In November, 1983, I visited with Mr. Roger Barlow in his home at New Market, Virginia. The purpose of the trip was to purchase his Ruger No.1 “21 Club” presentation rifle. He also showed me a really interesting Ruger shotgun. This was a 12 gauge Red Label, but it was missing the bottom barrel! It was also really unusual in that it was what we know today as a Woodside! In 1983, I had no clue as to this development. It was also for sale, at a very fair price, but I just could not fathom how this receiver had been altered in this way. It was easy enough to see how the lower barrel had been altered. Also, I really wasn’t in to the Ruger shotguns. At the time, I only had a couple of the early 20 gauge Red Labels.
Imagine my surprise, when in the October, 1984 issue of Guns Magazine, Mr. Barlow has an article on his Ruger No.1 shotgun! Twenty three years went by before this shotgun turned up again. As soon as I saw it, I remarked “I have seen this Ruger shotgun before!” It is serial# 410-00477; one might have expected it to be one of the rare “All Blue” 12 gauges, based on the serial #. An inquiry to the Ruger Factory Records Department turned up no helpful information, other than it was shipped as an RL-1226 in May of 1982..
Then I stumbled on to the explanation! The R. L. Wilson book, “RUGER & His Guns” is a treasure trove of information for the serious Ruger Collector. There is too much information to read all at one time or to remember, so I just occasionally peruse various sections. Since the 12 gauge Woodsides have been discontinued, I have developed a bit of interest in them.
On page 288 of “RUGER & His Guns” is the answer! To quote selected passages:
“Although the design for the Woodside was issued in October of 1976 to Bill Ruger and Larry Larsen, nothing but a handful of prototypes was built until production began in 1994. The Ruger patent had expired by then.”
“One of the prototypes had been handsomely engraved, and became the cover for the first company catalogue issued under the title The Ruger Collection, in 1995.”
“Jay Jarvis tells the story of the Woodside, and related Rugers:
This was originally drawn up and five guns were made, around 1980. The engraved sample gun on the cover of the 1995 catalogue was one of the original five….
The only changes we’ve made are that the wood panels on the frame were shortened about 3/8” from the originals.”

The engraved Woodside mentioned appears to be serial# 410-00016 and appears in the Wilson book at least on pages 291 and 292.
This special Red Label Woodside has the longer side panels(by 3/8″) as seen in the photograph, compared with Woodside serial#430-00010. It certainly must be one of the original 5 prototypes built in 1980 mentioned by Jay Jarvis. In the most recent RCA Journal(Volume 25, No.4), Dan Tanko has written of the “All Blue” 12 gauge Red Labels, noting that it was well into 1984-85 before 12 gauges started shipping. At least, the May 1982 shipping date makes this the earliest known 12 gauge shipped. While the Factory did not confirm this shotgun being shipped to Roger Barlow, his long close friendship with Bill Ruger and his GUNS Magazine article make it clear to me that this special Prototype was most likely gifted to Mr. Barlow!

Model: 1-S
Serial Number: 6754
Caliber: .45-70 Govt.
Rollmark Date: November 1969

This Ruger No. 1 rifle is chambered in .45-70 Govt. The rifle features a nicely figured walnut stock, a rounded red rubber recoil pad, and a low, four-digit serial number.

The above information is from the Ruger Auction concerning a non-prefix Ruger No.1 rifle auction ended August 5, 2008. This is a very unusual rifle, in that it will not be found in my listing of Caliber/Configurations in the Rarity Estimates. Prior to this Auction, this rifle was not known to exist! So what is it??
First, I would add that since the beginning of the Ruger Auction, there have been five 4 digit rifles that have not been known to Collectors as having been made; 4 are the 1V models in .222, .243 and .308. Now, we have this .45-70 that is not a true 1S; it has a semi-beavertail forearm and no barrel band. Three notable features(the first two of which can not be seen in the photographs) with this rifle are: 1) a diamond checkering pattern on the bottom of the forearm, 2) a grooved front sight and 3) the caliber stamp of only .45-70(not followed by the Govt).
To my knowledge, the very first 1S Ruger No.1 rifles were made in August of 1970. They began shipping in that month and on through the Fall/Winter of 1970. The earliest prefix rifle I have information on is 130-00138 which was produced and shipped the same day; August 19, 1970. Most were in the very low 130-XXXXX serial # range, but as there were still some 2000+ 4 digit numbered receivers in the production process, some will be found with the non-prefix serial #. My belief is that in trying to decide on just how to make up the new .45-70, this rifle (#6754) in this configuration was made as a sample for testing. I do not believe any were others were made or sold in this configuration, either 4 digit or later 130- prefix rifles. So, until I learn of another, I will believe it is truly “One of a Kind!".

The 1967 Catalogue stated(in very small print):

Engraving: Our engraving is done in the English pattern(i.e., floral scrolls and borders, monograms, game vignettes) but no bas-relief engraving will be undertaken. We cannot furnish inlays or carvings of stocks. Prices for engraving (3 patterns available) start at $125.00, which is in addition to the basic retail cost of the rifle. For details on engraving, please write to the factory.

If someone wrote to the factory for details (per last sentence above) on engraving, it is not clear to me what they would have received. If anyone has this information, I would certainly like to know of it. Three patterns were advertised starting at $125.00, but the cost of the other two patterns is not stated. Of the three engraved rifles discussed below, it does not appear that they were of three different styles and coverage, as at least two(#956 and #962) have the same style and coverage, excepting the animal vignettes.

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It was Friday, our last day to hunt. At 3:30 PM, I decided that the “Flaco Nueve” would be shot on sight. At 4:40, he stepped out of the brush, at about 125 yards, right where I had taken his picture some 5 hours earlier. I only put the binoculars on him long enough to ascertain that he had not broken off any points in the last 5 hours. Then I got my rifle into position with the steadiest rest I could in that old tripod.

This hunt all got started last July when I visited with Judge Joe Clayton in Tyler, Texas. I had gone to pick a supply of his new printing of the Ruger No.1 book. While admiring several of his whitetail mounts taken in South Texas and Mexico, the discussion naturally turned to deer hunting. Joe mentioned he had scheduled a Mexico hunt the first 5 days of January, 2008 and there might still be an opening.. I knew of the rains that nearly all of Texas received in the first 7 months of the year; I knew that rainfall is highly correlated to the number of B&C quality bucks taken in that year. It had to be a super year for taking big bucks in South Texas and Mexico. In anticipation, I had entered the Los Cazadores Big Buck Contest in Pearsall in December. I was returning from a trip to the Chaparral WMA. I also signed up for the Los Cuernos de Tejas Contest at Carrizo Springs.

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I would think that everyone with a serious interest in the Ruger No.1 rifle, whether collecting, shooting or hunting, would have a copy of this book.
But, did you know there are 5 different editions?
*1st Edition -Numbered-500 copies
*1st Edition -Trade
*1st Edition -Leather-100 copies
*1st Edition -Special Leather-100 copies, but JDC believes only about 10 were made up. This Edition only has green leather (4.5″x7″) on the front with Title & Author. The binding appears to be a fine weave grey cloth
*2nd Printing-Softcover.
An 8 page RCA 1984 Journal Supplement was also printed advertising and promoting the book. This Journal Supplement is the only place that the Cover Rifle pictured on the DJ is identified as a .222 Remington with the 200th Year Anniversary barrel marking. Also noted is that it is one of two such rifles in existence.
I have been told there were only 2000 copies printed in the 1st Edition.
If you have any of the first 4 Editions, consider yourself fortunate. I would also expect the Journal Supplement to be quite scarce!
Photos below are: 1st Photo; Top-A framed example of the rare Ruger No.1 advertising banner. Below-Books, Left to Right; a 1st Edition without the dust jacket,the rare green leather title edition, the leather edition, the latest softcover reprint, with the covers same as the original dust jacket. The 2nd and 3rd Photos are the front and back of the 1984 RCA Journal Supplement.

1984 RCA Journal Supplement (Front)

1984 RCA Journal Supplement (Back)