Ruger No 1 Stock Project

[Rafiki]

I'm planning on returning to Tanzania in October 2026 for another buffalo hunt and have decided to restock my trusty .500 Sharps for that hunt. This is a bit crazy because the wood that the rifle is currently wearing is actually very nice but I just am wanting something a bit different.

I thought I'd start this thread to chronical the process that I will be going through, the ups and downs, in hopes that it will be at least of some interest and also be helpful to others who may be considering doing something similar.

I chose English Walnut for the project because of it's density and it's ability to take fine checkering. I wanted a interesting grain pattern on both sides and a straight horizontal grain through the wrist area. The grain or "figuring" is of course highly subjective but what you see here is the blank that I settled on.

 

[Zinz]

That’s gonna be gorgeous.

Ed Z

 

[cajunchefray]

Very nice slab of walnut.

I will be following with interest, as I have been thinking of restocking a Ruger Number One for a bigger bore rifle, as when I shoot a plus .400 caliber, it’s just a bit much.

A .500 Nitro with a heavy 26 inch barrel is my plan.

The Ruger Number One is elegant and fast handling for me.

 

[Boone66]

Have you done this before?

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Very nice slab of walnut.

I will be following with interest, as I have been thinking of restocking a Ruger Number One for a bigger bore rifle, as when I shoot a plus .400 caliber, it’s just a bit much.

A .500 Nitro with a heavy 26 inch barrel is my plan.

The Ruger Number One is elegant and fast handling for me.

Sooo... I did this exact thing with a piece of New Zealand walnut. You don't actually need that many tools. But a router table is the most important for the inletting.

This was only the second Ruger no.1 stock I have made. And that is a 500 Ne with a 26" tube.

 

[Denvir Tire]

That is a magnificent piece of wood

 

[Rafiki]

Have you done this before?

Yes, a couple of times. I have another Ruger No 1 in .300WM. I bought the as a barreled action and had it stocked with a very nice hunk of Batstone Walnut. That rifle has a rollover cheek rest, palm swell and a beavertail forend; it's almost too pretty to hunt but hunt it does.

I also restocked a No 4 Mk I Lee-Enfield when I was a kid, did the metal work in shop class (Can't do that anymore). That thing has taken most of my deer.

The last is a Ruger RSM 375 H&H that was started in 2024 and took one of my buffalo last October. That was really about reshaping that God awful factory stock. If interested, the story of that rifle is written about on these pages.

 

[Rafiki]

Sooo... I did this exact thing with a piece of New Zealand walnut. You don't actually need that many tools. But a router table is the most important for the inletting.

This was only the second Ruger no.1 stock I have made. And that is a 500 Ne with a 26" tube.

Very nice.

 

[skydiver386]

Dang that's a good looking piece of walnut.

What have you decided on for a checkering pattern?

 

[9Point3]

I would like to do something similar with a TC Encore stock (after getting a 375 Flanged or 9.3x74R barrel built). I used the Encore in 300 WM on my first safari.

 

[Rafiki]

Dang that's a good looking piece of walnut.

What have you decided on for a checkering pattern?

No not yet, there's plenty of time to think about that. I do think 22-line would be about right.

 

[thirdbite]

Just looking at pics, I would consider flipping the pattern over.

 

[Rafiki]

Just looking at pics, I would consider flipping the pattern over.

Why, what are you seeing that I'm not

 

[thirdbite]

the downward grain flow of the pistol grip, if flipped

 

[Esoteric Junkie]

I'm planning on returning to Tanzania in October 2026 for another buffalo hunt and have decided to restock my trusty .500 Sharps for that hunt. This is a bit crazy because the wood that the rifle is currently wearing is actually very nice but I just am wanting something a bit different.

I thought I'd start this thread to chronical the process that I will be going through, the ups and downs, in hopes that it will be at least of some interest and also be helpful to others who may be considering doing something similar.

I chose English Walnut for the project because of it's density and it's ability to take fine checkering. I wanted a interesting grain pattern on both sides and a straight horizontal grain through the wrist area. The grain or "figuring" is of course highly subjective but what you see here is the blank that I settled on.

View attachment 697404View attachment 697405

That is a Cecil Fredi blank.

EJ

 

[Rafiki]

That is a Cecil Fredi blank.

EJ

Yup.

 

[Boone66]

Sooo... I did this exact thing with a piece of New Zealand walnut. You don't actually need that many tools. But a router table is the most important for the inletting.

This was only the second Ruger no.1 stock I have made. And that is a 500 Ne with a 26" tube.

View attachment 697415

Hmm, I have never used a router table to inlet with. I have seen people use shapers though, I use chisels to inlet and a draw knife and rasps for rough shaping, after profiling with a band saw.

 

[Kootenay Hunter]

Hmm, I have never used a router table to inlet with. I have seen people use shapers though, I use chisels to inlet and a draw knife and rasps for rough shaping, after profiling with a band saw.

Oh yea, if you have a decent router table you can really speed up the inletting! I still do the final fit with chisels, but for getting the bulk of the material out, in a way that is trued to the centre of the blank is easy with a router table. I don't recommend it for some stock types, but it really helps with a ruger no.1

 

[Nevada Mike]

Just looking at pics, I would consider flipping the pattern over.

I totally agree! Flipping the pattern would result in a really fine and traditional looking stock... perfect for a classic rifle.

Here's my Ruger No. 1...

 

[Rafiki]

I totally agree! Flipping the pattern would result in a really fine and traditional looking stock... perfect for a classic rifle.

I'll think about it. I do need to ensure the the little bit of heartwood does not become part of the stock. It doesn't look like a problem from the images but ....

Here's my Ruger No. 1...

Nice. The shadow-line treatment will be on my new stock; you don't see that often. I'd like to see the rest of it if you have the images.