By Carl Ross

It was a beautiful October day in the Big Hole area of Montana. The Elk season was underway so Don and a hunting buddy Bob Perkins decided to hunt in the area southwest of Wisdom. Don had picked a location in the Cow creek area. He was scouting along a ridge overlooking Cow creek and he spotted a Bull Elk across the draw on the next ridge. The rifle Don was using was a Ruger No 1 with a twenty-two inch barrel, Alex Henry forearm and no sights in 7mm Rem Mag. It was equipped with a quarter rib and scoped with a 2x7 Leupold. Don had the scope set on 4 power and as he sighted the Elk in the crosshair he could not quite make out the full rack because of the trees. Don estimated the range at 400 to 500 yards so he held the crosshair at the top of the Elks back. He took the shot and saw the Elk disappear in the brush. Don hiked down the ridge and across the draw and up the other side to where he thought the Elk was. As he approached the spot the Elk got up and staggered about 50 feet and collapsed. Upon examination Don saw that he had shot the Elk right through the rib cage. The bullet had passed through both sides making a clean kill. It was a huge 6 point bull and was one of the largest Elk Don had ever taken. Don was very pleased with the rifle he was using and decided he would like to purchase it or one like it.

Well, you probably think this is just another hunting article, what is the big deal? As Paul Harvey says here ís the rest of the story. During my thirty some years of collecting Ruger No1 rifles you hear all kinds of stories but very few that are verifiable, this one is.

While conversing with a friend, Kelly Lorge of Bowman ND a few months ago this story came to life. Kelly had been to a gun show in Glendive MT where he met Don and first heard the story. Kelly found out that Don also collected Ruger No.1’s and had a couple of early non-prefix rifles. Kelly gave me Don’s phone number so I could get the story first hand from him.

I called Don and he related the story to me and told me he had documentation to prove it and would send it to me. The letter arrived about a week later and was I astonished.

If you are knowledgeable about the early Ruger No.1’s we know that it was announced in late 1966 but the earliest production rifles were not shipped until April 1967.

Don’s hunt took place in October 1966, so what was he using?

Larry Koller from Monroe NY who was the Supervising Editor of Guns and Hunting magazine and a very good friend of Bill Ruger in 1966. Larry was a very popular gun writer during this period so he was loaned one of the prototype Ruger No1 rifles to test and comment upon. Larry took the rifle with him to Montana that year for range testing and hunting. Larry had to return home early for some unexpected reason and did not get to hunt with the rifle. Larry left the rifle with his good friend R.D.Shipley to use on an Elk hunt that fall. Ship, his nickname had several other rifles and decided not to use the rifle, so asked his friend Don if he would like to use it. Don was elated to try out the new rifle.

Now for Don’s proof of the story…

Letter to Mr Don Hartman, Miles City, MT dated December 2 1966 from Larry Koller, Letterhead GUNS and HUNTING from Seven Springs Rd Monroe, New York

Letter to Don Hartman from Larry Koller

Dear Don

Just had a note from Ship telling me that you killed a good bull elk with the Ruger S.S. which is just great. Hope you got some pix for me. If so, I would appreciate your sending me the negs so we can make the right blow-ups. Ship says also that you want to buy the Ruger. I’m sorry; it just isn’t possible for that particular one. In fact, I can’t even get it myself. It’s a first pilot model with the light barrel and in 7mm Magnum so they really want it back for further test purposes. I’ll get you one just as soon as they are available if you will write me just what you want: barrel length and weight, caliber and forend style. The price will be right, don’t worry. I will appreciate it if you will ship the Ruger back directly to: Ed Nolan, Sturm-Ruger, Inc., Southport, Conn. And ship it express collect, insured for $2000. Nolan originally asked me to have you insure it for one grand but I just now talked to him on the phone and he said to make it two. I do want to thank you once again for your kindness in giving us the hunting courtesy on your ranch and, most of all the pleasure and fun of your company.

Best Regards
Larry Koller
(Signature)
Supervising Editor

Don shipped the rifle back to Sturm Ruger as instructed in Larry Kollers’ letter and received the following document as his receipt.

Ruger No.1 X-1 Invoice

Original Invoice from STURM, RUGER & CO., Inc. Southport, Connecticut 06490

Sold To Don Hartman 12/20/66 Powderville Stage Miles City, Montana 59301

Date Received: December 16,1966 Our Invoice No 28979

Description

RUGER #1 RIFLE CAL 7 MM SERIAL NO _______ 1 ON LOAN CREDIT

(RETURNED FROM ON LOAN) ITEM COMPLETE

Now there is not always a happy ending to every story. The sad part is that Mr Larry Koller passed away unexpectedly at a young age in Aug. 1967. And to this writers knowledge did not write the article about the hunt.

What is the distinction about the Ruger No.1 rifle that Don Hartman hunted with? It was PROTOTYPE RIFLE NO. X-1, the first Tool Room model.

This should not be confused with the production SN 1 which is a 30-06 caliber, 22 inch barrel Alex Henry forearm and factory sight’s or currently as model 1A. Don later purchased a 4 digit Ruger No.1 in 7mm Mag, 22 inch barrel, Alex Henry forearm, quarter rib rings just like the Prototype he used in 1966 and still hunts with it.

Ruger No.1 X-1 Closeup

The configuration of the Prototype No X1 was made only in the non-prefix rifles and was not standardized. There are currently 23 rifles known in this configuration starting at SN 70 to SN 5529. The projected total made for this model is 107 of a total production of approximately 8000 non-prefix rifles. If any reader can furnish any further information about Ruger No 1’s please contact this writer or Classic Sporting Arms.

Carl L. Ross
RUGER1SOCIETY@ZoomTown.com

Addendum to this Story

When I originally wrote this article I did not know that there was more information for the story. When I conversed with Don Hartman during the months that followed he told me he had photographs of the Ruger No.1 X1 Prototype rifle and the October 1966 hunt.

I inquired if he could send me some duplicate photographs that I could use for a revised article in the future. Don said he didn’t have access to any photographic facilities at the time but said he would be glad to send me his original album of black and white photographs so I could get the duplicates made.

I was able to get two complete sets of duplicate photos made from his originals and had some of them colorized to bring them up to date.

I sent Don a complete set of new photographs along with his original photos and he was very appreciative for them and the color photos.

When I received the photographs I was surprised to actually see the very first Prototype Ruger No.1 rifle. The original Ruger X-1 prototype rifle had a 22 inch light barrel with no Quarter Rib. The Scope was mounted in a set of Rings unlike any I had Ever seen. There were two separate scope blocks on the barrel.

The barrel band was also a lot wider than the standard barrel band on the Production rifles. The Checkering pattern on the buttstock was also different from the first Production models. The Checkering pattern on the X-1 prototype had a two pointed pattern on the pistol grip. A similar pattern like this was used on the Ruger No.1 model celebrating one hundred years of the 30-06 cartridge.

The forearm checkering looked very similar to the first production models. During the years after I found the information on this rifle I have inquired Several times to the factory records and other sources to determine the whereabouts of the rifle but to no avail.

Don later acquired a new production Ruger No.1 SN 4192 of his own. The Rifle was an AH configuration in 7 Mag with 22 inch barrel and Quarter Rib with Horizontal Rings. Don hunted with his rifle many years then sold it to a friend who is a Ruger No.1 collector.

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). I have just acquired another .45-70, # 130-01038, shipped as a barreled action in 1974, much later than it’s serial# would indicate. It is also marked only with .45-70. So when was the “Govt” added to the caliber stamp?
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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