I was looking at a double action 1st edition .44 russion in Nickel. It has the 6" brl and has about 60-70% (maybe more) finish. The grips are black rubber and look original and are in excellent condition as is the barrel. The store wants $1095 for it. The action is extremely tight and locks up pretty well... no tioming issues. There is a letter with it that states it was shipped 1885 to a store in NY. Ofcourse there is a lot more info on the letter... cery cool. The ser # is: 15414. Any ideas what it may be worth? I am completely new to S&W collectibles. I would like to shoot it as well. John

Sounds like the store has it priced about right. If you watch these on Gun Broker for a while you will find few cheaper and many more expensive. With anriques condition is all.
Bob Ray 1815

John, That's about the usual asking price, but most stores will come down a bit, if you are a cash buyer, especially in San Diego. ( Unless it's a consignment gun and then have them call the consignor to discuss a lower price.) These guns do not fly out the door quickly in San Diego, so hang tough in your negotioations. They are antiques, so don't let the store try to dross the gun and charge you extra. ( a favorite rip off at most San Diego gun stroes.) Good Luck, Ed.

Was the "store" called M.W. Robinson? This was a New York Smith and Wesson distributor and a lot of guns from this era usually letter to that establishment.

I have several of S&W .44 DAs 1880s to 19s pretty much as you describe. If the piece is very sharp in all its edges, hammer cocks just off the primer and full cock, works well otherwise and has a decent bore I would probably buy it. OTOH some can have 60% nickel and be pretty tired and worth less. Probably worthwhile to jawbone the price. They aren't exactly a redhot item and you might get a hundred or so off.

Hi S&W Owners,
First day on this site and it was the Russian 44 search that brought me here... Just started to catagorize all my iron and I knew nothing of the Russian 44. Have learned a lot in my search (13 pages of data) and was delighted to find this site.

The #ln mine is 24190 and it has pearl handle grips.. Was chatting with a Lodge Brother who was telling my that his brother passed away, leaving him with two safes full of toys. Well I bought some of the odd and interesting ones and liked this one because of the history.. He thought that it probably belonged to an officer, as the enlisted would not have the pearl handles. Have learned a lot from reading many of the posts on the Forum. Much appreciated.. Am looking for dates that it was in service and can send pics if anyone cares to see the condition... (when I find out how to post a picture.)

Will be interesting to see what other S&W pieces that I have picked up over the years... Not enough time to play with the toys....Thanks again for a great Forum... john

Here's one I would call about 60% or a little better. I think I paid $800 for it.

Howdy

Here is mine. I paid about $800 for it not too long ago. I may have paid a bit too much, but I really wanted it. This one has been refinished.

Just a slight correction - this model is usually simply called the 44 Double Action. 44 Russian was the most common chambering, but not part of the name of the gun. It was also chambered for several other cartridges.

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Here is my Frontier (44/40). It is an ugly 50-60%, but I have its history back to the original owner. It was purchased from Monkey Wards in Chicago (mail order) in 1901 or so by a homesteader in Western S. Dakota. Later passed on to his son (A Sp. American War vet) and then on down through the family to where I got it. (I'm always amazed that those that will sell a family gun... but I'm glad I was there at the right time.)
Seems Grandpa kept as a "Barn Gun" in S. Dak. and Eastern Montana and that's where the finish went. The internals are like new, so I figure its history makes up for the poor finish and I would value it around $800-1000. (Maybe a little more.)

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Dean
SWCA #680 SWHF #446

Looks fantastic to me! Mine has much less finish but I like the patina. I paid $400 for it about 10 or 11 years ago:

Here's another shot of one of mine, 100% nickel because I did it & the other aftermarket work on it.
It was .44 Russian (& still is) but reamed a little deeper to shoot .44 Specials.

Nice stocks on this one, was the engraving like that when you acquired it?

bought this one over the weekend $700 tight as brand new, was never cleaned packing grease still on the cylinder post pitting in the barrel and cylinders still love it S# 27xx is this for sure a 44 Russianmodel 3.jpg

Yes grips had never been removed had to lightly pry with a guitar pick to remove them like brand new

Engraving, etc. is my DIY --

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Here's a few more pics as requested of the gun I bght over the weekend

Thats a nice DA 44 Russian right there.