Author Topic: Stock wood on new Ruger #1? (Read 596 times)

LJOHNS · « **on:** February 23, 2004, 08:52:14 AM »

Is the walnut better quality on the newer #1's? By looking at the pictures on Ruger's web page the stocks show a lot more detail than the older models. Just wondering if that is really the case or if they just purtyed' them up for the pictures.

RonF · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2004, 09:48:17 AM »

Les, the ones I've seen on shelves around here the past year or three have generally been plain, not necessarily unattractive, just plain.

RonF

LJOHNS · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2004, 11:33:51 AM »

All of the ones I have seen are that way also. I was kinda hoping Ruger might have kicked it up a bit!

John Traveler · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2004, 12:07:25 PM »

The 2004 SHOT Show in Las Vegas a week ago had some Ruger Number 1 rifles with pretty wood.

BUT those were the ONLY ones I've seen in examining dozens of them in the last year! "plain but serviceable" seems to standard.

I guess with walnut prices being what they are, we should be happy that it IS real American walnut at all!

John

marlinman93 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2004, 03:36:38 PM »

It's nice that they are still walnut, but too bad that they haven't kept the same wood they used to put on the #1's. Many of the older #1's had such gorgeous wood for a modern rifle! Guess that's why many guys look for an older used one over ordering a new one.

CEJ1895 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2004, 02:49:49 AM »

marlinman93 - Your right about that! I was just looking through the latest Ruger catalog and while the wood on them is nice, they don't look half as good as my 20 year old No. 1A! :-D The figure in the wood is absolutely beautiful! I used to compare it to the old Fajen stock catalog list of wood grades and it looked like it's a high grade fancy carlo walnut! The only ones I've seen that come close to it are all older rifles. Like everything else I guess they couldn't afford to keep using such high grades of carlo walnut.

Oh well, that's what they call "progress"... CEJ

LJOHNS · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2004, 03:21:17 AM »

When I say "older models" I am talking about the last 10 to 15 years. I know some of those first years were real lookers!
Its a shame they don't use a higher grade of walnut now days. I think the beauty of a rifle is almost as important as its ability. Guess that's why I like single shots so much. Also why I am looking for a Browning :wink: