Custom Ruger No. 1S Medium Sporter .303 British 26″ Single Shot Rifle, 1978
SOLD FOR: $1,203.00
LSB#: LSB260224HE092
Make: Sturm Ruger & Co.
Model: No. 1S Medium Sporter
Serial Number: 131-36341
Year of Manufacture: 1978
Caliber: .303 British
Action Type: Falling Block Single Shot
Markings: The right side of the barrel is marked “.303 B.” The top of the receiver is marked “RUGER / NO. 1”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number.
Barrel Length: 26″. The barrel is not original to the rifle.
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade, dovetailed to a checkered ramp, screwed to the barrel. The rear sight is an adjustable folding U-notch sight, dovetailed to a serrated ramp, screwed to the barrel. The top of the barrel is mounted with a Redfield 2 3/4x scope, with a fine reticle with a center dot. The scope shows light wear, with a few scratches and dings throughout the scope’s finish. Overall, the scope rates in Very Good condition. The scope is mounted to the barrel by a two-piece Redfield base, and sits in 1″ rings.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are a two-piece wood stock set, with a semi-pistol grip, fluted straight comb, brown rubber Pachmayr buttpad, a checkered forend, and sling rings front and rear. There is a leather sling attached to the stocks. The LOP measures 13 3/4″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The buttstock is not original to the rifle, and has been refinished. The forend is original to the rifle, and has been refinished as well. The stocks show light wear, with a few light scratches, dings, and compressions scattered throughout. The checkering on the forend is well defined. There is a small 1″ long crack on the bottom of the forend, on the right side, just forward of the receiver. This crack may or may not be visible in the photos. The stocks fit tightly to the barreled action, with no play. Overall, the stocks rate in Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some light fouling present. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9.75/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its current metal refinish. The balance of the finish shows thinning/fading of the cold-blue refinish throughout the barrel. The blued finish on the receiver is original, but it is showing thinning finish on the leading edges, along with thinning on the lever. There is some corrosion on the falling block. The markings are clear and legible. The screw heads are tooled, but retain strong and serviceable slots. Overall, this rifle rates in Good to Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, as does the tang mounted safety. We did not fire this rifle, but we did perform a mechanic’s check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the sling and scope as mentioned above.
Our Assessment: The Ruger No. 1S Medium Sporter represents one of the strongest and most refined modern interpretations of the classic falling block sporting rifle. Built on Bill Ruger’s robust Farquharson-style action, the No. 1 quickly earned a following among hunters who appreciated its strength, accuracy, and sleek single shot profile. Chambered here in .303 British, a cartridge introduced in 1888 and long associated with the Lee-Enfield and the far reaches of the British Empire, this rifle blends Commonwealth heritage with American craftsmanship. In sporting trim, the .303 British remains a capable medium game cartridge, known for moderate recoil and practical field performance.
This 1978 example has been customized with a non-original 26 inch barrel and refinished wood, including a replacement buttstock and refinished forend. The barrel has been cold-blued and now retains approximately 80 percent of its current refinish, showing thinning and fading, while the original receiver finish shows edge wear and light corrosion on the falling block. The walnut stocks present well overall with light handling marks, though there is a small crack on the underside of the forend just forward of the receiver. The bore remains bright with sharp rifling and rates 9.75 out of 10 in this writer’s opinion. It is equipped with iron sights and a Redfield 2 3/4x scope in Very Good condition, along with a leather sling. A distinctive custom-configured No. 1S in a classic British chambering, offering both character and field-ready utility. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition and good luck with your bids! – J.D.