and I'm with you on the scopes.

On the No.1's for me gloss is a better looking rifle. The 77's matte finish is very thin and could be better!

do you guys really worry about glare control? Is it a real factor for you?

I shoot old guns that have lots of flat sides. Even on the barrels. If anything will glare, an octagon barreled highwall will. But it has never been a problem or issue for me.

A quality rust blue is pretty shiny, but not the plastic-coated like gloss of some modern "blueing" that I have seen. It gives me no problem, wears well, looks great.

I have no concern for glare control and consider it a market trick. Most likely the glare off a blued flat surface will mean nothing to some critter your stalking. If Carlos is out there looking or your worried about aircraft or someone finding you you might need to worry, but I don't think it is something to worry about.

All my full bore custom #1s are matte finish because they are hunting rifles not safe-pretties.

The #1 rifles I have that just get a rebore/rechamber stay finished as the factory made them. With over three dozen of them the cost to make them right is prohbiitive. I do have some camo barrel drapes that I use when needed.

MY factory models stay as is -- EXCEPT for my 25-06 SS/laminate 1B which had the highest glare SS finish I have ever seen on a rifle and it is now bead blasted and matte finished. Later, Ruger moved to a more satin type SS finish. They really screwed the pooch on that one.

Glare off a hunting rifle -- or a face for that matter -- from a setting sun low on the horizon late in the day fluoresces like a tracer round. I always have worn a camo face net since observing it from long distances years ago.

Are any sniper rifles are high gloss finished? Might there be a reason?

1B

yeah, snipers.

The blued finish that Ruger #1's come in is just right for me.

1B, years back in Rifle Colorado chasing Elk and Mulies I spotted something glinting, I could make it out later, a hunter, must have been close to or more than a mile off, it was his rifle barrel.

That was enough for me, I just don't want to give game any upper hand, I will take all the advantage I can

The current blued models are not terrible. No doubt, one reason I sold a GORGEOUS 243 Low Wall Browning was the HIGH gloss stock. It looked fabulous, but not really practical IMO for the field.

Jeff, I saw one of the CB models and it's an option for sure.

1B, I agree with your bead blasting, I would have done the same to a 77 SS in 350RM had my buddy not begged/forced me to sell it to him! LOL.

No doubt, a polished SS gun is worse on glare than the current No. 1s. The best thing to do is keep muzzle pointed AT game when possible, so there is less blued metal facing your animal. Bright sunny days is when I am most concerned, often hunting is when its cloudy, so conditions do vary and affect things.

Camo netting or tape is a quick cheap temporary option.

I bet the sniper who Carlos shot thru the guys scope, would have wished he had glare control on his objective lens.

Thankfully my targets are not armed!

Good luck in the field you guys.

BTW, I watched Larry Weishuhn dump a nice Mulie on a show the other day, RSI 270, an old fav or Larry's from back when I met him. He did good reloading a 2nd round as the first did not take him out. Not sure of the ammo but the buck was facing at an angle and hit around the shouler.

It made me miss my 243 RSI ....hard to get a Falling Block out of your blood - esp. after taking many animals with them.

If anything, I'd like to see the #1s be polished like the MK II M77s were. The smoother the finish, the easier they are to maintain in terms of corrosion.

Matt finishes seem to be a good idea. The Boddington series No. 1s also seem to be taking a long time to sell? jack

I like the matte.

I like the sights on the Boddington's also.

Circassion stocks also added some money.

I don't think the caliber options helped either.

My "leopard" and "lion" are both things of beauty, and in reasonable calibers for hunters in North America.
"Kudo" would work also.

"Elephant" and "Buff" have rather narrow uses.

(All of the above is my opinion, and should not be considered useful)

Mitch

JT, not seen alot of the CD models/prices but if the ltd. run pieces are jacked up in price, that alone will turn away alot of would be buyers, so I would not make any conclusions on matte vs blue demand when price is not apples to apples on a few matte models out there.

Besides the famous refined Farquharson action:
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Its the old world/modern - beautiful/blue finish, rich/walnut stock ...
that attracted me to the regal, Ruger #1's.

My most recent is a Ruger #1, 270 Win, RSI (Mannlicher stock).

IMO, 'matte' on a #1 would be an abomination.

(It wouldn't be so bad on my H&R 'Handi' however.)

I like the abomination of matte on a no 1, with a good bead blast treatment.

I dislike the factory wood and always dislike varnish / gloss finish on stocks, on any kind of gun.

So my no 1 is dark, matte oil rubbed stock with bead blasted black metal treatment.

I have a 7x57mm in the Boddington finish, and several with the polish blue. I've not found the polish blue to be a problem while hunting. I like em both, something different I suppose.

I am/have been curious as to the finish on the Stainless and if that is an issue in the field.
Although, I have used the SS77 without issue. I doonoo but I doubt it really matters. I think it's the movement and smell more than anything else that gives one away.