44 Double Action Advice needed

[redwood]

I have 44 Double action a customer brought in & wants me to sell. 6.5", 1&7/16" cylinder, 44 Russian, ser # 28231. It has issues:
1. it's been reblued, it looks nice at 1st glance but some very light pitting in places below the bluing. No idea when done, but not recently (in last 20-40 years...)
2. Cylinder has @ 1/4" play left to right. Possible extractor issue & maybe something internal not allowing lock up.
3. @ 1/64-1/32" front to back play in cylinder.
I would be willing to spend 200-300 to repair (if it can be done for this), but is it worth it? I have no idea of what it's value is now, vs. what it will be worth when repaired.
I have thought of just selling it as is on gunbroker as a $1 auction & seeing where that would go. Any advice? If repairing is a viable option, any suggestions? I wrote Alex Hamilton, he declined & suggested David Chicone, but I have yet to hear back from him.
Thanks, in advance,
Ernie Shipman
Renaissance Firearms, LLC
[email protected]

 

[glowe]

Ernie - your 44 DA was shipped from the factory around 1894. All the frames for this model were manufactured prior to 1898, so they will all qualify as antiques.

I see many of these old S&Ws refinished and probably mostly done in the early 1900s. It does affect value, but a good job, with some honest wear will help value. As for the timing problems, there are a few problems that can cause a lockup problem. Sometimes, it is as simple as dried oils and dirt in the action preventing proper functioning. It may also mean that parts are worn and replacement parts are hard to come by. I am sure that David could help you out, but your budget might be a little light.

The "play" in the cylinder at 1/32" is not unusual for a well used gun and will not affect the function much. It can normally be remedied by a shim in the front or by backing out the center pin in the extractor star to take up the play if it can be turned. Depends on how much rust is accumulated in the threads.

As for value, these guns are finally gaining some value, but refinished non-working examples will still have a hard time topping $600. A solid working gun could bring up to $1000, but these are only guesses without inspecting the firearm. Pictures would help to properly estimate value.

Hope this helps.

 

[redwood]

Thank you!
Have a great day, es

 

[rhmc24]

If it is an authentic S&W and not a copy, it seems like you have a .44 Russ DA topbreak. If so, it would normally have 1/4" or more rotational play if the cylinder is between battery positions. At full cock, at battery it should have little play, less than 1/32. If you have more than that in battery position of the cylinder (when a chamber is aligned with the bore) you have situation that needs checking out.

It should have its full cock position and an 'off primer' position about 1/16" back from full down hammer.

As glowe says the fore-aft slop can be shimmed out or otherwise fudged to seem normal.

If the gun is one of the Belgian or Spanish copies, all bets are off.