Curiously, though Ruger named the gun the Model 44, I don't believe they marked any of them with that name. Every one that I've seen has been stamped "Ruger Carbine .44 Magnum Cal." in two lines, on the left side of the receiver. (Note: These guns are not to be confused with the newer Model 99/44 Deerfield Carbine, which I consider inferior to the original.)
To say this little rifle is extremely handy and effective is putting it mildly. I know this from much experience, because this is the gun I started deer hunting with, and it's the only deer rifle I owned for about two decades. Between Dad and me, we have taken more than twenty deer and at least seven hogs with our carbines, in addition to all kinds of smaller game. And the best part is, we never lost one that we hit.
These rifles are compact, light, handy, and deadly on game, but like any machine, they require some maintenance. Normal cleaning of the bore is the easy part, and naturally the gun should be wiped down with an oily rag from time to time. It should be pulled from the stock at least once per season, and after each time it's exposed to wet weather.
With long use, thorough cleaning of the gas port and piston will be required, and this article will help you accomplish that.
I have chosen to use two guns in this article, a very early one and another of more recent manufacture. I was very careful to keep track of the parts for each gun - you don't want to mix up these parts. In most cases, you should only have one gun apart at a time.