The No. 1 enthusiast can have a real challenge trying to come up with the many variants (Standard, Light Sporter, Tropical, International, Medium Sporter, Varmint, etc.) in all of the different chamberings. To date I have counted more than 25 different calibers the gun’s been offered in.

One of the advantages of the rifle is that it makes an excellent platform for engraving, and some of the most beautiful Rugers ever have been put together on the No. 1 action. In fact, I so fell in love with the rifle (and the .405 chambering, when it was first offered) that I commissioned the Ruger Studio of Art and Decoration to embellish a rifle in period English style by covering the entire receiver with tight scroll engraving and then having it case-hardened. I also ordered a few discreet gold inlays.

The result is a real-show-stopper. Currently this is probably the most beautiful gun in my collection, and one of which I am most proud. I’m sure that any Ruger that has been specially decorated by the company artisans will be bringing a premium in years to come.

Sleek and unstoppable, the 10/22 is reminiscent of classic battle rifles.

To date, the studio has produced some incredible masterpieces selling for many thousands of dollars. To my mind it offers some of the finest work of its type in America.

As an aside, in 1999 Ruger brought out 1,500 Medium Sporter 50th Anniversary models chambered in .45-70. The guns had Bill Ruger’s signature on the bottom of the receiver and fancy Circassian walnut stocks. These are among the more expensive of the issue No. 1s, running around $2,000 in unused condition.

As well as the No. 1, Bill invented another single shot: the No. 3 Carbine, which was handier and lighter than its predecessor. First appearing in 1973, the mechanism was different than that of the No. 1 but was still able to accommodate a wide selection of chamberings from .22 Hornet all the way up to some pretty hefty centerfire loads, including .45-70 and .375 Win. It was not offered in that many variants, so amassing a complete array of No. 3s is not quite as difficult as with some of the firm’s other long guns.