Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Requiem for a Model 44

Dang! I just got off the phone with the gunsmith. I'd had my Ruger Model 44 out last weekend doing a final sight-in for the upcoming season. The rifle locked up and I couldn't get the bolt open. Long story short: The smith tells me the cast aluminum trigger housing has broken off a lip and it's terminal.

Damn! This was a rifle I bought out of my best friend's estate. Bob was a serious Ruger collector.

Bad news indeed. There's nothing the 'smith can do?

I would think a REAL gunsmith could make a new part.
When I was working for a living, I was a Cabinetmaker. Now that I'm retired, I am an amateur metal worker and classic car builder, and have made many parts that are unavailable for classic cars....items that current manufacturers do not find the time spent and the cost of such to bother with.

If interested, PM me and I can provide photos and a description.

I would scour the used gun parts world looking for one first. Then I would consider the above suggestion to have one fabricated if it isn't a super complicated part. you might even be able to weld or braze the aluminum parts back together.

Terminal for that trigger guard, maybe.

It's just a part. Parts can be replaced.

I'd get a new trigger guard and take it to a different smith for installation. I don't have too much faith in the one you are using.

LOL

Give ya 50 bucks for it

Y'all are giving me hope.

Especially Slummy and 'Flave. They're such helpful critters-- always with that certain extra something that let you know they care.


Yeah, I've had good luck with this 'smith. I'm almost as sorry to see him stumble on this as I am about the rifle. Good smiths have been hard to find in these parts.

I've heard that there's a smith that specializes in Model 44's out there-- I think back East (?)

I've been looking around the net since you made your post and the reason that no replacement parts are out there is because they all break.

That is kind of what the 'smith said.

Here's one,.....don't know if it fits your model.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ruger-Carbine-44-Trigger-Guard-Assembly-Original-Good-Shape-Complete-Deerstalker/383741876907?hash=item5958cc5aab:g:99sAAOSw8vtfcNiA

Thanks, Bristoe.

hat might do the trick. I'll get it back from the 'smith in a couple of days and start digging in.

It might be a good idea to confirm if the currently available trigger guard assemblies are for the original Ruger 44 carbine or the later released Ruger 44 Deerfield carbine because as I recall they are completely different designs and share few if any parts.

A "trigger housing" is more than just a trigger guard.
It probably could be repaired though

Weld it up and file it down.

No need to have some weird shamanic mustard dance just yet.

If you need a part made let me know. Been doing this since 1979.

Jim Wisner used to sell Ruger 44 parts. That said, a good TIG guy may be the answer.

I'm starting to have some optimism.



How did you know about mustard dances?
That's something that isn't talked about much.

Have one made if you can't get it tig welded and machined. Machining is also my hobby! You would be surprised, what can be made with a mill, lathe and basic machine shop tooling!