Mike (skeettx), thank you for taking the time to post the link. That leeroysramblings drawing is actually one I was able to find during my own searching. It is based off of the drawing in the DeHaas book.
Kutter, thanks very much for the positive I.D. on the separate hammer sear. The drawings I've seen thus far are for a single trigger action where the hammer sear engages directly with the trigger and there is no separate intermediate sear. Your mention of the possibility that these castings originated with the late Ken Bresien meshes with what Bob Saathoff posted.
I didn't come across Ken Bresien's name at all during my own searching on the 44 1/2, but it seems vaguely familiar. I'm wondering if he may have been involved in the design or investment casting of the old Wickliffe 76 actions, which were a very beefed up version of the 44 1/2. Those were built in northeastern Ohio.
Vall, I suppose it is also worth a try to contact Rodney Storie. But I read a lot of old threads on the ASSRA forum, Practical Machinist forum, etc. looking for build info that had a lot of conflicting info on Mr. Storie and his Rifle Shoppe. He has a website that seems inactive, and there are reports that he has little interest in a business that took far too much time for the amount of return. Others say he is starting up production again, but can take months to respond to calls or emails. I'm just repeating things I read on other forums, and have no idea how much is true. But there is no question, judging by the number of different single shot action casting kits he had at one time, that he must have put his heart and soul into the business.
craigd, I agree with what you said. I hunted with double set triggers for years on my flintlock rifle, so am comfortable with either system. Except for that one time I tried a quick shot at a buck and pulled the wrong trigger. I also know how a lot of these projects go. They get started and never finished, and end up in somebody's estate sale. I got another lead yesterday on a nice Nichols & Lefever hammer gun with a poor replacement buttstock. If I can make a good deal, I probably won't be able to resist trying to save it too. When I finally retire, I'll have lots to keep me out of trouble. What started as a complete mystery with a lot of dead ends in my own searching is starting to come into clearer view thanks to the help I'm getting here.
