The 10/22 has also become a hot item for competition customizers, and while a purist might turn up his nose at aftermarket models of the gun, some find them quite collectible as well—though I must admit, I personally lean toward the un-gussied standard factory issues.

It might be noted at this point, that in 1976 Ruger opted to mark all its guns with the centennial message, “Made In The 200th Year Of American Liberty.”

Fewer rifles offer a finer canvas for engraving than Ruger’s classically styled No. 1.

While the sentiment is laudatory, bear in mind, that all things being equal, guns so marked really don’t bring a premium over pieces without the legend. Over the years this has been one of my most asked questions by fledgling collectors (many of whom were suckered into paying quite a bit extra for Centennial Rugers), and I have had to explain to them that for the most part, it’s really not much of a collecting incentive.

Bill Ruger was an aficionado of classic big game rifles, so it came as no surprise that in 1967 he brought out a single-shot rifle (against the advice of many “experts” who thought there was no market for such a gun) that cosmetically resembled the British Farquharson.

Aptly named the No. 1, in true Ruger fashion, the rifle defied the prognostications of the critics and gave single-shots a whole new lease on life. The platform was versatile enough to allow for a number of chamberings (Ruger still keeps coming out with more), making this one of the most collectible of Ruger rifles.