*ONE OF A KIND ELMER KEITH’S RUGER NO. 1 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE PRESENTED BY RUGER TO HONOR MR. KEITH’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE “21 CLUB”.

SN 15. Cal. .375 H&H. Usual configuration with 24″ rnd bbl, ramp front sight on a sleeve with replacement sourdough sight. Chamber area of the bbl has a quarter rib with folding leaf sight & mounted with conetrol bases & rings containing a Leupold 1-4X Vari-X II scope with duplex cross hairs. Top of the bbl has standard Ruger Southport markings with caliber marking on left side of chamber area. Mounted with exceptional, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with Alex Henry checkered forearm and capped pistol grip stock with thin Ruger red buttplate. Buttstock has a sling swivel stud with corresponding stud on a stalking band around the bbl. Receiver is beautifully engraved by renowned engraver Alvin White of the A.A. White Engravers, Inc. Left side has a standing grizzly bear standing on a rocky promontory, executed in great detail. Right side has flat gold inlay “Elmer Keith”. Both vignettes are surrounded by very fine foliate arabesque patterns which extend over the bottom of the receiver & onto the lever. This rifle is one of only a very few presented to sporting & outdoor writers and one or two close friends of William B. Ruger who were members of the “21 Club”. The origin of the name 21 Club is unclear but it is believed to have been created by the intrepid writer & gun guru Jack O’Connor who was a fan & regular customer at the famous esteemed 21 Club restaurant in New York City. This rifle differs substantially from other 21 Club rifles in that it has an engraved grizzly bear as ordered by Steve Vogel in a letter to A.A. White engravers on August 4, 1969. In the same letter, he also orders that Mr. Keith’s full name be engraved which is another deviation from the other 21 Club rifles, which had only initials. The bear vignette, as found here, is one of only two engraved by Mr. White on Ruger No. 1’s. There exists a picture of Mr. Keith in his trophy room holding this rifle without his trademark hat but with a cigar in his face. Much of the information regarding the “21 Club” was obtained from the website: www.classicsportingarms.com/engraved-ruger-no-1s. Accompanying is a copy of the August 1969 letter from Steve Vogel, Ruger Sales Manager, to A.A. White Engravers. PROVENANCE: The Elmer Keith Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine+. Overall retains 99%+ strong orig finish with a few minor nicks in the wood and small cut in butt pad. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, sharp clear optics. 4-47972 JR268 (7,500-12,500) – Lot 1000

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Auction: Firearms - March 2015

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	1000	$21,850.00	ONE OF A KIND ELMER KEITH’S RUGER NO. 1 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE PRESENTED BY RUGER TO HONOR MR. KEITH’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE “21 CLUB”. SN 15. Cal. .375 H&H. Usual configuration with 24″ rnd bbl, ramp front sight on a sleeve with replacement sourdough sight. Chamber area of the bbl has a quarter rib with folding leaf sight & mounted with conetrol bases & rings containing a Leupold 1-4X Vari-X II scope with duplex cross hairs. Top of the bbl has standard Ruger Southport markings with caliber marking on left side of chamber area. Mounted with exceptional, center crotch, flame grain American walnut with Alex Henry checkered forearm and capped pistol grip stock with thin Ruger red buttplate. Buttstock has a sling swivel stud with corresponding stud on a stalking band around the bbl. Receiver is beautifully engraved by renowned engraver Alvin White of the A.A. White Engravers, Inc. Left side has a standing grizzly bear standing on a rocky promontory, executed in great detail. Right side has flat gold inlay “Elmer Keith”. Both vignettes are surrounded by very fine foliate arabesque patterns which extend over the bottom of the receiver & onto the lever. This rifle is one of only a very few presented to sporting & outdoor writers and one or two close friends of William B. Ruger who were members of the “21 Club”. The origin of the name 21 Club is unclear but it is believed to have been created by the intrepid writer & gun guru Jack O’Connor who was a fan & regular customer at the famous esteemed 21 Club restaurant in New York City. This rifle differs substantially from other 21 Club rifles in that it has an engraved grizzly bear as ordered by Steve Vogel in a letter to A.A. White engravers on August 4, 1969. In the same letter, he also orders that Mr. Keith’s full name be engraved which is another deviation from the other 21 Club rifles, which had only initials. The bear vignette, as found here, is one of only two engraved by Mr. White on Ruger No. 1’s. There exists a picture of Mr. Keith in his trophy room holding this rifle without his trademark hat but with a cigar in his face. Much of the information regarding the “21 Club” was obtained from the website: www.classicsportingarms.com/engraved-ruger-no-1s. Accompanying is a copy of the August 1969 letter from Steve Vogel, Ruger Sales Manager, to A.A. White Engravers. PROVENANCE: The Elmer Keith Estate Collection. CONDITION: Extremely fine+. Overall retains 99%+ strong orig finish with a few minor nicks in the wood and small cut in butt pad. Mechanics are crisp, brilliant shiny bore, sharp clear optics. 4-47972 JR268 (7,500-12,500) – Lot 1000 Click here to view provenance Auction: Firearms - March 2015 Please Note:* All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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*ONE OF A KIND ELMER KEITH’S RUGER NO. 1 SINGLE SHOT RIFLE PRESENTED BY RUGER TO HONOR MR. KEITH’S MEMBERSHIP IN THE “21 CLUB”.