Hello Tool Maker:

 That is a very nice rifle and I thank you for bringing the potential sale to our collective attentions.

 I do, however, take exception to the Seller using the national flag of the United States of America as a " table cloth ".  I am a U.S. "Honorably Discharged" Veteran who served underneath that flag, at great risk, as many other Comrades in arms did,     and I find it degrading and grossly disrespectful to have someone treat our flag as a promotional table cloth.  

Creedmoormatch

Remove the forearm and look at the face of the receiver. That should give the model number.   I believe it to be either a Model 45 or a standard Ideal sporting rifle.  Either could be ordered with a hard rubber shotgun buttplate.  No major issue for me as the inbred idiot refuses to honor a C&R licence in California (where there is no restriction or state requirement on selling, buying shipping or receiving C&R long guns).
Leon

Leon,

The english styled 45 I examined (some time ago) was confirmed by examining the stamping on the receiver. Caliber was 32-40 with the Stags Head plate, and the barrel was rapid taper. The configuration actually provided a very handy finished weight for a full width action to be used for hunting.

Steve,

I have no idea on production numbers for the 044 1/2, but don't forget that the 56 shared the same narrowed frame.

Regards,
BP

Mad Mike,

You're absolutely right! Guess I'm not making myself clear, and my apologies for the confusion.

The 32-40 chambered english styled rifle that I examined was a #45 - a full frame width variant of the standard 44 1/2 - so it of course had the large barrel shank appropriate for the larger caliber chambering. 

The #45 rifle I examined was not the narrowed frame 044 1/2 with the smaller barrel shank, but a full width frame rifle that was configured/styled along the lines of the 044 1/2 English model.

BP

PS: I'll have to check the books but I think I recall that the narrow frame #56 was also available with the hard rubber Stags Head plate found on the 044 1/2 as an option to the small swiss.

i have an original 044 1/2 in 25/20 ssthat shoots great{1" at 100yds. only problem previous owner drilled and taped the barrel for scope blocks  thanks art

I have an 044-1/2 in .22-15-60 Stevens centerfire.  It has the shotgun stag buttplate and regular barrel sights.  In my experience they (in any condition or state of modification) are very rarely seen.  All the ones I have seen have been the plain field grade, except for an action which was recase-hardened and bent for a pistol grip.  That one probably wasn't factory work.

My 56 Ladies Model does use the narrow 044 1/2 frame.

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PS: I'll have to check the books but I think I recall that the narrow frame #56 was also available with the hard rubber Stags Head plate found on the 044 1/2 as an option to the small swiss.


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