That gun was part of the Henry Rodeschin collection sold last weekend at Amoskeag, Henry had number #91 so lots of guns wiht serial number 91 or ending in 91 was sold along with some very rare and/or spectacularly stocked No.1 rifles, etc. There must have been some significance to the 248 prefix for Ruger to have made and offered the serial numbers in their low number subscriptions. I am sure the buyer and the other bidders know something that we don't….or two bidders really wanted that particular rifle, perhaps they had serial number 90 or 92….
With Henry being at the plant, he could pick any number 91 off the line he wanted, and that was the case here.
There were several "other" 91's in the auction that no other subscribers received as well.
But everybody also needs to remember, a high profile auction like this brings bidders. And I also know several people who knew Henry very well so wanted a piece of the collection.
The first lot was the M77 in .416 Taylor. Considering a 1 of 12 to 14 was bringing that among collectors 20 years ago, somebody got a great deal when the lot closed on this one.
And the New Hampshire etched receiver Number 1... something like $2,200 hammer price. You'll be lucky to ever see another factory engraved Number 1 anywhere ever again, yet this one went for not much over what a new Number 1 goes for today.
All depends on the day and the people there. I went to an auction once were there were bags of Kennedy half dollors. Yes, you can still get these at the bank and there was no silver in the bags. Some still brought a buck a piece x quantiy in the bag!
Chet15