I just purchased my first Ruger No.1 rifle. Kind of an impulse buy but I always wanted one. I thought it was fairly new by its condition but imagine my surprise when Rugers records dept. said it was shipped in December 1976! It has a red recoil pad and my question is what year did they stop using those?

Congratulations! The red pad was replaced by the black pad somewhere in the '92-'93 timeframe. I think it varies over a pretty wide serial number range.
You know that you can't have just one! Ruger No.1, that is.

You should also see the "200th Year" mark on the barrel!These normanly have some good wood...

Thank you for the replies! I have a lot to learn about number ones, and did'nt even know it was an older version. No problem, that just makes it better as far as I'm concerned. Hope to shoot it soon, meanwhile I am having fun just handling it.

If you enjoy the #1,buy the book from "El Numero Uno"
a must have....

+1

No 200th year mark on the barrel....The information I found on the internet regarding year of manufacture was 1972. Ruger called me back to say "shipped in December 1976". Could it in fact have sat around that long before shipping? Serial # is 130-39xxx.

A 130-39XXX is not 1972 rifle. The serial# is consistent with a December, 1976 production date.

21

Congratulations on your first No.1.

These guys can probably tell you if the red pad is anchored with flat head screws or Philips. Don't hesitate to ask questions, they will have the answers. Knowledgeable bunch around here.

How about posting some pix?

Jim

Just as El_Numero_Uno stated, I have owned a No.1 with a 1993 DOB, and it had a red pad.

Caution, Number Ones are addictive!!

If you want to learn about No. 1's, you can't get better reading material than the book suggested above. I believe Lee (El_Numero_Uno) can fix you up with one. Answers a lot of questions.

Pix are a must!!

Have I missed it somewhere? What is it chambered in?

No Liberty stamp? I wonder if it has been rebarreled.
To reiterate what others have said.......PICS please. This would also clear up a lot of the questions you/we have.
LC

Questions?
Probably more "we" then "you."

Jim

I have to learn how to post pics. I seriously doubt this gun has been rebarreled, it appears unfired. One small mark in the checkering possibly from getting bumped in the gun safe??? Makes you wonder if/why its been sitting around this long unused. The barrel has one line with rugers name and address, a pleasant difference from all the writing on the new ones. I'll definately try to get some pics up shortly and again, thanks everyone! Oh, and its a 22-250 by the way.