[cdbeaver]

Pal of mine nearly bought a Ruger No. 3 offered at private sale at a gun show Saturday. He nearly succumbed, but noted that:

--It was chambered in .223

--It sported a Schnabel forearm and no barrel band.

He shied away from it, afraid it might not be the real thing. Asked me. I don't know. Any one help tell whether Ruger made a No. 3 with a Schnabel forearm chambered for a .223?

All replies will be greatly appreciated and seriously considered.

[kudu]

I'm not sure about the schnabel forearm, but I believe that even if it wasn't a No.3 but a No. 1 that a No. 1 is worth about $150 more overall.
The No. 3s had plain uncheckered stocks.

[Jim Watson]

Ruger made No 3s in .223.
They did not use schnable forearms that I know of.
HOWEVER, No 1 wood fits a No 3 with no or little work.
So he most likely saw a No 3 with forearm replaced with the No 1's.
A friend of mine has what he calls a No 2; a No 3 barreled action with No 1 butt and forearm.