All of the Winchester Model 70 Anniversary rifles come in a box that is a reproduction of originals from the ’60s along with a period-correct hang-tag and owner’s manual. Each rifle is also tastefully garnished with a small, gold Cabela’s logo on the floorplate. Fit and finish show attention to detail, as does the smooth operation of all moving parts.

Rugers 10/22, No. 1, And Single-Six
Like Cabela’s, Sturm, Ruger & Co. is another American success story. Ruger has been a long-term partner with Cabela’s, and to celebrate this partnership and Cabela’s 50th anniversary three of the 10 Cabela’s Anniversary firearms are from Ruger. Two represent the underlying theme of both companies: a great product for a great price.

One is a Ruger Single-Six. This compact, single-action revolver helped put Ruger on the map, and it has become one of the most popular plinking and hunting handguns ever manufactured. The 5.5-inch-barreled version comes in a retro-style box with a special logo, has a special serial number, a gold Cabela’s logo on the backstrap and is fitted with the old-style, Ruger medallion stocks. Just as I did in my youth, my 11-year-old son found this revolver captivating.

The 10/22 is the other great value and is the least expensive of all the anniversary guns Cabela’s is offering. It’s also the firearm I consider the best buy. It’s fitted with a beautiful Circassian-walnut stock with a Schnabel fore-end. Only 750 of these rimfires will be offered and, at less than $400, they are a steal.

These two iconic Ruger rimfires could not be ignored by Cabela’s, but neither could the other rifle that established Ruger as a premier American firearms manufacturer. The Ruger No.1 proved that modern American riflemen still appreciate the single-shot rifle. Only 500 of these No. 1s will be offered, and all will be chambered for the classic .300 H&H Mag. cartridge. Each rifle features a high-grade walnut stock with an Alexander Henry fore-end, a deeply blued barrel and receiver, and a tasteful, gold Cabela’s logo on the bottom of the receiver.

Smith & Wesson Model 29, .44 Mag.
Cabela’s did not forget handgunners when selecting the anniversary guns. One of the most legendary modern handguns of all time is the S&W Model 29. Not only has it become a popular hunting handgun, it is sort of the de facto chariot of the .44 Mag. cartridge. Cabela’s is offering a limited run of the 6.5-inch-barreled, four-screw version of this revolver. Each comes with a gold Cabela’s logo, target style grips, a red-ramp front sight, a white inlay rear sight and a presentation box.

Browning Citori 12 Gauge
No collection of firearms that represent a time in American history would be complete if it lacked a shotgun, and Cabela’s selected a premier and respected shotgun for this celebration. On clay ranges and in the upland fields few shotguns are as renowned as the Browning Citori. Cabela’s 50th Anniversary Citori features an English straight-grip stock, ultra-light alloy receiver with silver nitride finish and high-relief engraving. The stock and fore-end are high-gloss American walnut and each shotgun comes with improved cylinder, modified and full Invector-Plus choke tubes. Only 200 of these exceptional shotguns will be made—and the best part is that you get Grade 7 wood at Grade 1 prices.

Cooper Custom Classic .22 Long Rifle
Of all the guns and cartridges that American shooters trust and depend on, there is none like the .22 Long Rife. During America’s history, hardware stores, mom-and-pop grocery stores and retail outlets like Cabela’s have sold millions of .22 rifles and untold boxes of .22 ammunition. So popular is America’s least-expensive-to-own and least-expensive-to-shoot firearm that many have a deep desire to own an outstanding example.

Working with custom rifle builder Cooper of Montana, Cabela’s has created an exquisite bolt-action .22 rifle. This rimfire is the most expensive rifle of all the rifles in the 50th Anniversary collection, and only 100 will be made. In a way this and the other .22 rifle—the Ruger 10/22, which is the least expensive of the Cabela’s Anniversary guns—embodies Cabela’s customer base and the American sportsman because no matter what walk of life you are from, and no matter how thick your wallet, all sportsmen need and should have a .22 rifle.

The Cooper Custom Classic .22 Long Rifle has a stock crafted of hand-selected, high-grade AAA walnut with a Neider-style butt-plate and an ebony fore-end tip. This is a splendidly crafted rifle that, in Cooper fashion, performs on target as well as it pleases the eye. It is a fitting way to celebrate Cabela’s 50th Anniversary and to honor the cartridge and firearm with which so many of Cabela’s customers have a common bond: the .22 Long Rifle.