Here are some detail pics of my 44US. It is the cleanest, most original one I have seen. I have seen many clean 44US rifles that have been arsenal reworked considering the parkerized metal and the stock cartouche missing or worn down to nothing. Mine has the original blueing with strong color...
My interest in Mossbergs is mostly about the older .22s. My dad gave me my first rifle for Christmas in 1952. It is a Mossberg 142A. It was the perfect rifle for a youngster. I think it sold for $23.50 in 1952, according to the Gun Digest. Not cheap but much less than a Winchester Model 52...