The #3 was made to be an inexpensive utility gun, like a meat hunter or fur trapper would use. Most of the #3 stocks are straight grain walnut.
The #1s are more more expensive models with fancier stocks. Many #1 have Turkish walnut stocks.
99% of stocks for either gun are wood. I happen to own a set of after market simulated fancy wood, synthetic stocks for a #1. I thought the set unusual, so as a Ruger collector bought them at a show, cheap, for a duplicator pattern.
