336 Cowboy in 38-55 question

[Wet Dog]

Did the 38-55 caliber 336 Cowboy come with smooth or checkered wood?

[jtaylor1960]

 The earlier ones had checkering.I think now all models are smooth.I'm not sure when they made that change.

[georgeky]

The checkered wood was dropped in favor of smooth in 2002 or 03. I have one with checkered and one with smooth wood.

[44LVR]

The checkered wood was dropped in favor of smooth in 2002 or 03. I have one with checkered and one with smooth wood.

I'll be darned, I didn't know that, George.  I figured they were all checkered.  I LOVE the checkered version.  All mine are checkered with the exception of the 20" 1894 I got yesterday which is smooth, AND it showed me why I LOVE checkering!

44

[georgeky]

 Yep, even the last year of the 24 inch 1894 CB 45 Colt had smooth stocks. Still can't find my 2002 catalog but the 2003 catalog shows both the 336 CB 38-55 and 1894 CB 45 24 inch with smooth wood. That year the 357 and 44 went to 20 inch barrels and smooth wood. I did see a 24 inch 44 on GB while back with smooth wood so 2002 could have been the first year for smooth. I agree about the checkering on the 1894 CB's. Seems they used better wood and it fit better. I have yet to hold a 20 inch CB with smooth wood that suited me. I like those loooong 24 inch octagon barrels.

 I like the checkered wood. Then again I like smooth wood too.  None of them feel any better than my 1895 CB's with smooth wood.

 Still waiting on the 44 Sporter. I hope it hurries along as deer season opens next Saturday and I would like to break it in right. May use the 44-40. It is at my dealers now. Got my eye on a big old buck or two here on the farm. I usually don't shoot the big ones but they have been taunting me all fall so far.

[44LVR]

I like those loooong 24 inch octagon barrels.

YES!

If there is anything better than a 24" barrel, its a 26" barrel................

44

[georgeky]

 I agree.

  That is why I voted for the straight grip and 26 inch barrel in the 336 Cowboy 30-30 thread.

[mattusmc]

My 38-55, the one in my profile picture, has smooth a smooth stock and forearm.  Check it out....

[swany]

Can't think of any gun I've ever owned byside my Lyman Great Plains rifle that hangs steadier offhand than my 336CB in 38-55 I've got the checkered.

[Wet Dog]

You fellers are makin this any easier for me.  Talk like this will make me drive up the prices on gun broker 

[FredT]

Now I had to go look at mine, it is checkered. I do agree with swany.

[djh]

Model 336 Cowboy:

The 336 Cowboy came out in 1999 in 30/30 and 38/55 calibers with checkered wood.

1999, 2000 and 2001. 30/30 & 38/55 with checkered wood.

In 2002 the 30/30 caliber was dropped and they went to a non-checkered stock.

2002, 2003, 2004. 38/55 only with non-checkered wood.

In 2005 the 336 Cowboy was dropped altogether. No 336 Cowboy in 2005.

Hope this helps.

djh