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LOT 537
Historic Factory Master James B. Meek Signed and Game Scene Engraved Pair of Ruger No. 1 Bicentennial Single Shot Rifles Presented to President Gerald R. Ford Jr. with Case
-A) Ruger No. 1 Rifle - Serial no. U.S.1, 30-06 Springfield cal., 22 inch solid rib bbl., blue/gold finish, walnut stock. Designed by
Bill Ruger based on the Farquharson type action, the Ruger No.
1 quickly became synonymous with accuracy and was a favorite amongst American hunters and target shooters alike. This set of gorgeous Ruger No. 1 rifles is made even more special than the incredible works of art that they are, as they were presented to the 38th President of the United States Gerald R. Ford Jr. for the U.S. bicentennial in 1976 by the Republican National Convention. Ford served as president from August 1974 to January 1977, quite a tumultuous time for the country in the wake of Vice President Spiro Agnew’s resignation due to conviction for tax evasion and President Richard Nixon’s resignation following the Watergate scandal. Ford was quickly propelled from House Minority Leader to Vice President and after only eight months, to President of the United States, having never even had the chance to move into the Vice President’s residence. Ford is the only President to have never been elected to the office or the office of Vice President and also remains the only President from the great state of Michigan.
The rifles were both built with blued steel barrels and feature fine scroll engraving at the breech and muzzle along with standard factory markings including “MADE IN THE 200TH YEAR OF AMERICAN LIBERTY” on the left hand side. Rifle “A” is fitted with a ramped beaded blade front sight and a rear quarter rib holding the rear sight and rifle “B” bares no provisions for open sights,
but is mounted with a set of scope bases. Both rifles have blued actions displaying extensive floral scroll engraving surrounding gold inlaid semi-relief animals and gold inlaid lettering. Both rifles feature a beautifully cut gold eagle on the right side of the action and “1776/1976” in gold on the underside along with the serial number. The left side of rifle “A” displays a running elk while the “B” rifle shows a howling wolf. Both rifles are signed on the triggerplate to the left of the trigger “ENG. BY J. B. MEEK” for American Master Engraver James B. Meek, a highly renowned engraver and author of the highly respected book “The Art of Engraving”.
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