Rare 1 of 18 RUGER No 1 11309 7.62×39 Single Shot Rifle 2003 Blued Grip Cap

SOLD FOR: $1900

LSB#: 220409KL014

Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co.

Model: No. 1 (Model #11309)

Serial Number: 133-95108

Year of Manufacture: 2003 (Ruger Serial Number Lookup)

Caliber: 7.62×39

Action Type: Falling Block Single Shot Rifle

Markings: The stop of the barrel is marked with a Ruger warning over “STURM, RUGER & CO., INC. / SOUTHPORT, CONN. U.S.A.”. The left side of the barrel is marked with “7.62 X 39” under a Ruger proof mark. The top of the receiver is marked “RUGER” in a decorative ribbon over “No. 1”. The underside left of the receiver is marked with the serial number, “133-95108”. The grip cap and buttpad are marked with the company’s phoenix logo.

Barrel Length: 22”

Sights/Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade in-line dovetailed to a banded ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a flip-up u-notch/square-notch combo that is dovetailed into the barrel rib. The barrel rib is notched for the included Ruger rings.

Stock Configuration and Condition: The two-piece checkered stock features a Henry forend, blue-capped pistol grip, fluted straight comb, and textured black rubber buttpad. Sling studs are currently installed front and rear. There are shallow minor compressions on the comb at the heel and on the left side of the forend. There are no chips or cracks. The checkering is sharp. The LOP is 13 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The buttpad has only minor discoloration from age. Overall, the stocks are in Fine-plus-to-Excellent condition.

Type of Finish: Stainless Steel with Blued Grip Cap

Finish Originality: Original

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.

Overall Condition: There are minor hairline scuffs and minor nicks on the receiver flats along with very minor stubborn build-up where the forend meets the receiver. The action has very minor operational wear. The screws are sharp, and all markings are clear. Overall, this 98% rifle rates in Fine-plus-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: This No. 1 includes its serial-matching factory box, two (2) QD sling swivels, the previously mentioned Ruger scope rings, and a yellow security lock in a zipper baggy.

Our Assessment: The Ruger No. 1 was introduced in 1967 and at first blush would seem an odd design choice for what is effectively a modern rifle. Numerous repeating rifle designs had become the norm by the late ’60s and the single shot rifle—certainly the falling-block single-shot rifle—was on the outs with most hunters and target shooters. But the brilliant success of the Ruger No. 1 comes from not only Bill Ruger’s uncanny ability to determine what will sell, but also the design’s embodiment of Ruger’s philosophy: simple, durable, reliable. The work of designers and manufacturers such as Harry Sefried, Lenard Brownell, and Larry Larson resulted in a timeless firearm that allows the shooter a slower, more deliberate hunt—it is an elegant weapon for a more civilized age. It has been chambered in nearly 50 different cartridges and continues to be manufactured and sold to this day. This example is in Fine-plus-to-Excellent condition, manufactured in 2003, and is chambered for the uncommon—at least for Ruger No. 1 rifles—7.62x39mm. Popularly known for being the cartridge of the SKS and AK-47, 7.62x39mm is commonly thought of as the king of medium cartridges or the perfect fighting round. It is an interesting choice for a single-shot hunting rifle, but will get you where you need to be if you want to fell medium sized game at a reasonable distance. Rare as the chambering is here, it is the grip cap of this particular example that makes this a desirable variant. While the majority of the rifle is stainless steel, the grip cap is blued, and we have been reliably informed that just 18 of these were made in this configuration. They hardly come rarer than this, so whatever you do, do not pass this rifle up! Good luck and happy bidding!

Rare 1 of 18 RUGER No 1 11309 7.62x39 Single Shot Rifle 2003 Blued Grip Cap
Rare 1 of 18 RUGER No 1 11309 7.62×39 Single Shot Rifle 2003 Blued Grip Cap