Another 44 Double Action

[Driftwood Johnson]

Howdy

There is just something about the 44 Double Actions that I love. Probably it is the crazy, funky, 19th Century shape of the trigger and trigger guard.

Anyway, last weekend I was at a show and this one was in the first row of dealers I came to. Needless to say, it came home with me.

A Nickel plated Target Model, 44 Russian caliber, 6 1/2" barrel. SN 283XX. The previous owner had lettered it, Roy says it left the factory on August 16, 1895. It shipped to M. W. Robinson.

There were some minor rust colored stains on it when I got it, but that all came off with a little bit of elbow grease, without damaging the finish. What you can't see in these photos is the bore and chambers are spectacular, they look brand new.

I had a Cowboy Action match on Sunday. No Double Actions are not allowed, but the local clubs are pretty lenient about me bringing some of my cool old guns, so I brought the new nickel 44 DA as well as my other blued one to the match. I put 30 Black Powder rounds through each of them over the course of the day.

There is just nothing like shooting these old guns with Black Powder.

The grips are pristine. And yes, they bear the same SN as the gun.

Now a couple of questions. I had never handled a target version of the 44 DA before. I was surprised to see the latch incorporates the same fixed sight that is built into the latch on the non-target version. When the gun is sighted, the adjustable sight blade is higher than the 'built in' non adjustable sight, so only the adjustable sight is in the sight picture. I have included a photo of this arrangement.

Is this the way the rear sight was on all the target versions?

My second question is in regard to the finish. There is a fair amount of pitting on the gun. Not terrible, but there is some. Here are two photos of the worst pitting.

My understanding is if there is plating in the pits it means the gun was probably refinished without all the pitting being polished away. Is this a hard fast rule? Roy says the gun left the factory with a nickel finish, but I am wondering if it was refinished at some time. There is no mention of the gun being refinished at the factory. The hammer, trigger, and trigger guard are blue.

Just curious if I have a refinished gun. The price was very reasonable, so I will not be upset if it turns out to be refinished. There is no overpolishing, the markings on the top of the barrel are nice and crisp, and the side plate joint has not been rounded over. Also, the finish is kind of dull, almost matte. Not shiny like most of the nickel finishes I have seen. There is no peeling at all.

Wondering if it has been refinished.

Just for the fun of it, here is a photo of my new Nickel 44DA with my older blued one. The blued one was made in 1881. Notice the slightly different shape of the extractor housings. It is a little bit longer on the older one.

 

[Masterpiece]

(1) Is this the way the rear sight was on all the target versions?

(2) Just curious if I have a refinished gun.

(3) Notice the slightly different shape of the extractor housings. It is a little bit longer on the older one.

Driftwood,

Very Nice Acquisition!! First of all, if you're not already aware, Factory Target-Sighted 44 Dbl.-Actions are somewhat uncommon to see...that is at least one's that "Letter" as such are...so you've acquired a Scarce Variation of one of these 44 Dbl.-Actions!!

Now as far as your specific questions, I'll try to answer them as best I can in somewhat of an order below!!

(1) Yes, all of the Model #3 Target Sights were basically the same with the only exception being the Rear Sight Blade Clamp Plate found on Single-Action NM#3's with Target Sights that incorporated the Hammer Interlock Lip, which was not needed on the Dbl. Actions!! Reason being, the Single-Actions had a Notched Rear Sight Blade Clamp as in the Photos I've attached!! Something else to add that may be helpful in the future is the fact the Notched Clamp can be used on both Single & Dbl.-Action Target Sights, but not vice-versa as the Single Action Hammer will not clear the Solid Clamp generally found on the 44 Dbl.-Actions!! Other than that, the balance of the parts were the same & interchangeable!!

(2) I see no evidence whatsoever which would lead me to believe that your Revolver has been refinished!! Evidence of this is that all of the edges look to be very sharp & the Hammer Stud, which protrudes thru the right side, looks not to have been touched as does the Hammer Stud on your Earlier Blued Dbl.-Action which I'm quite sure has been refinished!! The balance of the finish, which you referred to as a Matte Type Finish, is just happens to the Nickel Finish after 100+ yrs of being carried/used & is not uncommon to see!!

(3) Lastly, the Slightly Longer Extractor Housings, much like those found on the Early Single-Action NM#3 Barrels, are generally found only on Early Production 44 Dbl. Actions & were shortened soon after their introduction due to a change in the Extractor System that didn't need the extra length for it to function correctly!! The NM#3's were also shortened approx. the same time & for the same reason!! I've also never been able to ascertain a concrete timeline as to when these changes occurred due to S&W using whatever parts were on-hand at any given time throughout production!!

All in all, you've found yourself a Very Nice Example of an Uncommon Variation of a #3 44 Dbl.-Action & I hope you will enjoy it for years to come!!

 

[Club Gun Fan]

Doug
I'm glad you like it. I bought it from a retired S&W employee. I didn't want to clean it, I figured whoever bought it could do that. I don't think it was refinished. I looked it over pretty good before I bought it and, like you was surprised to find that the serial number on the stocks matched the gun. I hope you enjoy it. I know it went to a good home.

 

[Driftwood Johnson]

Masterpiece, thanks for the reply.

I thought it might be refinished because the plating is over the pitting. I agree there are no outward signs of polishing, but my understanding was that if pitting is evident under the plating, the plating was probably done on top of the pitting. Of course, with a quality refinish the pitting would have been polished away in the first place. Of course I am very happy if you think the plating is original.

Yes, my blued 44DA has been refinished, that is very evident on the other side, the side plate has been rounded over. That's why I usually only post photos of its right side.

Don, I was wondering if you would see this. Yes, I am very, very happy with the gun. It cleaned up beautifully without needing too much elbow grease. I took the side plate off and cleaned out some old oil that was inside and relubed it with Ballistol for Black Powder. There was not a whole lot of gunk down inside, I suspect this gun spent most of its life in a drawer or in a gun safe. It shoots very nicely too. I did not have a chance to put it on paper, but I hit most of what I aimed at. Don't worry, I won't shoot it too much, just every once in a while. I am thinking it deserves a nice new holster rather than the cheap used one I found at the show.

Thanks again,

Doug

 

[Masterpiece]

I thought it might be refinished because the plating is over the pitting. I agree there are no outward signs of polishing, but my understanding was that if pitting is evident under the plating, the plating was probably done on top of the pitting.

Hi Doug,

Honestly, if it has any plating in the pitted areas I don't see it although I suppose there's always the slight chance I may be missing something in the Photos, but don't believe this is the case as they are pretty clear detailed Photos you've posted!! Of course there's always the possibility that having it in-hand may change my mind, but it's doubtful!!

That along with the fact Don previously owned this, & is pretty confident it's the Original Finish as well, I'd say we're likely right as he's been at this for quite some time too & knows these Early Smiths very well!!