I have an excellent condition Ruger No.1-S (with red pad) in 45-70 (blued, about 22" barrel) made in 1982. I'm wondering what it's worth,... but not for the sake of actually selling it, but to compare it to the cost of a new one. If it's worth more with the original sights and "red" recoil pad, then it sort of becomes worth more as a collectible rather than one that I want to shoot more. In this case, it might be better to actually sell it and buy a new one and use the *profits* to fund modifications I want to have done. Otherwise, if this is not really worth that much, then I'm inclinded to have new iron sights, action job, free float, and a new red recoil pad installed. For those that think I'd be crazy to molest it, I'd need to know that it's actually worth more to keep it this way. Otherwise, to me, safe queen collectibles are worthless to me. Get this: I acquired this gun because the original owner bought it to "collect" and so he did. What a righteous thing to do (right?) and pass on down to a son. So this old man bought it new in 1982, stuck it in his safe, then he died and willed it to his son. His son sold it to a dealer and I bought it! So much for the ultimate purpose of a safe queen, I guess. Anyway, if it's worth more than a new one, I'll be happy to accept a trade offer for a new one plus the cash difference. :lol: Then I'll send it off for upgrades.
Ruger No.1 Red Pad .45-70 Question About Modification
- Thread starter seasterl
- Start date
picketpin
Buckeye
The "S" 45-70 was made and cataloged from 1970 through at least 2006> It is either THE most comkon or secomd most common caliber/comfiguration in the #1 line up.
nice rifle but al the things that make a #1 "collectable" had happened prior to 1982.
You might fimnd s buyer willing to pay a premium for it if NIB but beyomd that, I'd stick in in the shooter catagory UNLESS it has absoluteely KILLER wood. Killer wood trumps darned near anything.
I'd still be relatively comfortable of simply building it ito what you want.
That said free floating isn't the usual answer to #1. MOST shoot better with a bit of forearm pressure out at the tip.
There are a LOT of 45-70s "S" riflers with the 22" barrel on the market right now. Check GunBroker for the realized prices, NOT the asking price.
Have fun, enjoy.
Ross
nice rifle but al the things that make a #1 "collectable" had happened prior to 1982.
You might fimnd s buyer willing to pay a premium for it if NIB but beyomd that, I'd stick in in the shooter catagory UNLESS it has absoluteely KILLER wood. Killer wood trumps darned near anything.
I'd still be relatively comfortable of simply building it ito what you want.
That said free floating isn't the usual answer to #1. MOST shoot better with a bit of forearm pressure out at the tip.
There are a LOT of 45-70s "S" riflers with the 22" barrel on the market right now. Check GunBroker for the realized prices, NOT the asking price.
Have fun, enjoy.
Ross
OP
Thanks, Ross, for the candid response. You told me just what I needed to hear. I feel a little more excited about the freedom to make some minor changes without the fear of killing the value. Also, thanks for the tip about the forearm pressure.
Lloyd Smale
Blackhawk
hate to say it like this but its just another used #1 and not worth what a new one cost. I took mine and had an oil finish put on it and a sims black pad and to me it looks and funtions much better like that. I dont intend to sell it anyway. to me its a hunting gun plain and simple. Bottom line is its a RARE ruger that will ever show you a profit when selling.
wunbe
Buckeye
I picked up mine many moons ago --10?-- and it was already tarted up.
It has a bold tiger maple stock with shadow line chek piece and an ebony foreend, a set screw "accurizer' package, serious recoil pad and an after market trigger. It shoots the lights out and with not much recoil.
The catch is that those extras did not add anything to the resale value of the rifle compared to any other lightly used .45-70 of the same type. You have to go into such projects -- short of a complete custom job which may give you back some but by no means all the $s invested -- w/o any expectations of making back any of the investment. But then the pleasure of ownng a gun made right and to your specs is woth a lot to some of us too. I have a bunch of them.
Refgards,
wunbe
It has a bold tiger maple stock with shadow line chek piece and an ebony foreend, a set screw "accurizer' package, serious recoil pad and an after market trigger. It shoots the lights out and with not much recoil.
The catch is that those extras did not add anything to the resale value of the rifle compared to any other lightly used .45-70 of the same type. You have to go into such projects -- short of a complete custom job which may give you back some but by no means all the $s invested -- w/o any expectations of making back any of the investment. But then the pleasure of ownng a gun made right and to your specs is woth a lot to some of us too. I have a bunch of them.
Refgards,
wunbe
wunbe
Buckeye
I picked up mine many moons ago --10?-- and it was already tarted up.
It has a bold tiger maple stock with shadow line chek piece and an ebony foreend, a set screw "accurizer' package, serious recoil pad and an after market trigger. It shoots the lights out and with not much recoil.
The catch is that those extras did not add anything to the resale value of the rifle compared to any other lightly used .45-70 of the same type. You have to go into such projects -- short of a complete custom job which may give you back some but by no means all the $s invested -- w/o any expectations of making back any of the investment. But then the pleasure of ownng a gun made right and to your specs is woth a lot to some of us too. I have a bunch of them.
Refgards,
wunbe
It has a bold tiger maple stock with shadow line chek piece and an ebony foreend, a set screw "accurizer' package, serious recoil pad and an after market trigger. It shoots the lights out and with not much recoil.
The catch is that those extras did not add anything to the resale value of the rifle compared to any other lightly used .45-70 of the same type. You have to go into such projects -- short of a complete custom job which may give you back some but by no means all the $s invested -- w/o any expectations of making back any of the investment. But then the pleasure of ownng a gun made right and to your specs is woth a lot to some of us too. I have a bunch of them.
Refgards,
wunbe
Heavy Barrel
Single-Sixer
picketpin said:
Ross,would you consider this killer wood on this Liberty 45/70 ?
four70nitro
Single-Sixer
Yes - that is killer wood!! Assuming it looks the same on both sides......
Dave
Dave
Heavy Barrel
Single-Sixer
four70nitro said:
Other side about the same. :wink:
picketpin
Buckeye
Yep. But, I'd probably buy the rifle. Pull the wood off something else and install it on the 45-70 and sell it and put the wood on a 257 Roberts and make another 257 Roberts "S" rifle. ;-)
I've bought more than one #1 over the years for the wood and the wood only! :-) If it isn't something I want I swap stocks and take whatever loss comes about for selling it and am still hundreds if not thousands ahead on custom wood. Besides I tend to like mine "factory" or near factory.
Even when I put custom barrels on the have the factory profile/taper etc.
Even the two customs I'm having built will look pretty stock other than the engraving etc. Both have factory wood, just slimmed down. Okay they are the two BEST #1 stocks I've had in over 40 years of buying them, maybe 100-125 #1s over the years.
BUT if you like 45-70 I'd say this one is a keeper. ;-)
Years ago, prior to the bigger stores running the local guys out of business my #1 dealers would call me if they go somethign with great wood. That or let me cherry pick inventory and charge me $50 for switcing wood.
Heck I was the one guy they could count on coming in and buying one every couple of months , so they tried to keep me happy and coming back.
;-)
My basic point is that since 1980 the only thing that makes one rare and collectable is caliber/configuration if in a small run or a small uncataloged run BUT the features; checkering, trigger, recoil pad etc are all the same with the exception of truly great wood from time to time. THAT I'm willing to buy, regardless of rarity.
RWT
I've bought more than one #1 over the years for the wood and the wood only! :-) If it isn't something I want I swap stocks and take whatever loss comes about for selling it and am still hundreds if not thousands ahead on custom wood. Besides I tend to like mine "factory" or near factory.
Even when I put custom barrels on the have the factory profile/taper etc.
Even the two customs I'm having built will look pretty stock other than the engraving etc. Both have factory wood, just slimmed down. Okay they are the two BEST #1 stocks I've had in over 40 years of buying them, maybe 100-125 #1s over the years.
BUT if you like 45-70 I'd say this one is a keeper. ;-)
Years ago, prior to the bigger stores running the local guys out of business my #1 dealers would call me if they go somethign with great wood. That or let me cherry pick inventory and charge me $50 for switcing wood.
Heck I was the one guy they could count on coming in and buying one every couple of months , so they tried to keep me happy and coming back.
;-)
My basic point is that since 1980 the only thing that makes one rare and collectable is caliber/configuration if in a small run or a small uncataloged run BUT the features; checkering, trigger, recoil pad etc are all the same with the exception of truly great wood from time to time. THAT I'm willing to buy, regardless of rarity.
RWT
