Long story short, took a Marlin model 57 Levermatic 22 mag back to the shop I bought it from cause it took a cleaning rod to knock the fired case out. He filled out a repair slip and said no problem, I'll get it fixed for you. Looked on the wall behind him and a straight stocked, short Marlin. Asked him if it was a 45-70 guide gun, "nope, that's a 444 ported". 
This is the same shop I bought mine in a couple of years ago, only one I had seen and he has another!!! He hands it to me and not a mark in the wood, metal is great, hardly any mark on the hammer from hitting the firing pin. 01 serial number, asked him if he would give the the $ I paid on the Model 57 on the P, he said yes and now the house has another 444P. 8) $495 for this one. Then went to Cabela's and got the best deal I have ever gotten from them, 1975 35 rem. RC, marked at $520, out the door for $430. She's in fantastic shape with a Redfield 4X scope mounted and new White Line Pachmeyer pad. What a great day!! 8) DP
This is the same shop I bought mine in a couple of years ago, only one I had seen and he has another!!! He hands it to me and not a mark in the wood, metal is great, hardly any mark on the hammer from hitting the firing pin. 01 serial number, asked him if he would give the the $ I paid on the Model 57 on the P, he said yes and now the house has another 444P. 8) $495 for this one. Then went to Cabela's and got the best deal I have ever gotten from them, 1975 35 rem. RC, marked at $520, out the door for $430. She's in fantastic shape with a Redfield 4X scope mounted and new White Line Pachmeyer pad. What a great day!! 8) DP
