Ruger No 1 No-1 Number-1 .220 Swift Single Shot Rifle, MFD 1978
SOLD FOR: $1500
LSB#: 220214DE002
Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Model: No. 1
Serial Number: 131-36319
Year of Manufacture: 1983 (Ruger Serial Number Lookup)
Caliber: .220 Swift
Action Type: Falling Block Single Shot Rifle
Markings: The stop of the barrel is marked with a Ruger warning and “STURM, RUGER & CO., INC. / SOUTHPORT, CONN. U.S.A.”. The left side of the barrel is marked with “.220 SWIFT” and a Ruger proof mark. The top of the receiver is marked “RUGER / No. 1”. The underside left of the receiver is marked with the serial number “131-36319”. The grip cap is marked with the company’s phoenix logo.
Barrel Length: 26”
Sights/Optics: There is no provision for iron sights on this rifle. The barrel is drilled, tapped, and filled with a rib that is notched for the included Ruger rings (no optic is included).
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stock is a two-piece checkered wood with pistol grip and beavertail forend, fluted straight comb, and a black rubber Pachmayr buttpad. There are sling studs front and back. The buttstock has a few light nicks in the lower areas. The forearm has a few light nicks near to the checkering on the right side. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP is 13 1/4” and 13 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the wood and buttpad, respectively. The buttpad is free of any notable wear or damage. Overall, the stock is in Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are just minor handling marks, but otherwise there are no notable defects. The screws have light tool marks with strong slots. All markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine-to-Excellent condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork and Accessories: The scope rings as mentioned above.
Our Assessment: The Ruger No. 1 was introduced in 1967 and at first seems an odd design choice for a modern rifle. Repeating rifles of many different designs had become the norm by the late ’60s and the single shot—certainly the falling-block single-shot—was on the outs with most hunters and target shooters. The brilliant success of the Ruger No. 1 comes from its embodiment of Ruger’s design philosophy: simple, durable, reliable. It has been chambered in nearly 50 different cartridges and continues to be manufactured and sold to this day. This example is in Fine-to-Excellent condition, manufactured in 1978. Chambered for the controversial but “magically powerful” .220 Swift, the classical shooter will have for themselves a formidable rifle capable of taking down medium-sized game—provided they’re skilled and accurate. Good luck and happy bidding!