That 38-55 appears to have a really heavy weight barrel, is the rifle a plain Jane model 44 or a higher grade one?

Just posted the rear sight in its own thread. 

7 o'clock extractor 25 rimfire serial number 5052.

There's another member here who says he has one that came from the factory.  I'd like to see the barrel marking.   

During the time when .25-20 WCF ammo was available, but .25-20 Stevens was rare, some 44s were rechambered to .25-20 WCF.   Careful measurement of barrel length will help reveal this, since the barrel had to be set back about 1/4" to accomplish this.  (OTOH some bunkhouse gunsmiths didn't, so it's not a perfect "tell".)  

The practice was never a good idea, since a lot of WCF factory loads using jacketed bullets were (and are) much too energetic for the old 44 action.  Which makes me doubt that Stevens ever did it.

A .25-20 caliber 44 should be loaded mildly, to keep it from shooting loose.  I recently bought a 44 that was relined and chambered for the WCF, and I intend to keep it to about 1400 fps with the plain base 86 grain bullet, or 1650 fps with a gas checked 74 grain bullet.   Using magnum pistol powders like 4227, AA#9, Blue Dot, or 2400.  NOT fast powders like Unique, Bullseye, or Red Dot, except for subsonic "cat-sneeze" loads. 

Did a search of my database.  Found only three reported to be .25-20 WCF, including my relined one.  The other two are obvious rechamber jobs.

I have a 44 serial# 33443. J. Stevens A&T. 6 o'clock extractor. 
Lyman tang sight, filler in dovetail for rear sight, and a folding beech front sight (originally).

northwoodneil wrote on Feb 27^th, 2022 at 8:32am:


Thanks!  Cartridge?   Take off the forend wood and look at the face of the receiver.  With those sights it might be marked 45 and not 44.   
Phil

Pictures for Bikes...