The Firearms Forum banner

Old stevens

3K views 50 replies 11 participants last post by  Josh the butcher 
#1 ·
cleaning out my grandpap's house we found this neat rifle. 32 LR
Cracked stalk and a little pitting.
We're just wandering if there is a way to date it? Any other info would be greatly appreciated as well.
 

Attachments

See less See more
5
#2 ·
Welcome to TFF Josh. I don't think you're going to get a year of mfg but there are some guys here that can tell you a bit about the rifle, maybe the model which will provide dates of manufacturing for your 32 Rimfire.
 
#4 ·
#6 ·
Both are pretty darned nice! For the rifle - if you wanted a 'shooter' you could rebarrel it with a .22 long rifle barrel. Numrich used to sell them. If it were mine, I'd have it done by a good gunsmith, and save the .32 rimfire barrel if anyone ever decided to put it back to original. The revolver could also be re-done with a .22 barrel liner and the cylinders relined to .22. It would be pricey for either one - but do-able.
 
#8 ·
As nice as that old Stevens in 32RF looks, even with the buggered screws, I'd leave it alone. They haven't made them in close to 100 years and some of those old Stevens are bringing nice prices. Especially so if the bore is in any condition at all.

Watch around at gun shows and you can find some 32RF ammo. It ain't cheap but it can be had. Once the brass is had there is a way to handload it.....heck, there's a way to handload anything.
 
#9 ·
It predates 1916 as that's when they became J. Stevens Arms Company.

They used the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company name from 1886 to 1916.

It looks like a model 44 action, but I could be way off base, that's just a guess.

If you are wanting to make it shoot again, I'd look at converting it to centerfire and re-chambering it for .32-20 rather than lining it to .22LR if the bore is still in good condition.

Stevens offered them in centerfire versions and it's a simple parts swap to change them over, the hard part is finding the parts you need to swap. ;)
 
#10 ·
I honestly don't want to have it altered. I'd love to shoot it. I'd rather spend $60-100 for a box of shells for it. Shoot once or twice then put it up. It's an interesting gun compared to what we use now days. I never know my grandpap even had this gun nore did my father.
I don't know if he hunted with it or maybe they used it to butcher pigs when he was a kid. I don't know.
Ether way it's definitely some thing to pass on. Hang it on a wall maybe.
Thanks for the information.
 
#12 ·
What a treasure. I'm in the camp of keeping it as is. Hopefully it's in okay shape now and if not, maybe you can get'r running without too much expense. I have a Crackshot 26 that I'm having repaired right now. The action is fine, just a stripped screw and once repaired it can be fired if I do choose. I at least have the option.
 
  • Like
Reactions: joe45c
#15 ·
The gun could probably be converted to .32 S&W long. 32-20 is much too powerful!
While I don't see a crack in the stock (not stalk!), cracks are usually easily repaired.
The Forehand and Wadsworth revolver appears to be .32 S&W- a centerfire cartridge.
 
#16 ·
Wise and excellent decision Josh!! Keep it as it is. The last time I saw any 32 RF ammo I don't believe it was even $60.00 a box. Heck of it is the years have run together and I don't remember if that was 3 years ago or 20....:( Griz, my first thought also was it might be a Mod. 44 but I'm not familiar enough with the old Stevens to say. If it is a 44 then the absolute best thing to do is leave it completely alone.
 
#18 ·
Is there some thing to look for to tell what model it is?
The crack in the stalk is where meets the action. It doesn't run the length of the stalk. Only about two maybe three inches. Next to the fox shotgun I have this is deffinetly the neatest gun I have. Reminds me of an old western saddle gun.
 
#21 ·
Sharps, the 44 action has a rotating breech block that works similar to the Favorite action only the 44 is a stronger and larger action than the Favorite and was chambered by Stevens in pistol calibers up to .44, I don't believe the Favorite was chambered in anything bigger than .32 RF.

The 44 1/2 is a falling block rather than a rotating block and was a stronger action capable of handling rifle rounds.
 
#23 ·
I think it's the larger 44 action but I can't confirm it by just looking at a picture on the web, either way he wants to keep it original as a .32 RF ( good call BTW) so what .32 cal center fire cartridge he could theoretically re-configure it to in order to fire more readily available ammo is kind of a moot point.

In any case these old timers are black powder era frames and need to be held to black powder pressure levels in any center fire chambering.
 
#24 ·
"theoretically re-configure it to in order to fire more readily available ammo is kind of a moot point."
Not a moot point at all. I have never converted a rim fire to a center fire by making mods to the original breach block , but have always purchased a separate breach block and made the mods to the spare block.
I have several rifles that now have two breach blocks that can use rim fire or center fire.
 
#25 ·
Magenta Shotgun Ammunition Material property Metal
Magenta Blade Metal Steel Silver
Composite material Tan Wood stain Shotgun Paint
Red Metal Material property Steel Household hardware
String instrument accessory Metal Iron Guitar accessory Steel
If I'm understanding right. The block is the piece with the firing pin in it. It seems to me to rotate back and down when you work the lever. It doesn't drop straight down. I added a few more pictures of the action and the little crack.
Thank you all very much for the information again. I really appreciate it. I've always hunted and shot guns my whole life. But inheriting these older guns has kinda taken it to a whole new level for me. Learning some of the history and seeing how some different actions work.
 
#28 ·
I've always hunted and shot guns my whole life. But inheriting these older guns has kinda taken it to a whole new level for me. Learning some of the history and seeing how some different actions work.
Uh-oh Josh....you are so screwed.......:D Attach any phrase you want to it, "opening Pandora's box", "letting the genie out of the bottle", "opening a can of worms", "a benign addiction".....they're all applicable...and there is no known cure!!!!
 
#27 ·
Yeah I don't mind the crack. It adds character and shows it's years. I noticed that you can see some of the s.n. On the block in side the action. They match the gun or are very close. I can only see three of them. Which is really good because I was wondering since the screws are buggered up a little on the out side if it was changed or some thing. But it looks to be original which is good.
 
#29 ·
I'm keeping an eye on this thread! I want to see if any more information

surfaces, as I have a very similar rifle, in the same (32 rimfire) caliber, but the

stock on mine had been brutally "repaired" by some gorilla many years before

I purchased the rifle. A replacement stock is in order with mine.

I also have a Smith And Wesson 1 & 1/2 revolver, and a Frank Wesson carbine

in the same caliber. On the plus side, I also have about 150 rounds of 32 short

and long rimfire ammunition, should I ever dare to fire any of them! LOL


The_Doctor
 
#30 ·
Josh,
How long is the barrel? Is it octagon, half octagon or round? Can you make out the serial No# and is there a prefix? I know, lot's of questions but they are relevant. One thing is that all of these guns ( As far as I know) were takedown models with a thumbscrew or a screw in pin with a sling swivel. I think that I can make out where one is, but it looks like it is broken off ( In front of the lever). Let us know if you can.

Steve
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top