This guy joined the Shotguncoach Home For Wayward Smiths by way of the recent auction in Waco.
It's a 2nd Model Hand Ejector in .44 special, blued finish, and fixed sights.
The timing is perfect all the way around with a just a bit of endplay. It cycles properly and is very smooth but the action feels....sticky and gummy. Not like metal on metal. This is more of a stirring mashed potatoes kind of sticky, as if it was lubed with 90W and then sat for 50 years. Who knows - that may be true. This one will get a full tear down and deep cleaning before it goes to the range.
Let's get that barrel out of the way first. It's been cut. The lettering on the sides of the barrel look good but it's very obvious looking at the top that the barrel has been cut and the front sight relocated. The crown looks good though, with just a bit of excess silver solder showing at the front of the sight blade.
The stocks appear to be later model smooth presentation stocks with a football cutout that have been carved by someone who knew what they were doing. They're not original but they will stay with this gun. Someone put a lot of work into these. If anyone recognizes the pattern or knows who did this type of work, please let me know. The only markings on the inside of the stocks are 3 faint letters at the top of one panel.
Serial numbers match on the barrel, cylinder, and bottom of the grip frame. I think this guy was born around 1916.
There are very few markings under the stock compared to the ones I'm used to looking at. Just a B and a Y on one side.
The sideplate fit is good and the screw holes don't seem to be wallowed out. I hope I have this much finish remaining when I'm 98 years old. There is one little blemish at the top rear of the frame that looks like it's been draw filed just a bit.
The chambers and bore look good - just a little dirty.
This one should be a fun shooter once it gets a bath. Look for a deep dive into the insides in the Smithing forum in a week or two.
For those that keep track of such things, the hammer price was $500. I think I did ok....
It's a 2nd Model Hand Ejector in .44 special, blued finish, and fixed sights.
The timing is perfect all the way around with a just a bit of endplay. It cycles properly and is very smooth but the action feels....sticky and gummy. Not like metal on metal. This is more of a stirring mashed potatoes kind of sticky, as if it was lubed with 90W and then sat for 50 years. Who knows - that may be true. This one will get a full tear down and deep cleaning before it goes to the range.
Let's get that barrel out of the way first. It's been cut. The lettering on the sides of the barrel look good but it's very obvious looking at the top that the barrel has been cut and the front sight relocated. The crown looks good though, with just a bit of excess silver solder showing at the front of the sight blade.
The stocks appear to be later model smooth presentation stocks with a football cutout that have been carved by someone who knew what they were doing. They're not original but they will stay with this gun. Someone put a lot of work into these. If anyone recognizes the pattern or knows who did this type of work, please let me know. The only markings on the inside of the stocks are 3 faint letters at the top of one panel.
Serial numbers match on the barrel, cylinder, and bottom of the grip frame. I think this guy was born around 1916.
There are very few markings under the stock compared to the ones I'm used to looking at. Just a B and a Y on one side.
The sideplate fit is good and the screw holes don't seem to be wallowed out. I hope I have this much finish remaining when I'm 98 years old. There is one little blemish at the top rear of the frame that looks like it's been draw filed just a bit.
The chambers and bore look good - just a little dirty.
This one should be a fun shooter once it gets a bath. Look for a deep dive into the insides in the Smithing forum in a week or two.
For those that keep track of such things, the hammer price was $500. I think I did ok....
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