Here is a picture of the 744 I purchased recently. As you can see, it’s had a hard life. For those of you who didn’t think that stainless steel could rust, here’s proof that it can. The pitting is somewhat severe but it has not compromised the integrity of the gun. It still locks up tight. The rifling in the barrel is sharp and true. Looks like whoever owned it before me just didn’t give it the proper love and care it deserved. How some folks can invest money in a gun and then let it go to pot is beyond me. I just felt sorry for the old boy hanging up there on the wall of the gun shop being neglected. Anyway, I’m in the process of restoring it so that I can get it ready for a day at the range. I’ve got some extra parts ordered for it and am waiting for them to get in. So far, it’s coming along pretty good. I found a way of getting the rust out of the pits although I won’t be able to remove them completely. I’ve also learned a way of polishing the stainless steel so that it matches up with the original factory finish. It takes a lot of work (I mean a lot of work!) but it’s looking good. I’m not really interested in making it look brand new. I also know of some gunsmiths who would love to work their magic on it. However, I just want to shoot it! I’m not interested in hanging on the mantel or putting it under glass. I believe Dans were meant to be shot, not gawked at. I’ll post some more pics when I’m finished. Blessings!