i bought a ruger #1 in 257 weatherby magnum today, it is in perfect condition, blued 26" barrel. I went through all of my books and it doesnt show up as every being made, it is definetly a ruger barrel because it has the warning on top and is stamped ruger. the other odd thing is it is stamped "257 magnum." i was wondering if anyone new anything about this gun.... how much is it worth? thanks in advance for any help

Mainer 1234,

That is a real find! Congrats.

What model is it? a "B"?

The factory will make limited-lot --usually five hundred in a run, non-catalogued calibers for big distributors but they won't admit it in formal publications. They will stand behind them in terms of warranty, but otherwise they are invisibkle in formal records. I have not heard of a .257 WBY #1 run but if they are out there, I'll get in line for mine right now.

Is it possible that your rifle is a .25-06 re-throated to .257 WBY? What cartridge is stamped on the barrel?

Good luck with it.
1B

the barrel is stamped "257 magnum" it definetly isnt a rebore of a 25-06, this is from the factory... yes i believe it is a 1B. how much do you think this is worth?

Mainer1234,

Worth is hard to establish until you see some others on the market. As far as I now know, yours is not available at all on the E-mail gun sites, which should make it quite rare and valuable.

IF it is from a low series run and is NIB, unfired except for factory test round/s, it should be worth subsantially nmore than the run of the mill #1s. How much?

Let me give you a comparison. I have a NIB #1 SS in gray laminate stock in 7mm-08. It is a one of 500 non-catalogued rifle. The few available on the internet are priced @ $675 while you can get other new SS #1s on the same sites for about $100 less. (I got mine for $535 but that was clearly a screw-up on the part of the dealer. I would gladly go into the low $600s for a .257 WBY in new condition.)

If you have some history on the rifle such as when it was made, for whom -- if they are celebs of some kind, how many etc. you may be able to establish exactly how rare it is and then start adding value to match those facts. But you really must have documents to firmly establish a top level of collectability. Using the rifle will dramatically lower the value in pure collectors' eyes. ( I am a hunter not a collector and would use mine.)

Last night I queried my Ruger supplier about finding me a rifle like yours. He is very good at finding rare items. He currently has me in a holding pattern on a Ruger Blackhawk Hunter in SS/gray aminate grips in .41 Magnum. When and if he gives me a price on the WBY #1, I will let you know.

1B

well it isnt new in the box, as far as i know it doesnt have the box with it (i have to go pick it up today) once i have the gun i will call ruger and give them the serial number and let them tell me about it, find out when and for who it was made. I paid just under $400 for it, and it is in great shape, i am not a collector either, i plan to use it for long range ground hog hunting and bench shooting at a friend of mines house who has 1000yrds.... i was just curious to know what it may be worth, a very intersting caliber and in a great gun.... i'll let you know what i find out from ruger in the next few days... thanks for the help

Just wondering........if it is a Weatherby mag why isn't the barrel stamped "257 WBY Mag". Are you sure it is chmbered for the Weatherby round?

My Ruger book does not list this round ever being available in the #1, but it does list the "357 Mag" being available at one time in teh #1. Is the stamp clear?

Let us know what you find out.

yes the stamp is very clear and it came with 4 boxes of weatherby ammo, and the rounds chamber perfectly, i know that this is an unlisted caliber that is why i put a post on asking if anyone has any knowledge of it....

I wish Ruger would offer the 257 WBY mag on a regular basis. This would make a great long range deer/ varmint rifle. Sounds like you've got a nice find.

Maine1234,

Please let us know how your new .257 WBY shoots. Thanks. 1b