Description:
The market for classic rifles has just about disappeared. There was a time that fine bolt-action rifles with pretty wood stocks were family heirlooms, to be passed down from one generation to the next. Unfortunately, we have come to the time when the next generation, and even the current generation, just doesn't care about such things. These days most of the people still interested in shooting, somewhere in the neighborhood of 88 percent of them, are satisfied with polyester "furniture" and stamped parts, just as long as that means semi-automatic. It's a world gone mad. The furniture term seems applicable, because those rifles have about as much class as plastic furniture would in your living room. It's going to be an interesting future.
Far away from that, totally at the other end of metallic cartridge rifle design, stands the Ruger No. 1. People are used to looking at them, since they've been around for half a century, so they sometimes forget how beautiful they are. And then there's the nay-sayers who have heard that they're not accurate, which is a bunch of bunk if you're willing to spend about half an hour to apply a simple bedding trick that we pass along to anyone interested. Sure, the accuracy complaints may have had some validity in the early days, but that's when Ruger was purchasing barrels from various companies. For several years they have been making their own excellent, smooth, and dead-straight barrels. The accuracy issue is no longer an issue.
The Ruger No. 1 has been produced in several different configurations, including the hefty "H" made for dangerous game, and the heavy-barreled "V" chambered for varmint cartridges. But the prettiest of the group is the elegant No. 1-A Light Sporter. For the man heading to the field, gripping the carry hand around the action is as comfortable as toting a Winchester lever action. For the person on horseback, nothing fits a slim scabbard better.
I have found, over many years of being an owner of No. 1 Rifles, that it's easy to make other gun owners jealous of them. I generally start the conversation moving toward sporting rifles with a few exceptionally sour remarks about the plethora of today's junk. That gets 'em going as easy as the right words did so many years ago when directed at another driver of a muscle car back in the '60s. Pretty soon you'd be out on that lonely road in the country to square off for the quarter mile, and a minute or two later he'd be handing over the $20 bill. Today, after enough jousting in the den, I grab the No. 1-S in 300 H&H Magnum and we head over to the range. Three shots in a nice little three-quarter-inch triangle works wonders in figuring out who's going to buy the steaks for tonight's cookout.
Today, Ruger No. 1 Rifles are scarce. Over the last three years, I think the factory has built an average of about nine a day. Can't be any profit in it. The retail price of $1400 is almost too good to believe, but that's a lingering example of the character of the company. Bill Ruger may be gone, but some of his spirit still remains. In recent months, Ruger has built a very limited quantity of No. 1-A Rifles in 222 Remington. Yes, you're reading it correctly, 222 Remington; the beloved "triple deuce." We are fortunate to have acquired two of these rifles, and now wish to put them into the hands of the heads of two households who understand real quality and passing valuable things down from generation to generation. if you are that kind of person, please deeply consider this elegant rifle and as always, our pricing will be below the suggested retail.
Condition:
New In Box
Brand:
ruger & company inc
Caliber:
.222 (all)
Item #:
977012823
Stock No.:
13-12
Location:
ID
Trades Accepted: No
Shipping Notes: $40.00 flat rate shipping to a current registered FFL in the lower 48. There is a 3% fee for the use
Northwest Magnum is devoted to customer service. We are a dealer for Cooper Firearms and we carry Remington Custom Shop rifles. We also carry Savage, Winchester, Sako, Beretta, Ruger, Smith and Wesson, and Browning. We have a small but classy gun shop in Salmon, Idaho (hometown of Elmer Keith).
