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July 12, 2015
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I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself to the forum with a little of my background and intent behind joining this great forum!
I'm Luke, originally from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, but now roam around the country and world with the U.S. Navy, currently Jacksonville, FL is my temporary home.
Although I own many handguns and rifles of all types, about 5 years ago I purchased my first revolver and instantly fell in love. After buying a S&W 4" 686 .357 (no dash) and a Model 36 1 7/8" .38SPL (no dash) in a package deal I quickly decided I wanted to add a 44 Mag to the collection. However I really wanted one that I could shoot +P+ loads out of which ruled out the S&W guns and left me with Ruger and DW. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the Ruger and the thought of interchangeable barrel lengths in the DW really appealed to me. So for about the past 5 years I have been in search of a Monsoon Mass 744 preferably in a pistol pack with a 4/6/8" barrel combo. I also would like the original box paperwork and tools. So far I've had no luck and I'm considering just buying a gun with no additional barrels and just purchasing them separately.
I'm looking forward to learning more and hopefully making the right informed decision when it comes to purchasing my first DW firearm.
Cheers!
Luke
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July 2, 2011
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Hello Luke and welcome to the Forum. Always nice to see a Yooper join up. You've found the right place to learn about all things Dan. Finding a factory original Monson 744 Pac may be a bit of challenge. Of course the beauty is, with time an patience you can try to piece together your own Pac. Have fun and keep us up to date on your quest.
Thank you for your Service.
Bruce
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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Dans Club
February 15, 2014
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Let me be the first to welcome you to the DWF. There is a wealth of information here from the site as well as the very generous members. The 744 is a great, and I mean Great! revolver. I have a pac for which I overpaid market wise but not value wise. It is worth every penny. Even my new 2 1/2 inch BA is fun to shoot and not too painful. The longer barrel assemblies tame the 44 mag cartridge and are a pleasure to shoot. So welcome again and I hope you will soon find the DW you are looking for. Building your own Pac is getting more expensive every day, so don't put your purchase off long. Good luck!
OK let me be the second to welcome you. WELCOME!
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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Welcome and thanks for your service. FWIW, if you would have bought the revolver without searching for an already put together pac, then you'd be shooting by now...
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
July 12, 2015
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Thanks for the warm welcome to all who replied!
Also thanks for your support of my service, to be honest it's my pleasure to do what I do. I'm currently finishing up a 7 month overseas deployment that has taken me all over the world again.
I'm glad to hear some others echoing what I've been considering in terms of building my own pistol pack (pac? Not sure of the proper DW term) based upon a nice clean foundation of a single gun and adding the additional components over time. Had I done this to begin with I would've already been enjoying a gun for years and focusing on adding the components that I want.
Also of note, since my first post a new auction has started on GB for a 744 with what appears to be a 6/8" barrel and shroud of Monsoon, Mass production. Both shrouds are vent rib with the heavy lug (I believe VH would be the correct nomenclature) the 8" shroud appears to be ported/compensated (not sure how to differentiate between the two to use the proper nomenclature) pictures of the 6" barrel and shroud are not clear enough to determine if it is also ported/compensated. I could not determine if either barrel was actually ported to match the shroud.
The gun is listed on a no reserve auction with a starting price of $900 +s/h and insurance. From what I can tell that's about the top of the market for a 744VH in either 6 or 8" but the extra barrel, shroud, box, tools, paperwork do lend a little extra value. The gun is listed as new never fired, but some of the nicks on the grips and finish marks such as drag line and handling marks on the frame, and shroud make me question if that is in fact true. Also it appears that there is carbon residue on the 8" ported/compensated shroud which tends to lead me to believe the gun has been fired.
The last question I have about the gun for sale is that the box has (rcvr) hand written in pen and the serial of the gun written on the end of the box. That would lead me (with my limited knowledge) to believe it was originally purchased as just a receiver and the barrels were added later. Thoughts?
I'm not sure if it's kosher to post a link to get members opinions of the gun that could be my first DW purchase. Please let me know as I'd be glad to post a direct link.
Luke
July 12, 2015
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I forgot to mention, serial number is SB006254 on the box and frame.
Also upon further inspection the 6" shroud also appears to be ported/compensated.
Luke
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July 2, 2011
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Luke,
Feel free to post the link.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
July 12, 2015
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Here is the link, fire away with the good the bad and the ugly!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=494234567
Luke
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June 25, 2013
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Fly Navy P3 said
Here is the link, fire away with the good the bad and the ugly!
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=494234567
Luke
At 900 now it's a go..,
Keep an eye on it.
It ain't 100% but It still looks good, Ask if the shroud can be removed easily.
As you said, The gun is listed on a no reserve auction with a starting price of $900 +s/h and insurance. From what I can tell that’s about the top of the market for a 744VH in either 6 or 8″ but the extra barrel, shroud, box, tools, paperwork do lend a little extra value.
You seem to have done your home work. Remember it's stainless and they do command a premium.
Endeavor to persevere,
Press on regardless.
Need little, want less, love more.
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July 2, 2011
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Well, it's nice that there are 2 barrel assemblies.The extra B/A adds to the value. As to the never fired claim, I'm a little skeptical. Pretty good drag mark on the cylinder. He doesn't show any pics with the cylinder open, of the forcing cone area etc. Judging buy the nicks and dings this 744 has been handled or mishandled a fair amount. I'll be interested to see what the other guys think.
To the paranoid people who check behind shower curtains for murderers:
if you find one...what's your plan?
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Dans Club
February 22, 2009
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I would guess that 900 may keep a lot of folks from starting off. It's a fair price w/ the extra BA. Just because the BA is ported, doesn't mean the barrel is too. If it is- find a standard tube. I agree with asking if the ported BA can be removed. That too is not a show stopper. Stainless scratches are easy to remove- there's info in the gunsmithing area for that.
Ask the shop if they'll mail USPS, FFL to FFL. That's the cheapest way to ship.
Keep your eye on the revolver and bid in the last few hours- Good luck. And no matter when you find one, we're here to help should you get hung up with something Dan related..
Technically, the glass is always full; half liquid, half air....
July 12, 2015
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Hopefully this isn't poor forum etiquette but I want to avoid an almost identical post in the what's my DW worth section. Provided the barrel nut comes off easily and isn't welded on with lead and powder residue, and we assume for arguments sake the gun has been fired (which I strongly believe it has been) what would you guys feel is a "do not exceed" value for the gun? I have been looking for a long time and I have no problem continuing to do so. But also on my mind is I could've bought a similar condition gun for $625-725 5 years ago when I first started looking, so I don't want to wait forever either.
Thanks a ton for the suggestions for asking if the barrel nut can be removes easily, it's not something I'd thought to ask.
Luke
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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That is a pretty good looking 744, made in 1983-1984 I think. The 6" is clearly an add on B/A, given the separate box of that size. Hard to say if it was originally sold as a frame (rcvr) only, the label is a standard DW label indicating a "V" for Vent (not Vent Heavy) shroud, but no length is marked. Three gap shims is a little interesting as well.
Value is in the eye of the beholder (or buyer), if this is the right gun for you, and exactly what you want in barrel length and style, $1000+ is not unreasonable.
Finding a Monson 4" B/A is very possible, 2 1/2" is a little tougher, but since this is a stainless gun, you can get them from DW in Norwich, they will just not be Monson rollmarked.
And thanks for your Service, our son is a USCG GM 1
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
Dans Club
December 5, 2008
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I would say that $1,100 is top of the market value, unless someone really wants that gun. Then it's just a matter of how much you want it. The 44's have not been selling high lately, although the stainless ones don't do too bad. It's the additional items like box, tools, extra barrel assemblies that add up. I would predict 700 - 800 for the gun alone with one barrel assembly; 300-450 for the other BA; 40 for the tool and unknown for the somewhat questionable box. Buying all together should be less than buying separately. If you find you really like one BA the best, then you can sell the other one.
Good luck, you will not regret buying it and it would likely never be worth less than you pay for it even after many good days at the range or on the hunt.
Dans Club
April 18, 2014
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Welcome from the Bluegrass. .
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"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
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March 25, 2013
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Ditto on what snake-eye said but add a premium for the DW logo Pachmyer grip. Very uncommon and highly sought. Unfired really doesn't matter since you intend to shoot it and the 744 is virtually indestructible anyway. Prices have almost doubled from 5 yrs ago BTW.
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May 7, 2015
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Welcome, thanks for your service and good luck finding a pistol-pac like the one you described. You'll need it, dude.
Range Officer
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February 9, 2009
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Another 
to the 
from PA. Thank you for your past and continued service for our country's benefit. We wouldn't be here enjoying this fine site without our freedom.
SMF
A man cannot have too many SuperMags
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January 24, 2009
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Regarding the unfired wording of the ad, I would ask for a pic of the firing pin area. If it looks clean, then go for it. I have a couple unfired guns myself that have been "fondled", with drag marks on the cylinders, yet I'm fairly certain they are unfired.
The great thing about stainless is that it cleans up relatively easily with Flitz or equivalent.
to the
Oh, and it's Monson...not Monsoon.
July 12, 2015
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So I think I'm going to have to continue my search. The gun in question sold for $1280 plus shipping transfer etc. I'm not willing to spend that much on a gun whose owner couldn't be bothered to answer any questions or take any additional pictures. So for now the search continues.
Thanks so much for all the warm welcome and those who offered advice.
In in the mean time if anyone grows tired of a Monson Mass 744 or 7445 please let me know 🙂
Luke
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