doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Ruger #3

I was fortunate enough to handle this rifle at Cabelas but the 8K price tag made me put it right back in the rack where I found it. Well it has haunted me ever since and is the reason I want to build my own #3. IIRC this gun was made by Lee Helgeland (sp?) and engraved by Barry Lee Hands. Best-JB

That's what I thought. It is a very fine rifle and I'm surprised to that it was for sale?!?

Mr. Steve ---- that is one fine looking #3 you own. I would be interested in who made the side lever ---- I have another #3 I would like to do the same on. Incidently, love that stock, Very British and just my taste.

The sidelever conversion is by the late great metalsmith and engraver John Madole. It is more than sophisticated, beautifully done and although I've heard folks say they would replicate it, I've yet you see it. The only Ruger parts are the breechblock and action body and both have been altered. I wouldn't try it although Glenn could probably do it with enough time allowed. The forend hanger was removed and the mainspring converted to a flat spring much like a Sharps. There are some pretty good mechanical views in my Custom Rifles book (Down to the very last half a dozen copies!)
Madole built three barreled actions; a .22 Hornet, this .30-40 and a .45-70 that Morris Hallowell recently resold. The fellow with the Hornet contacted me several months ago, he really likes his rifle! There is another Madole #3 Henry style conversion with Madole engraving at Hallowell's (shown in my book in the white). [img]http://www.hallowellco.com/madole%20henry.htm[/img]
I'm real proud of the stock job which I did about 20 years ago. Wish I had stained the wood though...

Mr. Hughes, Why does it say that it is a modified No. 1 action, which it appears to be?

#1 - #3, what difference does it make?
Ask Morris.

I guess it really doesn't, as the actions are the same, and only the lever and barrel are different. However, they are roll stamped on top of the receiver either No.1 or No.3, and there are a lot fewer No.3s. So considering this thread was about the No.3 is the only reason I ask.

BTW, for anyone interested, I have a "as new" take off stock from a No.3, .22 Hornet. It has the "plastic"? butt plate and barrel ring. If anyone has a need for it to restore a No.3 contact me.

Yeah, Steven, I skipped a couple of the classic #3 "quick fixes" all right. That nylon forend band deserves to be flang, ASAP, anyway, even if it doesn't affect the accuracy....

Mine is a work in progress, and has been ever since I bought it new. It was originally a .375 Winchester, and about "minute of whitetail" was as good as I could ever get it to shoot, even after doing all Frank DeHaas' favorite tricks to it.

Now, it wears a Douglas barrel in .30-30, and is showing much promise with initial load testing. She is stocked in schuetzen style in a piece of light colored Bastogne. I still need to design a checkering pattern and get busy with it...

Greg