Ruger No. 1 designations (1A, 1B, 1S, etc)

Locoweed · January 4, 2017, 10:57 AM

What do the designations on the Ruger No. 1 rifle stand for? I see, for example, references to the 1A, 1B, 1S, etc. Does this have something to do with barrel configuration?

SaxonPig · January 4, 2017, 11:59 AM

There may be some models I don't know, but the A is the light sporter with 22" barrel and small fore end.

The B is the heavy barrel (26" maybe?) with the full fore end.

The S is the medium sporter with light 26" barrel and small fore end.

The tropical is in 375 or 416 or 458 with a 24" barrel ands small fore end.

The RSI has a 20" barrel and full Mannlicher style stock.

I sort of have a thing for the #1. I have two As, one each of the Tropical, S and RSI.

Targa · January 4, 2017, 12:05 PM

Nice collection! I do not have a #1 but have always liked them, they are beautiful rifles.

eastbank · January 4, 2017, 05:31 PM

i have two #1 B,s both win 26 " barrels with out sights but with quarter ribs for scope mounting, one is a .223 and one is a 300 win mag full forends and the barrels are lighter than a 25-06 heavy barrel #1 that had with target type bases(no quarter rib) that i sold. the most important thing i have done to my six remaining 1,s was having a little metal removed from the rear of the quarter rib, so it didn,t have any contact with the front of the reciever. my favorite # 1A is a 35 whelen with sights. eastbank.

FITASC · January 4, 2017, 05:42 PM

I USED to own a RSI in 243; sweet-shooting gun that would put Sierra 85 BTHPs in 3/4"@100 all day long. One of the few guns I sold I wish I had back.

McShooty · January 4, 2017, 06:08 PM

I'm thinking the 1B is the "standard" weight model, and the heavy (varmint) weight is called 1V.

SaxonPig · January 5, 2017, 03:26 PM

I think you're right but they both have the full fore end.

Rifletom · January 6, 2017, 03:23 PM

I have the No.1B in 30-'06. I cannot see me ever parting ways with that rifle.
That1B or my Sako Finnbear are what goes in the field.

dahermit · January 6, 2017, 05:28 PM

Ruger 1B forearm = "Beaver Tail", no sights. The Rugers with that odd groove near the end of the narrower forearm was called the "Patrick Henry", or something like that.

kilimanjaro · January 6, 2017, 05:33 PM

It's just the Henry forearm, no Patrick.

I've got a dozen of these beauties in various calibers, all are excellent shooters.

If you find one in 303 British, snap it up, only 500 were made.

Paul B. · January 6, 2017, 05:33 PM

That's Alex Henry.

My favorite forearm configuration for the Ruger #1.
Paul B.

dahermit · January 6, 2017, 05:39 PM

Patrick Henry, Henry, Alexander Henry...that is why I said, "something like that."

Hell, I'm too old to remember the details.

flashhole · January 6, 2017, 06:20 PM

The #1V is the Varminter Bull Barrel.

Locoweed · January 7, 2017, 11:08 AM

I've got a 1S chambered in 9.3x74R. It's a 22" barrel with a "small" forend.

jaguarxk120 · January 7, 2017, 11:16 AM

And please note Ruger never built a "No. 2" rifle. Just the No.3.

If anyone says they have a #2 Ruger, it is something cobbled up by a garage gunsmith.

eastbank · January 7, 2017, 02:19 PM

the so called #2 is a #3 with #1 wood added, the lever may need to be bent a little. i have a extra set of like new #1 wood i was going to put on my #3 in 45-70, but as i hunt in harsh conditions and weather with the #3 i just kept the original wood on it. eastbank.

January 4, 2017, 05:42 PM	#5
FITASC Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2014 Posts: 6,446	I USED to own a RSI in 243; sweet-shooting gun that would put Sierra 85 BTHPs in 3/4"@100 all day long. One of the few guns I sold I wish I had back. __________________ "I believe that people have a right to decide their own destinies; people own themselves. I also believe that, in a democracy, government exists because (and only so long as) individual citizens give it a 'temporary license to exist'—in exchange for a promise that it will behave itself. In a democracy, you own the government—it doesn't own you."- Frank Zappa

January 6, 2017, 03:23 PM	#8
Rifletom Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 789	1B I have the No.1B in 30-'06. I cannot see me ever parting ways with that rifle. That1B or my Sako Finnbear are what goes in the field.

January 6, 2017, 05:28 PM	#9
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Ruger 1B forearm = "Beaver Tail", no sights. The Rugers with that odd groove near the end of the narrower forearm was called the "Patrick Henry", or something like that. Last edited by dahermit; January 6, 2017 at 05:37 PM.

January 6, 2017, 05:33 PM	#11
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	That's Alex Henry. My favorite forearm configuration for the Ruger #1. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

January 6, 2017, 06:20 PM	#13
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	The #1V is the Varminter Bull Barrel. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

January 4, 2017, 10:57 AM	#1
Locoweed Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 661	Ruger No. 1 designations (1A, 1B, 1S, etc) What do the designations on the Ruger No. 1 rifle stand for? I see, for example, references to the 1A, 1B, 1S, etc. Does this have something to do with barrel configuration?

January 4, 2017, 11:59 AM	#2
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	There may be some models I don't know, but the A is the light sporter with 22" barrel and small fore end. The B is the heavy barrel (26" maybe?) with the full fore end. The S is the medium sporter with light 26" barrel and small fore end. The tropical is in 375 or 416 or 458 with a 24" barrel ands small fore end. The RSI has a 20" barrel and full Mannlicher style stock. I sort of have a thing for the #1. I have two As, one each of the Tropical, S and RSI.

January 4, 2017, 12:05 PM	#3
Targa Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 2,084	Nice collection! I do not have a #1 but have always liked them, they are beautiful rifles.

January 4, 2017, 05:31 PM	#4
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	i have two #1 B,s both win 26 " barrels with out sights but with quarter ribs for scope mounting, one is a .223 and one is a 300 win mag full forends and the barrels are lighter than a 25-06 heavy barrel #1 that had with target type bases(no quarter rib) that i sold. the most important thing i have done to my six remaining 1,s was having a little metal removed from the rear of the quarter rib, so it didn,t have any contact with the front of the reciever. my favorite # 1A is a 35 whelen with sights. eastbank.

January 4, 2017, 06:08 PM	#6
McShooty Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2012 Location: Northern Missouri Posts: 480	I'm thinking the 1B is the "standard" weight model, and the heavy (varmint) weight is called 1V.

January 5, 2017, 03:26 PM	#7
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	I think you're right but they both have the full fore end.

January 6, 2017, 05:33 PM	#10
kilimanjaro Senior Member Join Date: November 23, 2009 Posts: 3,963	It's just the Henry forearm, no Patrick. I've got a dozen of these beauties in various calibers, all are excellent shooters. If you find one in 303 British, snap it up, only 500 were made.

January 6, 2017, 05:39 PM	#12
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	Patrick Henry, Henry, Alexander Henry...that is why I said, "something like that." Hell, I'm too old to remember the details.

January 7, 2017, 11:08 AM	#14
Locoweed Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 661	I've got a 1S chambered in 9.3x74R. It's a 22" barrel with a "small" forend.

January 7, 2017, 11:16 AM	#15
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,620	And please note Ruger never built a "No. 2" rifle. Just the No.3. If anyone says they have a #2 Ruger, it is something cobbled up by a garage gunsmith.

January 7, 2017, 02:19 PM	#16
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	the so called #2 is a #3 with #1 wood added, the lever may need to be bent a little. i have a extra set of like new #1 wood i was going to put on my #3 in 45-70, but as i hunt in harsh conditions and weather with the #3 i just kept the original wood on it. eastbank.