RUGER No. 1 #1 .35 Whelen Single-Shot Rifle, 2006 Stainless Less than 250
SOLD FOR: $3250
LSB#: 220409KL008
Make: Sturm, Ruger & Co.
Model: No. 1 (K1-A) #11318
Serial Number: 134-17819
Year of Manufacture: 2006 (Ruger Serial Number Lookup)
Caliber: .35 Whelen
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 “35 WHELEN” under 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 “134-17819”. The grip cap and buttpad are marked with the company’s phoenix logo.
Barrel Length: 22”
Sights/Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade in-line dovetailed to a ramped banded base fixed to the barrel. The rear sight is a flip up u-notch dovetailed into the barrel rib which is notched for the included Ruger rings.
Stock Configuration and Condition: The stock is a two-piece checkered wood with pistol grip and Henry forend, pistol-grip, fluted straight comb, and an orange rubber buttpad. There are sling studs on the belly of the buttstock and the underside of the forend. The stock is free of any notable wear or damage. The LOP is 13 3/4” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The buttpad has light handling marks and some very minor scuffing at the heel and toe. Overall, the stock is in Excellent condition.
Type of Finish: Stainless
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 99% of its metal finish. Beyond evidence of minor handling, the metal is free of any notable wear or damage. The screws have very minor tool marks with strong slots. All markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in 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 cardboard box, a security lock, Ruger rings, and the manual.
Our Assessment: The Ruger No. 1 was introduced in 1967 and 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 Excellent condition, manufactured in 2006, and is chambered for .35 Whelen. So named for Townsend Whelen, Army colonel and later Commanding Officer of Frankford Arsenal and designed by James of Howe of Griffin & Howe, the cartridge makes great use of .30-06 brass. Whelen is ideal for larger North American game up to Moose and is to this day well-regarded by shooters. Fewer than 250 of this No. 1 variant were made, and the stainless steel adds a secondary layer of rarity. Good luck and happy bidding!