I read a post recently where the poster states that he had a very low serial number (3-digit) Ruger # 1 that had a salt wood fore-end. This is the first I have ever heard of Ruger #1's having salt wood stocks. True or internet rumor?

drover

It could happen to anyone. There is no organization out there that tracks the pedigree of every piece of wood ever produced.

yes, they do exist on Rugers, though I have heard of it more often later, in the mid-70's. I have two of them myself. One I'll probably restock, the other I'm trying to save the wood.

Thanks for the info. I had only heard of this on some of the Browning rifles.

drover

Pardon my ignorance, but what the h###ll is "salt wood"?

It was an ill-fated wood curing process that was used primarily by Browning that didn't work out so well and resulted in a lot of rusted guns.

Google "Browning salt wood"....

Thank you

It was, I believe, their supplier that used the process to speed up the delivery of blanks to customers. Winchester also got a few, I've read. The mess almost sank Browning.

From what I've read, the only safe thing to do is restock, as efforts to de-salt and/or seal off the salt generally fail. Some have succeeded, perhaps, but not many.

The problem scares me away from a lot of internet auctions of nice Brownings. Some sellers state that their items are salt free, but I've also had some decline to even answer a question about it.

Yes, it was a wood supplier that used the salt-curing process. Browning got a bunch of their wood, and it was particularly a problem with their high-grade guns because they used fancy wood, which takes longer to dry than plain-grade wood, so was more often salt-cured.

But the same supplier also sold wood to several other firearms manufacturers, and they got "salted" too. This took place in the late 60's and early 70's, as I recall.

Several stock makers suggest wood should air dry for 6 to 8 years before workup. Suppliers found that burying blanks in salt expedited drying, hence a quicker profit. Some salt, however, manages to immigrate into the wood and then subsequently migrate out with moist condtions. On then ends up with rust or pitting in areas with wood/metal contact. Most regularly seen along the upper edges of ones rifle where moisture typically falls.

I have heard of No. 1's with salt wood problems in the forums but have never seen one or had one.

I wonder if there is a "test" one can do to determine if a gun has salt wood?

A swab of the wood with a silver nitrate solution (the swab will turn a different color if there is salt present) is considered to be the best test....

Thanks

I'm the guy with SN 651, a .375 presented to Larry Larson, one of the engineers who assisted in the design of the Number One, by Bill Ruger...a salt wood gun it was completely restored at no cost to me by Ruger with a beautiful piece of Circassian. Ruger also replaced all the action innards which were badly damaged by the salt. The rear swivel post actually broke off from the corrosive effect of the salt...

I bought the rifle from Larry's daughter after he passed away. It appears unfired. He also did contract work for USRA and I have his specially made .257 Roberts, a highly embellished M70 Featherweight, similar in appearance to the .270s they made.

It was the buttstock that was salt wood...

I bought an early 130- prefix #1 from Cabelas last year. There was a little blistering around the receiver between the stock and receiver. I disassembled the rifle and discovered the action to be inundated with rust. I immediately thought of salt wood as the cause. Took it back to Cabelas and they gave me a refund. The gun library manager said he would send it to Ruger for resolution. Never heard how that went.

Dave

Or lick the stock and taste for salt?



Sorry, carry on..............

Another reason to block illegal immigration.