unusual 44 : Mikkenger Grizzly at auction

[cable]

www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=2392&aid=27168&lid=7765486&rfpb=0#Top

" Lot: 1271 - Mikkenger Arms Grizzly - 44 Mag - revolver - 8 in bbl - Blue - hard wood grips - fixed sights - NRA Excellent - Mechanically Excellent - Appears unfired - about New - SN 5183 -"

bet JT recalls these. have seen one at auction before.

[Ken O'Neill]

There's a stainless one on display in the Museum at the NRA's Whittington Center outside Raton. It's actually the only one I've ever seen. No sideplates or screws or pins. It was in service before the FA '83's were introduced. Keith examined it and called them "the finest single actions so far".

[carl]

Until not "too" long ago there was a web site with extensive coverage on those guns.

I agree, they are very interesting firearms!

Carl

[cable]

Apr 28, 2010 18:09:00 GMT -5 carl said:

Until not "too" long ago there was a web site with extensive coverage on those guns.

I agree, they are very interesting firearms!

Carl

You are right, somewhere i had seen that website and read about them, and forgotten about it. an auction a few years ago had a few in it, and i was too dumb to know what they were.

[Mark Terry]

I have read about these but never seen one (it's okay, I've lived a sheltered life). I need to go back and re-read.

There appear to be a few around and they're certainly worth looking out for.

[Charger Fan]

I had to go dig up a larger pic, to get a closer look.


Looking at the trigger guard, I see no screw on the front, nor a mating line. Surely it's not one piece with the frame, is it?
Hope ya land it Cable, I see you've got the first bid in.

[jimmarch]

I think I see how it works.

IF I'm right, the grip frame and triggerguard are all one piece of metal that stays thin - in other words, all the same thickness. This forks up into the real frame somehow. I think we can see a "pivot point" where the front of it latches in - look under the frame, ahead of the triggerguard, right below the forward edge of the cylinder. There's a little "crack" there about the width of the triggerguard and grip frame. I think the grip frame assembly pivots up into the primary frame at that point and is *somehow* attached at the rear where we can't see it in this pic...a latch or one or more screws.

[cubrock]

The way it works....


The frame on these (grip frame and "main frame") is one-piece. There is a side plate on the left side of the gun that allows access to the internals. The sideplate is held on by a screw hidden under the left grip panel. By using a one-piece frame, the guns are strong enough to handle .44 Magnum pressures while being the size of a Colt SAA.

I used to own three of these. They are interesting and the influence of the OM Rugers is evident from the lockwork to the lines. They are sort of a cross between a Super and a SAA in many respects. The designer of them was brilliant with firearms, but a lousy businessman and hard to get along with. The result was that every company formed to make these ran into trouble early and the total production was quite limited. They are quite uncommon, but often can be had for reasonable prices as demand for them is limited (mostly due to limited knowledge of what they are).

[Ken O'Neill]

You can't see it in the photos above, but there is actually a very finely fitted line on the side, beneath the cylinder, where the gun fits together. I looked at the photos I have of the stainless one, but the fitting line isn't visible on them either.

[cubrock]

Here is the left side of a bare frame. The picture isn't the greatest (was sent to me by the seller of one of my Grizzlies), but you can clearly see the one-piece frame with the cut-out for the sideplate. Note the screw hole on the grip frame for the hidden sideplate screw.

[Charger Fan]

That certainly is an interesting design. Thanks for the pics & explanation Cubrock, that helps a ton. Of course, this means that now there's one more gun flavor to keep my eyes open for. Does it ever end??

[cable]

well i finally got one, a mikkenger grizzly, maybe even one of the very first ones.. it has no serial number and neither gun nor grips are fully finished......although it functions and is incredibly smooth and tight. never been blued and has surface rust. the price was right: about 200$ at an obscure auction..
when i can find my camera i will post a picture, and when the weather gets back in to double digits will shoot it and let you know.

opinion: should i have it polished and blued or leave it alone, in 'tool room' condition? i am inclined to get a pro to finish it and the grips out. it was cheap enough that i will take it hunting this fall

[cubrock]

Cable,

The Mad Bohemian is our resident expert on these. There are some floating around in "tool room" condition. The story on these is fascinating with a lot unknown, given the eccentricity of the designer. You oughta touch base with him and compare notes. If you don't have his contact info, I can give it to you. However, don't email me until next week. I'm having issues with my web hosting service and have no email until resolved.

[e-mail]

[cable]

thanks ! will do.

[Lee Martin]

Pretty rare guns. If I remember correctly, they were built between '79 - '81.

-Lee
www.singleactions.com