Ruger No. 1-H Tropical Chamberings

[barrett93]

Over the last three years I've acquired Ruger No. 1 Tropicals in .458 Win Mag and .375 H&H. Tonight I packaged up a No. 1-A in .30-06 in trade for another No. 1. But this one is another Tropical in .416 Rem Mag. Having now collected three of the 1-H rifles I figure I'll actually be serious about collecting all the chamberings for this model instead of just kicking the idea around.

Here is what I know exists in "normal" configurations and not special or limited editions. .45-70, 404 Jeffery, 375 H&H, 405 Win, 450-400 NE, 416 Ruger, 416 Rem Mag, 416 Rigby, 458 Win Mag, 458 Lott.

The first two of those being far more rare than the rest. So tell me, what am I missing?

 

[Alan in GA]

375 Ruger 'Lion' Boddington series(?). I have an unfired one in box if interested. I've decided I'll probably never shoot it as I have 458WM, 405 Win, 45\70, and 44 Mag in 'big bore' No.1s. Just going to thin down a crowded gun safe.
Not sure if the Lion is an 'H' or not?, forgot.

 

[Rocdoc]

Is not the Lion an S? Just asking

 

[Alan in GA]

Yes it is a No.1S.

 

[tacotime]

Since you said the .45/70 was rare, does that mean there are fat barrel .45/70 models with barrels like the .458 and not like the #1 .45/70 barrels usually seen, the 22 inch "sporter"?

 

[barrett93]

From what I’ve read Ruger did offer a 24” heavy barreled 1-H in the 70’s. It looks like it was something that had to be requested though. Not something they regularly produced.

 

[RSIno1]

375 Ruger 'Lion' Boddington series(?). I have an unfired one in box if interested. I've decided I'll probably never shoot it as I have 458WM, 405 Win, 45\70, and 44 Mag in 'big bore' No.1s. Just going to thin down a crowded gun safe.
Not sure if the Lion is an 'H' or not?, forgot.

That's a whole collection series by itself. There were 4 models of Boddington rifles all with the light colored stocks - correct?

 

[Alan in GA]

My Lion No.1 375 Ruger has the upgraded checkering and Circassian stock, but unlike many Circassian stocks it is darker. I would love to handload for it and shoot it, but at my age (60's) I have other No.1's that have already been fired, and I am just going to let this one go to another No.1 fancier that will enjoy it more than I do. I don't usually 'keep' a No.1 unfired, and will shoot an even more expensive 'rare' No.1 soon when it gets here... a 22 Hornet, 1 of 125 supposedly.
Just thinking out loud.....

 

[5532JWK]

There were 5 Boddington guns in the series. I have them all NIB untouched by human hands.

 

[gewehrfreund]

Since you said the .45/70 was rare, does that mean there are fat barrel .45/70 models with barrels like the .458 and not like the #1 .45/70 barrels usually seen, the 22 inch "sporter"?

The 1H 45-70 (24" D weight barrel) is one of the rarest No.Ones. It may be THE rarest prefixed No. One; somewhere between 12 and 20 by most estimates. As such, they are usually priced accordingly. Unfortunately, there are many false alarms regarding these rifles since the advent of internet sales, and most sellers not aware of the difference between the common 1S and a 1H (I'm always amazed too, that most people selling guns don't know how to measure a barrel length correctly!)
I once had delusions of owning one, but they seldom surface and if advertised at all, will go to the deep pocket collector crowd.

I'm still tickled to have my unmarked 45-70 Lyman overrun rifle with the 28" D-weight barrel! :)

 

[cas6969]

The D weight 450-400's (11385) are pretty rare as well... 32 of them made?

This thread reminded me that there's been one laying on my couch for over a week now. I need to get up now and put in the safe. :lol: