I have an opportunity to pick up a No. 1-B in 243 that is in virtually new condition. I'm aware that the non-prefix 243's are very rare, but this is a low 130 prefix from 1974. This has very nice wood, a 3-screw trigger, and most likely a Wilson barrel. Apparently 1974 was a high production year for No. 1's overall, but I can find any info on how many 243's were made. If anyone can shed some light on how rare this rifle might be I would appreciate it. Thanks!
No. 1 experts needed!
- Thread starter Archer970
- Start date
gewehrfreund
Buckeye
In the grand scheme of things, not a rare rifle, but if it's something that appeals to you and the price is right, that's all that matters. No one can tell you how many were made, probably not even Ruger.
El Numero Uno
Buckeye
Good advice; if you like it and like the price, buy it. Get it for the wood and condition; it is not rare, just 40 years old!
picketpin
Buckeye
If it's actually a 1974 it should have 2nd style butt stock checkering. Only about 8000 second checkering #1s total. 2nd checkering mid 1974 till mid 1976.
Serial number is ALWAYS a GENERAL idea of when it was assembled and shipped.
If it's a 130 and below 130-05000 it's probably a Douglas barrel.
AS for the number made in a specific cartridge, especially in a cataloged rifle, it's simply not possible to know how many were made. Ruger does NOT disclose that information. I'm not even sure they know off hand without simply counting guns listed in their books for the ATF.
Ross
Serial number is ALWAYS a GENERAL idea of when it was assembled and shipped.
If it's a 130 and below 130-05000 it's probably a Douglas barrel.
AS for the number made in a specific cartridge, especially in a cataloged rifle, it's simply not possible to know how many were made. Ruger does NOT disclose that information. I'm not even sure they know off hand without simply counting guns listed in their books for the ATF.
Ross
chet15
Hawkeye
picketpin said:
Yeah...I think that's something that Ruger wants everybody to believe...at least its an argument from their side so that they don't have to go any further with telling production quantities.
But as a major manufacturer that's been around the block for a while, it would be tough for a company with their marketshare NOT TO KNOW how many of a particular model they make, or have made. To any manufacturer, it SHOULD be all about the numbers, and if somethings not selling they'll be able to tell by total counts of a particular model...and it is something they use for projected production of their models for future months and year.
I do know that a few years ago Ruger let their distributors have a list of probably 90% of the distributor specials that they'd produced from the time such models became reality, about 1988/1989 and those listings had EXACT quantities of the majority of the models listed.
I know they do count guns.
Chet15
gewehrfreund
Buckeye
Whether the fact is they don't know, or don't want us to know, the outcome for collectors is the same ;-)
Your statement above that they sent out a list of 90% of distributor specials leaves me scratching my head a bit. Why not ALL of the special issues? So, maybe they don't know exactly, at least for some of their models/chamberings. . .? And one has to wonder why they would send out even this incomplete list, when they have always seemed to be guarding their production numbers so jealously.
It's ironic that WR was never a friend of the collector and thought of all his guns strictly as hunting arms, and how many became the epitome of collector pieces, either right away, or as soon as they were discontinued. :roll:
Your statement above that they sent out a list of 90% of distributor specials leaves me scratching my head a bit. Why not ALL of the special issues? So, maybe they don't know exactly, at least for some of their models/chamberings. . .? And one has to wonder why they would send out even this incomplete list, when they have always seemed to be guarding their production numbers so jealously.
It's ironic that WR was never a friend of the collector and thought of all his guns strictly as hunting arms, and how many became the epitome of collector pieces, either right away, or as soon as they were discontinued. :roll:
