Earliest Number One in .45-70?

[dunnyboy]

I've been collecting Ruger Number One rifles in 45-70 since I was a kid in the early days - 1970 or thereabouts. I know they were first cataloged in 1970, and having read the available resources it seems that very few were made (25<) in the pre 130 prefix era. Personally, I don't know of any non-prefix examples. I have a few first year (1970) rifles, all standard 1S configurations, the earliest being less than 00300, and 3 more rifles at or near 01000 - and one of these was special ordered. I was wondering what other early 45-70 rifles are out there, and just how rare these first year rifles are. My estimate is that the earliest in my collection may be one of the first 20 or less made in this caliber, although I might modify that belief if there are some number of substantiated non-prefix examples out there. Anyone have information on an early one they would like to share?

 

[pete44ru]

IIRC, the .45-70 #1 rifle was first catalogued as a #1-H, before it was changed & redesignated as #1-S - with very few made (maybe 50 ? ).

.

 

[picketpin]

Dunny: The Ruger #1 Group has 3 non prefix 45-70s in the S24H configuration listed in our data base.

They were cataloged as available in the 1969 catalog.

Serial nubers listed are #4177 noted as shipped in 1969, #6754 listed as shipped in 11-1969 and #8074 that does not list a ship date.

The best guess is that there MIGHT be 25 non prefix 45-70s

hope this helps.

the best

Ross

 

[chet15]

Dunny: The Ruger #1 Group has 3 non prefix 45-70s in the S24H configuration listed in our data base.
They were cataloged as available in the 1969 catalog.
Serial nubers listed are #4177 noted as shipped in 1969, #6754 listed as shipped in 11-1969 and #8074 that does not list a ship date.
The best guess is that there MIGHT be 25 non prefix 45-70s
hope this helps.
the best
Ross

My notes show #8074 as being a 1S in .45-70, as in an Ohio collectors' database. Any way to confirm the 24" heavy barrel on that gun?
The earliest .45-70 I've noted is serial number 30D which is a 1-S.
Chet15

 

[El Numero Uno]

Well, #8074 is a 1S, from the collection of the late writer Bob Steindler. I have had it for over 25 years! All of the non-prefix .45-70's I have ever had, or know of, were the 1S configuration. The earliest production shipments of .45-70's were in August of 1970. I think the 4 digit and early 130- prefix rifles were made at the same time. Just which ever receiver happened to come out of the bin! Also, there was at least one pre-production 4 digit .45-70 with a grooved front sight, 22" barrel AND beavertail forearm made earlier. Sold on the Ruger Auction a few years ago. It is #6754 and it is not a 1H or 1S!

http://www.classicsportingarms.com/Clas ... C_1-S.html

I am of the opinion that the very rare 1H .45-70's were of the 1976 vintage.
I do not know of a confirmed 4 digit 1H .45-70. Carl might.

 

[chet15]

Thanks Lee. I've got the email in to Carl now. Seems to me he had one confirmed as my reference shows an "estimated" quantity of 10 or less...but for the life of me I'm not coming up with sn yet. Going on memory though, it seems that it was a "subscription" number.
And yes, the 1-H in .45-70 was produced in 1976...an estimated dozen produced.
Chet15

 

[chet15]

Here's Carl's reply:

I have all of those on my list. I do not know of a 1H in the non-prefix SN.

So, unless somebody comes up with a letter saying S24H .45-70 or even 1-H .45-70, they go the way of the non-prefix .264 Win and .338 Win?
Will need to change the next version of the reference too, because the one I'm printing now still hints at the fact that there was at least one known.
Chet15

 

[dunnyboy]

Any idea what the earliest (or perhaps more accurately) 130 prefix rifles are known?

 

[picketpin]

dunny: As they were not shipped in any order or even built in any order, would it be poible to KNOW the earliest without knowing all of them and lettering them??

I probably misspoke, the 45-70 is NOT my area of expertise. I looked at the 1969 catalog, the first to list the 45-70, it lists them as the available in the S24H configuration. The 1970 catalog lists the 45-70 as the "S" verion.

So, the three serial numbers are those we have on the #1 Site, and as they are not delineated by configuraion I'll yield to those much more knowledgable than I.

The best

Ross

 

[dunnyboy]

The earliest 45-70 rifle I have letters to August 1970, so according to Lee it would have been in the first production run of the 1S caraloged rifles. Curious to know if others have one from this run?

 

[chet15]

Here's a pretty good note, from one of our well-known #1 collectors here on RF. 1-S sn 130-00138 was mfg. and shp 8/19/70.
When I took this note from him he said it was the earliest mfg and shp date known to him for the 1-S .45-70....even preceding the known non-prefix 1-S .45-70's.
It should be noted however that there could be other 130- prefixed rifles in .45-70 s/n'd between 130-00001 and 130-00138.
Chet15

 

[dunnyboy]

And...more interesting news on the .45-70. I checked with the factory today on my 130-011xx rifle, and it also was shipped in August 1970. That would encompass a range of over 1,000 for that first production run. I guess any of these rifles in that run could have been the first or near the first actually produced. I'm honored to have three of them in my safe.

 

[chet15]

Yes, probably first production run...but hard telling how many 1-S .45-70's were in that run. Ruger was just finally getting cooking with their "standarized" models. My 1970 dealer price sheet has seventeen different model/caliber combinations listed.
Chet15

 

[Anonymous]

I have a friend that has a Ruger #1 in 45-70 with the serial number being "5".
As Per Ruger this gun was mfg in Oct. 1970 and shipped as a S 24 H.

fred

I've been collecting Ruger Number One rifles in 45-70 since I was a kid in the early days - 1970 or thereabouts. I know they were first cataloged in 1970, and having read the available resources it seems that very few were made (25<) in the pre 130 prefix era. Personally, I don't know of any non-prefix examples. I have a few first year (1970) rifles, all standard 1S configurations, the earliest being less than 00300, and 3 more rifles at or near 01000 - and one of these was special ordered. I was wondering what other early 45-70 rifles are out there, and just how rare these first year rifles are. My estimate is that the earliest in my collection may be one of the first 20 or less made in this caliber, although I might modify that belief if there are some number of substantiated non-prefix examples out there. Anyone have information on an early one they would like to share?

 

[chet15]

I have a friend that has a Ruger #1 in 45-70 with the serial number being "5".
As Per Ruger this gun was mfg in Oct. 1970 and shipped as a S 24 H.

fred

A nice gun!!
Chet15

 

[four70nitro]

I know where 130-03111 is, but I never checked to see when it was shipped....

Dave