This is a refinish I did several years ago using Belgian Blue. The grip I've had forever & no recall of when, or who. The inside shows where something has been scraped away. Outside was in good condition but badly worn to where no checkering remained & much of the area could only see lines that were once the bottom of checkering. I first made a little graver from a mini triangle file & scored lines where the markings were & deepened what checkering was left.

In the process it became obvious that it was originally checkered by a single cutter with the line spacing by eyeball. In the original grip pix it is plainly seen that the spacings vary. I tried to follow the original as best I could till I had it completely cross-hatched. Then I deepened the lines with a modern solo checkering cutter to produce checkering. It's not great but looks good on the gun.



The grips are a tad small for the grip frame, possibly due shrinkage over time. The walnut seemed a bit spongy so I gave a fine coat of water based varnish to protect from handling damage. I'm wondering about checkering back in the day --- this done obviously without the modern double tool with one sharp for cutting & the other smooth as a guide to keep line spacing uniform. This is my only S&W example but I have several on Colt 1905 automatics.

The gun s/n is 49xx I assume 1880s --- Taking it to LGS tomorrow to put on sale ---

Nice job on the stock recheckering. They are likely from a 1910 decade RB K frame so that probably explains the size mismatch; I think the two grip frames are close in dimensions.

It may find a good home here in the For Sale section?

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Alan
SWCA LM 2023, SWHF 220

I hope you change your mind about selling it. That is a wonderful old 44-40. You gave it great care. I sense you will miss it. I would if I had to let that one go.
Anyway, good luck with it and thanks for sharing that one. I have a warm spot for 44-40 and that one is special.
Jim

The original grips did not have the logo medallions, but were very similar otherwise. The photo is of #11237 from 6/5/84 with Circassian Walnut grips numbered to the gun.

Attached Images

44DA3.jpg (185.9 KB, 90 views)

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Peter #2091

My .44-40 above came to me with hard rubber grips with a different s/n inside & glued cracks.
I have another .44-40 s/n 141XX with walnut grips without medallions, original to the gun ----

Re mine above with the grips re-checkering, what would be the right price to put on it for sale? Function is 100% correct & bore is fair to good, meaning sharp rifling with patchy discoloration & bright. Cal is .44-40.

I have a .44 Russian DA that also came with the hard rubber stocks. Has a terrible, rough outside, but the bore looks OK and it seems to be good mechanically.

Does anyone shoot these old guys? I have been tempted, and I do have some "cowboy" level .44 Russian ammo...

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Liberals made the USA

dogngun
I have a couple of these old timers and I certainly do shoot them. I do use the cowboy loads or my own light handloads It is great fun and moderate use probably not hurt them. I like to let others try a few shots just to have the experience of shooting 100 year old guns.
Bob Ray

Thanks, mxbob! Mine has finish problems, but seems very tight...



I have shot older top breaks in.32 and .38 S&W, and even a Model 1 .22 using BB caps...(The Model 1 tip up 7 shot has a reputation, thanks to a Mark Twain story, for being wildly inaccurate. I found that the one of mine that I actually fired was not inaccurate at all.)

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Liberals made the USA