Saw a .44 in a local store ...

Waveski · #1 07-01-2016, 10:00 PM

Stopped by the LGS yesterday ... to my pleasant surprise there was something interesting to see. I know little about .44 caliber , but I have a soft spot for top break revolvers. Here , for your viewing pleasure and comment is an old Smith and Wesson , poor of finish but mechanically sound. Perhaps someone could date it?

It must be a handful to control with those tiny round butt grips...

Enjoy.

murphydog · #2 07-01-2016, 10:05 PM

It's a .44 Double Action. Difficult to put an exact date on it but late 1880s would be a good guess. Looks like a previous owner removed the stocks and put them aside before dipping the gun in the salt bath

.

My recollection is the grip frame is approximately the same size as a K RB; should be fine with the light .44 Russian loads you'd run through it. You did buy it, right?

Waveski · #3 07-01-2016, 10:21 PM

I did not buy it ; I was in the shop to buy a magazine for my Ruger MKI , and to sniff around for S&W K frames.

I surely did enjoy handling the old revolver , though. Nice trip to the "museum" , of sorts , except the owner lets me handle the displays.

glowe · #4 07-03-2016, 09:20 AM

I have never had any difficulty shooting 44 DAs. Stocks are "standard" size as Alan states. All early K frame 38 M&Ps round butts had the same size frame. This is a poster child for those who do not like nickel guns. You can clean up a blued shooter grade S&W to look half-way decent, but the nickel finish on that 44 is beyond reclamation, but I bet it still shoots well!

H Richard · #5 07-03-2016, 09:33 AM

I think that is one that I would strip the remaining nickle off and shine up with Mothers or something. You couldn't make it any uglier.

merl67 · #6 07-03-2016, 05:23 PM

What was their asking price on this poor neglected Smith ?

reddog81 · #7 07-03-2016, 05:49 PM

If you don't mind me asking... Where in the Midwest do you live and what was the asking price?

Waveski · #8 07-04-2016, 11:39 AM

I am in Wisconsin. The asking price was ---

1K +.

Don't shoot the messenger.

merl67 · #9 07-04-2016, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waveski

I am in Wisconsin. The asking price was ---

1K +.

Don't shoot the messenger.

I think the seller might be overly optimistic but I am no expert.

Tinker Pearce · #10 07-04-2016, 06:48 PM

I cleaned off the far-gone nickel finish on a .32 DA with 600 grit paper on a vibrating hand-sander and a cratex wheel on a Dremel, then polished it and re-blued the gun. It came out pretty well.

gmborkovic · #11 07-04-2016, 08:07 PM

My take on 1K+ as $1200. Thats a lot of money, and I have not seen the barrel or chambers on some 44 cal. gun. Well, you did not buy it, so just walk away.