If it calls to you, keep the way it is until the call goes away.
The AB's never sold too well, perhaps something to be said about their popularity, balance, whatever. Made back when for a while, and then a bit in recent years; never in heavy numbers for what that is worth to the various groups.
One could remove the barrel with its rib, and the forearm and stash. Then rebarrel and either hunt a oem 1B forearm or go to an aftermarket set of wood or just the forearm. I know that you can do all of that yourself, so costs would not be too far out of line probably. With the parts stashed, you could revert back if the original call came back.
The collectors and resellers can hype all they want on funny money No.1's, but some people are not into that type of thing. One only has to attempt selling a no.1 to find out values unless you can find the deep pocket community or newbees.
I can understand one having a rifle and you have it, paid for etc, and want it to be different for a specific use. Been there some. One uses what one has.
I too have a 257 weatherby reamer in box, it ought to tried at least once. Some of the enjoyment of such things is the actual doing it yourself, and for your own ideas, nothing like it in the factory lineup.
I have eyeballed an three digit red pad in 22/250 for about a year now, with vertical Ruger rings etc, nice wood. Still in the 700 dollar range, just too high for this area and the limited number of no.1 shooters. It is a nice rifle too one might say, but still suitable as a donor when the time is right.
roof
