How much would you expect to pay for a custom stock on a Ruger #1 (in general). I'd love to redo the wood on one of mine.

Roaddog...

Hard to answer. It totally depends on what you want. If you are talking a wood stock by somebody good the price can and will run up into thousands.

When I was young I fell in love with elegant custom rifles. I had no money and decided, if I were ever to get one, I had better learn to make my own. That was almost fifty years ago.

Update:

Here´s a new pic of my .30-40Krag #1 target rifle. I changed the old Leupold scope to a Vortex 4-16x42, I got as x-mess gift.

Here are the components I have so far. Kip Wood cleaned up the metal and installed the Unertl bases. This is the bargain Unertl mentioned above.

The wood shown is take-offs that will be modified till it looks the way I want it to and sent to Charlie Grace as a pattern for my good wood. I want the butt stock to look like the Klein rifle above. This is to be a 1960's light varmint rifle. The fore end will get longer, fatter and have a ebony fore end tip.

At this point the Kepplinger trigger is not installed.

hi Dick,

glad to see your making progress. it sure looks better than the way I found it and sent it to you.

max

Max,

Thanks. I really appreciate what you did.

Kip said every piece of metal needed minor dings removed but it cleaned up good. As seen here it's quite light, that's a No. 2 Douglas barrel which looks right to me with the 1" Unertl.

Before I get too involved in whittling on pattern stocks I gotta get some finish on my buddy's stock which you can see in the background.

Time to revive this thread. My friend's stock has finish and is off to Kip for checkering. I can now concentrate on this gun.

I will post more when I have something new and interesting to show.

Here are 2 shots of my favorite No 1. It's a .30/06 that was reworked and slimmed into a British style sporter by the late MV Highsmith. Engraving by former head Colt engraver Corky Frankolini. That is No 1B factory wood reshaped by Highsmith and stained with his favorite alkanet root dye.

Nice gun. That's what I call "A gentleman's deer rifle".

A little update here... This is the gun a few weeks ago. It is drying in the vise after I wet it down. When it dried I sanded off the whiskers.

Further update. I took this today after I hand rubbed the sixth coat of finish on it. I'm using McWilliams Alkanet Refinishing Oil.

Wow! That looks great!

Siblings, 257 Roberts and 7x57

My old 270 Win doing what it was meant to do. 2016 opening day in Carbon County, Wyoming. 378 yards with a 110 grain Barnes TTSX

Here's a picture of my 300 H&H. It's a regular 1s, not a Boddington. It's from this last June, Namibia.

My 450/400.

My son's "tactical" 35 Whelen

I know a number of people don't like big scopes on No. 1s,,, I have no problem with them.

450/400

quote:

Originally posted by Huvius:
450/400

I know beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but anyone that doesn't think that is a thing of beauty has no eyes and therefore can be excused for the lack of judgment.

Huvius, that's a knock-out 450/400.

Beautiful wood on that stock!

Here's the Number 3 in 30-40 Krag that I bought recently. I'm bumping this up so that maybe some of you guys will re-post the photos that are missing.

I started this thread when I started to stock this rifle. I wanted ideas on stock lines, etc. Now that Photobucket is making life difficult, I will repost this picture of the finished rifle so you can see it. This represents many hours of work.

Can't do photos, but have a NO. 1 w/ Unertl 16X on it w/ 7 twist 22-250 caliber and w/ 80gr SMK's it is a very accurate rifle. Wish mine had your wood!! My No.3 as we speak is being operated on by the fine folks at Douglas w/ new barrel in 6BR for coyote hunting and it will also take the Unertl. Common wood on both of the rifles, but the No.3 was sent to Ahlmans for Carol to do a nice checker job after I trimmed and slimmed stocks a bit. I have had both of mine completely apart and a bit tricky to put them back together but once apart the design and strength of that receiver is obvious.
Anxious to get the No.3 up and running for w/ 24" barrel the overall length is very handy in the field. It will be 4 groove, stainless steel of No.5 profile. Probably this winter will have both off to Turnbull for color case hardening and I just know that will make them shoot much better???

If you can email me a picture I can post it for you.

quote:

Originally posted by SaxonPig:

Nice collection Saxon

Douglas finished the 6BR barrel for my No.3 topped with basic Ruger bases and rings and Leupold FXIII 6x42 scope. Been working up various loads for it and find that caliber is easy to live with in terms of accuracy. Rifle intended use is field work as in busting coyotes, varmints, etc. and big plus is that even with the 24" barrel quite easy to handle due to it's overall shortness. Kept the original stocks w/ straight grip butt, but did away with that silly plastic forearm band and rounded/shortened a bit the forearm end. Checkering job by Ahlman's to my pattern design.
Trigger is OK, but needs improvement and that will come later. Barrel is 8 twist and find surprisingly that it shoots the 68gr bullets as well as it does the 108gr. Bergers and anything in between. Going to call Wenig's today and see about an upgrade in the wood($$$$'s)and if any budget left will send off to Turnbull for CCH. Was mentioned in earlier postings about being difficult to find just an action of either No.1 or 3 and that is a fact for sure. I would pretty much duplicate this No.3 if I had another action, but caliber would be in the old 30-30 Winchester for WV deer/black bear. Could do another barrel for it with Douglas being almost my neighbor and that would make three barrels for it, 45/70, 6BR, and the 30-30. Barrels are a lot cheaper than a new rifle or price of action.

A Ruger No. 1-A (1994) in 270 Winchester I owned briefly this month. (April 2021). Jard trigger, nice factory wood.

My favorite No.1-B I'll own until the day I die. 280 Remington

Mu Uncle gave me this in the 90's. I sold it and gave him the money years later. What a dummy I was. 6mm

I added an RSI in 7mm

416 Rigby, Vais brake, Kickeez Recoil and Cheek Pad, Jard trigger.

Interesting shadow you cast. Nice rifle too.

Sweet!

Custom Number 3 22 Hornet in English Walnut with lever modification. Has Ivory inset in grip gap. One photo shows the checkered raised tab on the lever.

Custom #3 in Bastonge Walnut with full octagon barrel. Chambered in 221 Fireball.

TexasJohn,
I really like the custom touches on your No. 3 rifles. Very nice. And the 221 Fireball is a great little round.

No. 3 .450/400-3"
https://imagizer.imageshack.co...g922/2973/hfp8pa.jpg
Photos are a Ruger I built in .450/400-3". Sports a Leopold 1 3/4-5 in claw mounts. Used to take two Cape Buffalo & plains game.
Roger

Really beautiful rifle. Love the extra touches such as the rib, QD bases, safety, and lever. Doesn't get nicer than that.

quote:

Originally posted by RogersGunWorks:
No. 3 .450/400-3"
https://imagizer.imageshack.co...g922/2973/hfp8pa.jpg
Photos are a Ruger I built in .450/400-3". Sports a Leopold 1 3/4-5 in claw mounts. Used to take two Cape Buffalo & plains game.
Roger