I just picked up one of these 45/70 No1's with standard weight 26 inch barrel - Perfect!

http://www.ruger.com/products/no1DE/models.html

Ruger No1 in 45/70 with a standard weight 26 inch barrel, how many years did I wait for this? 30 ? 40? This has the classic look of a single shot and balances very nicely. It points a lot better than those old heavy 24" tropical's. And, I sure dont get why those so-called medium sporter 45/70 would have a feather weight 22" barrel? The light sporters have 22inch barrels, seems the mediums should be longer.

It arrived today and I am still fondling mode. I hope it shoots well. The wood is pretty nice. Apparently circassian varies a lot and I did not luck into one of the really nice stocks. It looks just like the one on the web site, I would have liked the one above that. You click on the gun and the picture changes.

I had been thinking about getting a 450/400. I got to handle a used example 450/400 at Cabelas in Maine. They wanted $1200. More than I could special order a new one down the road. In fact after I pointed out $1200 was high for a used No1, the Cabelas clerk suggested if I could get a new one for $1000 I should go do it. I was not going to stick around after that. Adios. I went down the road. The 450/400 did feel a lot better than the old tropicals.

When I saw this Lipsey special, I shifted gears and opted for the 45/70. The 45/70 No1 with a real rifle length barrel being something I thought about (or bitched about) for years.

Everything comes to he who waits