Ruger No. 3 .22 Hornet Single Shot Falling Block Rifle Canjar Trigger 1985
SODL FOR: $1301
LSB#: 220410JL024
Make: Ruger
Model: No. 3
Serial Number: 130-72170
Year of Manufacture: 1985 (Ruger Serial Lookup)
Caliber: .22 Hornet
Action Type: Single Shot Falling Block Rifle with Canjar Trigger
Markings: The left side of the barrel is marked “22 HORNET”. The top of the receiver is marked “RUGER / NO. 3”. The underside of the receiver has the serial number “130-72170”. There are Leupold logos on the top of the optic rings.
Barrel Length: 27 1/2” Replacement Shilen barrel
Sights / Optics: There is no provision for iron sights on this rifle. The barrel is drilled, tapped, and installed with a Leupold base that has attached a pair of 1” Leupold rings. No scope included.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece wood featuring a straight wrist, a straight comb and a curved black plastic buttplate. There are light scratches scattered throughout the stocks. There are some moderate compressions and nicks on the left side of the forend and on the buttstock. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/2” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has some light scratches on the face and near the edges and is shy of the wood at the toe. The stocks are in Very Good overall condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original to the parts, the barrel is not original to the rifle.
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 98% of its metal finish. There are a few minor patches of finish wear on the barrel. The screw heads are well defined. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Fine plus condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes installed with the Leupold 1” rings as described above.
Our Assessment: The Ruger No. 1 was introduced in 1967 and at first blush 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 rifle pattern—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 happens to be a variant of the vaunted original, the No. 3, which was at the time a carbine version chambered in heftier cartridges and used for thick bush stalking. This No. 3 ostensibly hails from 1985 and is in Fine condition for being mostly custom. It is chambered for .22 Hornet and features a heavy replacement barrel made by Shilen. By appearances, it seems set up for bench or perch shooting, as sling studs are not an option here. This No. 3 is a beast and ready to put the hurt on varmints and small predators. Good luck and happy bidding!