I got a good deal on a Ruger No. 3 and was wanting to do a project with it, but looking at the barrel I noticed that it was a bicentennial model. Is it valuable? The barrel is great and it is a shame to replace it right now...

Should I trade it up and do the project on a more common Ruger, or should I go ahead and take advantage of the good trigger that is on it? It is a .452" project, would I be better of rebarreling or lining the existing barrel (thus retaining the stampings on the barrel)?

Heck, do what you want with it. I don't think it is THAT valuable and you'll be helping the real collectors out. If you don't want to do that maybe you could give me a price on it...

Do your thing, life is too short, - new barrel, new stock ,post photos when you are done , enjoy.

I will shoot it as long as I have it: I really like the trigger. I think I will shoot it as-is for a while and build up my funds for the project. Who knows, I may get the hankering for a 450 NE chambering in which I can use the current barrel....

The Liberty, or Bicentennial models are worth more than ones of the same type and caliber from other years. You'd have to contact the Ruger Collector's organization to find out just how much more. Probably depends on caliber as well....