Ruger Model 44 Carbine .44 Remington Magnum 18.5″ Semi-Auto Rifle, 1962 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,425.00
LSB#: LSB260405LR003
Make: Sturm Ruger & Co.
Model: 44 Carbine
Serial Number: 63694
Year of Manufacture: 1962; C&R.
Caliber: .44 Remington Magnum
Action Type: Semi-Automatic, fed by Tubular Magazine
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked with Ruger’s Southport address. The left side of the receiver is marked with the serial number, and “RUGER CARBINE / .44 MAGNUM CAL.”, along with the Ruger logo.
Barrel Length: 18.5″
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade, dovetailed to an integral barrel ring. The rear sight is an adjustable folding U-notch sight, dovetailed to the barrel. The top of the receiver is mounted with a two-piece Redfield scope base and 1″ Redfield rings for optics.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stock is a one-piece smooth wood, with a semi-pistol grip, straight comb, metal crescent buttplate, a banded forend, and sling studs front and rear. The LOP measures 13 3/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock shows light wear, with light scratches, dings, and compressions scattered throughout. The stock’s finish is mostly intact. The stock fits tightly to the barreled action, with no play. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the stock rates in Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright with sharp rifling. There is no erosion in the bore, but there is some light fouling in the bore. In this writer’s opinion, the bore rates 9.75/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its original metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light wear, with a couple of light & minor spots of thinning finish on the barrel band, buttplate, and on the loading gate. Otherwise, the blued finish is deep, dark, and intact. The markings are clear and legible. The screw heads are tooled, but retain strong and serviceable slots. Overall, this rifle rates in Very Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly, as does the cross-bolt safety. We did not fire this rifle, but we did perform a mechanic’s check. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with the scope mount/rings as mentioned above, and the original box for the scope mount/rings.
Our Assessment: Ruger’s Model 44 Carbine was introduced in the early 1960s as a handy semi-automatic sporting rifle chambered for the powerful .44 Remington Magnum cartridge, giving hunters a compact woods rifle with fast follow-up capability and more authority than typical pistol-caliber carbines. This 1962 C&R-eligible example is chambered in .44 Remington Magnum, a hard-hitting straight-wall cartridge well regarded for short- to moderate-range hunting, brush use, and pairing with revolvers of the same chambering. This rifle features an 18.5″ barrel, tubular magazine, beaded blade front sight, adjustable folding rear sight, smooth wood stock with metal crescent buttplate, and a two-piece Redfield scope base with 1″ Redfield rings. The early production date, C&R status, classic Southport-marked Ruger configuration, and included vintage Redfield mounting setup should appeal to Ruger collectors and hunters looking for a traditional semi-auto .44 Magnum carbine.
This rifle rates in Very Good overall condition, retaining about 97% of its original blued finish. The bore is bright with sharp rifling, no erosion, and only light fouling present, rating 9.75/10 in this writer’s opinion. The wood stock rates in Very Good condition, showing light scratches, dings, and compressions while retaining a mostly intact finish, tight fit, and no chips or cracks. The metal shows light wear, including minor thinning on the barrel band, buttplate, and loading gate, though the bluing otherwise remains deep, dark, and intact. The markings are clear and legible, the screw heads are tooled but retain strong, serviceable slots, and the action and cross-bolt safety function correctly. This rifle includes the installed Redfield scope base and rings along with the original box for the mount/ring set. Please see our photos for a better understanding of condition, and good luck on your bids! – J.D.