I have aquired a 26" .411" barrel blank which will allow me to build a long time dream-project - a single shot .450/400 rifle. I have also aquired a Ruger No3 action and so intend to use it for the project. However, the Ruger No3 lever will need to be modified to fit the pistol grip stock that this rifle will wear.
I have a number of ideas about how the lever might look, but I was wondering if any of the AR members had an suggestions on this matter.
Posts: 909 | Location: Blackheath, NSW, Australia | Registered: 26 May 2002
I don't have a No 3 right now, so I can't check, but I would think you could just swap out a No 1 lever. Might have to cut the locking notch. I once converted a No 3 to 45-120, and kept the same lever with a PG stock, and it really wasn't too bad. Look at the Browning 1885. Same setup.
Personally, I would recommend selling the No. 3 and Buying a No. 1 for the conversion. No 3's are kinda collectable now, and you should easily get enough for a used No 1, and would already have a decent PG stock to boot.
Posts: 1238 | Location: Lexington, Kentucky, USA | Registered: 04 February 2003
For that caliber I'd do nothing but convert it to a side lever like a Springer, Gibbs, Frasier, Alex Henry and others.
Cut the front extension and shape it so it doesn's show from the side, (NO, Not the mainspring strut, the extended part of the receiver that marks it as a Number One. The little bevels on both front sides of the receiver ring looks good if welded up, too.
There's a LOT you can do to make a Number One/Three look very good.
quote:Originally posted by BwanaBob: I have aquired a 26" .411" barrel blank which will allow me to build a long time dream-project - a single shot .450/400 rifle. I have also aquired a Ruger No3 action and so intend to use it for the project. However, the Ruger No3 lever will need to be modified to fit the pistol grip stock that this rifle will wear.
I have a number of ideas about how the lever might look, but I was wondering if any of the AR members had an suggestions on this matter.
BB
Here is what I did to a Ruger #3. It is a .223 but it would also look nice as a 450-400. I used the stock lever and rebent it to conform
Posts: 6277 | Location: Not Likely, but close. | Registered: 12 August 2002
i can't post a pic but i cut off the end peice at the bend where it meets the action. i then weld it bach onto the lever at the rear so it looks sorta like a #1. the number one lever will not interchange to easily.
Thanks for the suggestions guys, now I'll just have to mull them over with my gunsmith.
Art - I take your point about the No 3s but, and I won't say this too loud amongst my fellow Aussies lest they wake up to the No 3, but No 3's are much more easily obtainable and much, much cheaper here in Oz. New No 1's have become quite dear and second-hand ones are almost non-existant. At the last two gun shows, here in Sydney, there weren't any No. 1's for sale at all but there were about 5 or 6 No. 3's. Aussie shooters just don't seem to take the No 3 seriously.
The only difference between the One and Three is the cocking lever, trigger, and trigger guard.
Since the trigger guard is held in place with a mounting pin that's cross pinned to the receiver, it takes a milling machine (or really gutsy guy on a drill press) to convert a Three to a "Thirteen". The hole is a pain in the butt.
Ruger receivers are harder than Chinese arithmetic. Carbide is a good idea.
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