Lipsey's No. 1s

[mattsbox99]

This is quite an intriguing list for those seeking a No. 1 in uncatalogued cartridges. I'm interested in the .30-30 myself. I already have the 6.5 Swede one.

http://www.lipseys.com/itemfinder.aspx?mfg=Ruger&family=No.+1+Series&model=No.+1+Light+Sporter

 

[BlkHawk73]

Unfortunately the .30-30, .30-40, .35 Whelen and .257 all came about the same time so it made it hard for most wanting more than one. I'd have jumped one three but held off (for now) Should more come around, maybe... ;)

 

[picketpin]

The problem with the Lipseys offerings is just that. To many calibers in too many rifles (250) chasing the same very narrow niche market. Most of these will be hanging around for years before they are all in somebodys hands.

I still think I'l get the 257 Roberts "A" but held out . They've gone from $1200 to $899 in the last 3 months. Glad I didn't spend the $1200+ for one when they first came out.

RWT

 

[mattsbox99]

I can see that point, I can't afford to buy all the ones I want. It'll be an exercise in patience no doubt.

 

[El Numero Uno]

I have 2 opinions about this new run of Lipsey's Exclusives in the 1A.
1) With this overflow of very desirable rifles just in the last several months, it made it very difficult for the No.1 fanciers to deal with this from a financial standpoint. We have seen the blue 1A in .30-30, .257 Roberts, 6.5x55, .35 Whelen and the .303 British.
2) Look what has happened to asking prices of the earlier K1A series. They have been good property! 3 of the above are in the same calibers as the K1A. All of these calibers are what a significant number of shooters(not collectors) want to shoot and hunt with)!!
I believe they will be good to acquire as you can.
PS. I should have added that we still have that promised K1A in .250 Savage still hanging out there!

 

[mattsbox99]

I'm shooting mine! I'm a terrible collector, its gonna get shot if its in my possession. :D

 

[ken613]

I'm with Matt.

shooting my 257 Roberts. She's sweet and grouping Hornady's +P 117 gr. at a smidge over an inch.

Ken

 

[mrwickwire]

Maybe these guns are becoming popular. I just picked up a 6.5x55. I am not interested in the other limited edition calibers though. However, if I was forced to buy another one, I would probably get a 7x57 or the 257 Roberts. Probably in that order.

 

[mattsbox99]

I think the popularity has always been there, and is slowly increasing, but I've only seen them in a few shops and never regularly. I know the internet options are there, but something about holding it in your hands really seals the deal. Obviously there are a lot of options in the No. 1, so its difficult for a shop to order and expect it to sell.

 

[Belt Fed]

I snagged the 6.5X55 and the 35 Whelen. I will take out a second mortgage if I have to for a 250 Savage!

 

[Heliman]

I have the K1A in 35 Whelen and it is already the veteran of 3 hunting seasons. Packing it as we speak for our Elk hunting trip. Oh, by the way, it does have a few hunting dings...... Don't think I will go for the blue/walnut 'cause to me they are meant to shoot and can't see doubling up on one caliber no matter the exclusivity. JMO

Dave

 

[mattsbox99]

I wouldn't double up either, they aren't rare enough to keep one NIB to me, plus I don't have the money anyway. I am gun rich and cash poor! :D Keeps me out of the bars and seeing that my old truck will make it just fine for a few more years. Good thing I have a company truck to drive.

 

[picketpin]

All of these runs of 250 rifles are simply NOT so rare that you can't shoot them. They won't lose much if any value from being fired. 10 years from now a NIB rifle MIGHT be worth $100 bucks more than one you have fired/hunted as long as it's not abused.

One of the nice things about #1s even fairly rare ones is they don't lose much if fired. There a a few exceptions but those rifles are very rare and have to start out NIB when you get it. Once it's fired outside the factory, it's a used rifle.

Sure if you manage to snag a 1 of 1 off a Ruger Action you might want to keep it shiny and new other than that, it really doesn't matter.

I have several #1s from uncataloged short runs of less than 100 and even cataloged rifles that probably are from runs of less than 100. All have been fired and laods worked up. Most have been hunted with a few times and some MANY times.

250 #1s in a specific caliber/variation just isn't rare enough to worry about shooting it /or not..

Shoot them and enjoy. Heck that's what Bill built them for. ;-)

At some point I'll pick up the blued/walnut 257Roberts "A" I will then take it out and scope it, work up loads and hunt with it.

Ross

 

[gewehrfreund]

Ross, I agree with you for the most part, but I fear we're shooting ourselves in the foot with this thinking. Hell, a production of 250 in some collecting circles would be considered rare as hens teeth and the guns are priced accordingly. Yet we #1 fanatics look at 250 as not really rare at all. Granted, we're a small, limited market/interest, and we tend to be a little more practical than the more established Winchester, Colt, etc. collecting loonies.
I guess in the end, we #1 fans should probably not be looking to finance our retirement, put kids through college or pay off our mortgages with our collections. I'm usually happy with a modest profit on most guns I move (but never balk at a large profit when it happens :wink: ). For decades now, my goal has been to have my hobby be a zero sum gain proposition - that is, to pay for itself more or less. I've been pretty successful in doing that up to this past year, when too many nice and interesting older guns have come up for sale. Still trying to make up some of those expenditures has kept me out of the new #1 offerings without too much regret. Still, a 30-30 with figured wood would be nice to have ...........................................
Lance

 

[picketpin]

Lance: I agree to some exstent. My issue is that other than non prefixes 250 is a large number given the truley limited number of guys chasing them. Lets face it, we all know who the other guys are. Maybe not personally but still there just aren't that many of us worried about rarity.

It really boils down to what you pursue. I realized long ago I couldn't own every #1 ever made. Heck I haven't seen every #1 made in the last 40 years and never will. What it boils down to for me at least is, do I want an early 130 serialed 22-250 "V" 1st Wood, Douglas barrel etc or do I want a shiny new rifle? Usually it's the older less common rifle.

Sadly mine isn't a zero sum collection. As the wife will point out that only works if you are willing to sell stuff. I tend to buy #1s I like and want to shoot/keep. Even the rare stuff. SO my VA check has mostly gone to guns including #1s. for the last 39 years. OUCH!!

It is sort of funny, for many years I, Splitz and other hounded Bill Ruger to bring out more/different #1s. His response was always that he was not in the business to satisfy the collector market. Okay, it's your company.
Now we have the reverse. So many calibers and configurations coming out constanly that a guy can't possibly afford them all. At least I can't. Added to that, I'm not a nostalgia guy. So military cartridges of WWI and the 3030- don't trip my trigger. If I was a cast bullet shooterthen the 45-70 or the 38-55 might appeal to me, but I'm not and they don't

I liken the spate of Dealer Specials to the Commemerative stamps. When I was a kid I collected stamps. There was the standard postage stamps in various denominations and a few commeratives each year. A person could collect. Now the post office issues 50-100 commeratives a year. A guy could go broke and wear himself out trying to get them all and their "value" has decreased significantly simply because the market is flooded with the number of designs AND the total production of stamps in general in each issue. Now they are just postage.

I liken truley rare #1s to a 1937 plate blockof four, $5 postage dues and the constant runs of 250 different #1s as todays commerative stamp. I still maintain MOST things designed to be "Rare" aren't.

Do I buy another 7mm Mag "V" for $800 or a 30-30 one of 250 for $1000+?? Oh, that's right, I bought another "V" 7mm Mag. ;-)

I will in the end buy a 257"A" but as a shooter. If it holds value over time, great. If not I'll enjoy it and frankly don't really care about lost "value" in the long run. :D

Ross

 

[gewehrfreund]

I liken truley rare #1s to a 1937 plate blockof four, $5 postage dues and the constant runs of 250 different #1s as todays commerative stamp. I still maintain MOST things designed to be "Rare" aren't.

This certainly has the ring of truth to it. If we only knew now what will be considered rare in 20+ years, we could salt some away.

I have gravitated to the older stuff now too, and am pretty confident that this stuff will hold/increase its value. But that doesn't keep me from jumping on something "newer" if it's rare or just too good a deal to walk away from, like my recent Lyman centennial overrun purchase.

And by the way, I can't think of any better use for a VA check than buying a gun you want. Anyone receiving one of those checks deserves to spend it however they choose to.
Take care
Lance

 

[mattsbox99]

As you say, Ross, what might be collectible to you isn't to another guy and he's after something else - military cartridges, classics, big bores, ++++ wood, etc. I bought it because I wanted it! :D

Whats better than the Government buying you guns?

 

[Bayouhunter]

Just ordered a 30-30 #1 for my wife. I thought a good quality rifle would work well for her. Should be in next week. If it shoots as good as My #1A 30-06 & 1S 45-70 I'll be very happy. The whitetails will never know what they were done in by. It will not be put up as collector gun but used every season. I have a good Marlin in the house but liked the idea of having the #1 in the same caliber. I also plan on starting all the grandchildren with the 30-30 too.

 

[HAWKEYE#28]

Once again, With GUSTO...........Where in jumping Geehosaphat is my 250 Savage? :? :roll:

 

[wunbe]

The main irony is that a new Ruger #1 acolyte will have a tougher time finding a NIB .30-06 or .270 #1 of recent manufacture than he will all these exootic calibers. They thus achieve a rarity status of their own. What is the last 1B .270 ever worth and who has it? The world turned upside down.

Since Ruger will never disclose how many #1s overall, much less how many catalogued individual #1 models it ships, the rarity issue regarding special runs for distributors will forever remain a mystery and an impediment to establishing firm values of any these 'rare' #1s. The market sets a ball park price of course and that is probably good enough.

wunbe

 

[four70nitro]

I tend to agree with Ross that the special runs of 250 are not rare now -- nor will they be in my lifetime. Perhaps in my great-great-great grandchildrens lifetimes they will be worth what those guns we consider to be very rare are worth now (in relative dollars of course).

Unless you have the money laying around to "invest" in these rifles so that someone, somewhere in the future can hold it and talk about its rarity you may as well buy them and use them and enjoy them now. I won't try to discourage anyone from "investing", just be aware how far out the horizon is for the return on your investment.

Dave

 

[RJ556]

Might as well "invest" in rifles. Do you see what even long term CD's are paying right now, (and probably the near future)?

 

[mattsbox99]

They're more fun than the stock market too! They aren't quite as pretty as gold and silver coins, but yet again more functional. :D

 

[slimatsea]

I bought one in .257 and had no Idea it was a limited run. It is my primary deer rifle for the PA woods. Every time I take this rifle to the range I leave smiling ear to ear. I didn't work up a load for it. I had some reloads laying around from a 77 ultralight that I sold and the no.1 keeps them under an inch easily. Hornady 117 gr RN over 42.0 gr of IMR 4350 in Winchester +P brass.