Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Single Shots Status of the Ruger No.1-NOT Discontinued

Winchester just did the rimfires in the 1885 and my uninformed observation is they seem to sell very slowly and linger for a long while. I been patiently waiting to see some new center fire offering. Although there were a lot of Low Walls made in 22LR so it would seem to make sense. I did check online and they do now have traditional (crescent pain in the arm) hunter.The current 1885 rimfire sights are not very good, not for the money involved. I assume the tang is drill and tapped. So; it could have a tang sight added.

What are we going to do with a Ruger 22LR No1. Mount a scope and complain about the accuracy? Any chance of a real class act quality set of aperture sights? More than a marbles?

I know, I should be grateful the No1 remains alive and well. Ok, I am. But another $1200-1500 rimfire single shot, with nothing special about it? I would hope for more than just a collector novelty.

I am still interested in one of those 7.62x39s you have, but I'd like it to have just a wee little bit of character to the wood. If you get a chance to put your eyes on one that you think is decent, let me know and I'll buy it.

Perhaps I am a bit of an elitist, but I believe if Ruger gave us a Number One with consistently fancy wood with a street price of $1,500, they'd sell the living sh1t out of them.

Offer "cool" cartridges, like the .280 Ackley, .30-30 Winchester, .30-40 Krag and such, and mostly in the 1A or 1AB.

Treat the rifle as the flagship of the line rather than as the poor step-sister.

Trust me, RGR could make significant money on this puppy, if they handled it right ... and we, the hunters and collectors, would LOVE the rifles. Literally, everybody WINS.

Steve

I don't know who's at Ruger's helm in the wood buying department, but somehow they're able to source the plainest wood this side of a slit rail fence. My lust for #1s has largely been killed by rarity of pretty walnut. Unique/quirky/looney chamberings are nice, but if the wood doesn't match the otherwise classy lines of the rifle, then a guy might as well build one from scratch and ensure he's not only getting the chamber he wants but a match barrel and the grade of walnut he's after too.

BTW, the #1's I'd want would be either B's or ABs, in .17 Hornet, .22LR, .222Rem, 6.5x55, 7x57 and .300 H&H.

But none of this matters when Ruger's walnut looks like celebrities w/o makeup!

I'd really like a 1-V in 22 LR.

Steve, I agree. It's not well-suited to be a budget rifle, but oh my, it can be a very nice rifle! Love 'em.

Guy

The market for the Browning single-shots, most of which have nice to stunning wood is pretty strong. The Winchester-branded ones, with mostly plain wood, don't seem to do so well. Funny thing is that CF models are often discounted, but not the RFs.

I am not sure how to take the longevity of the 1885 rim fires and lack of a next models. I was "guessing" they were waiting to sell all the rimfires before they offered the next model. Your take is they are selling well and are being produced instead of a new hi/lo wall offering. Which I wonder is the case? I also suspect the availability of the 1885 rimfire may have satisfied some of the rimfire demand for a No1.

I have a Winchester 1885 Tradition Hunter with nice enough wood. I dont see enough to dispute the averages.

More choices the better. I passed up the CZ/Brno effect based on pictures. After that was discontinued from import to usa, I handled one. Pretty nice gun after all. Sorry that is gone. I digress.

I look forward to some truly interesting/different No1s. They did a Lyman that was very cool. Maybe Ruger will think a little out of the box. More than just the oddball cartridge game. I dont see the big deal cartridge a,b,c who cares? A rimfire could work. But not just another No1 that just happens to be a 22lr. Make it something special! How about a aparture sight, fancy lever, palm rest 19th century target style rifle. Something,...

Ruger indeed grabbed a lot of attention in the 1970's, when you could buy one with spectacular wood for a modest cost. They were a heck of a value.

I'd still like to see Ruger make a smaller, lighter single shot action - maybe one based on the Winchester Low Wall? They've made 1911 pistols, so perhaps they could also update the old JMB design? Figure this action would be limited to 30-06 size cases and smaller.

There is no shortage of used No1's with nice wood from the old days. I can buy one of those anytime. I am sure nice wood, could go a long way to promote sales. Still how many did most of us buy in the 1970s? I had one. I propose they try a little imagination with new and special models. There is a rich history of single shot rifles that can be borrowed from for inspiration. If they guess right, I could go for a 3rd. It is going to take more than nice wood in some "special" caliber to get my dollars.

I am glad they are back in the game. I anxiously wait to see what the future brings.

I have 7 of them from the 1970's. All have nice wood, with the exception of a .30-06 #1B - which I inherited. It is a fine shooter, and was one of Dad's favorites.

That sounds very nice. The last one especially. I wish I had my fathers gun. But mom sold all his stuff before I was old enough to have a say in it. She had her hands full. It is understandable.

Twenty years ago I ordered a #1B in .300Win and a #1V in .223 and crossed my fingers with the wood grain. Both are OK, but don't compare with the photos of the '70's wood.

About 12-13yrs ago I found a #1H at Sportsmans in .375H&H with a jaw-dropping GORGEOUS walnut stock (and unmatched, plain forend). If it'd been chambered in anything smaller I'd have bought it in a second. I still kick myself for not buying it and then trying to figure out what to do later.

I think you got me wrong. I think the Winchester-branded ones don't sell very well at all, because they have plain wood, and I've heard that even the metal finish isn't up to the level of the Brownings. The rimfires might sell well at $800-$900, plain wood and all, but not so much at $1200 or thereabouts. The CFs in some calibers are widely discounted, but many of them are the silly 16 1-2" Trapper models that are cute, but not very practical shooters.

I did see a nice .38/55 Hunter model recently at a decent price, but I'm not able to buy it right now.

A little patience will get you a beautiful Browning in like-new condition or even NIB, which is how I got my .44. My Hornet was picked up new at my LGS for $695, albeit 15 years ago. Might be the best rifle I own, though I don't shoot it all that much.

I have not seen an 1885 rimfire. That would make sense if the finish was cheaped out. I think, it would be reasonable to cut back on the finish if the price was dropped accordingly. And if not, then it should be a problem.

You never know. There are some buyers who honestly believe a matt finish is some hi-end anti glare hunting finish and the industry was quick to jump on that opportunity to cheap out the finish on many guns. Leopold to their credit, retains the gloss finish as an extra cost option. Honesty. If Leopold did not do that, they would be at a competitive disadvantage with everybody else with a cheapo matt finish and a big percentage of the buyers who dont care.

This is awesome news!

RugerRebel: I agree with you - if indeed it is true, and I surely hope it is!
And by the way WELCOME to the Campfire.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

1st post, and it's in a No.1 thread.

pretty cool

I would gobble up a #1 in 30/30 or 25/35

They made 30/30 and 30/40. Maybe you know. I would have though 30/30 would be more popular No1 since it is a great old rimmed classic. I see the occasional 30/40, not sure I have seen a 30/30 on the rack. They must be out there. Typical used No1 condition is like new.