NEWS ARTICLES SHOWS PODCAST

J Stevens A&T Co.

685 Views 38 Replies 7 Participants Last post by Grizzley1, 5 d ago

$fracedon$

fracedon

Discussion Starter · 10 d ago

Have a barrel only marked as above, also marked on top chicopee MASS,USA PAT April 17, 94, left side hex portion 25.20 #17455 under barrel just before wood stock portion. Would like to obtain the other half or get it to someone who needs it, but either way would like to see this cool old rifle made whole again. Please advise. Thanks, Don Frace

Reactions: 1

21 - 39 of 39 Posts

Grizzley1

· #21 · 9 d ago

Dave I'm not Don but I've seen more than a few 44 and 44 1/2 actions with custom barrels and wood on them. I suspect someone put a barrel chambered for a more common and easy to find round than the.25-20SS.

Reactions: 1

shootbrownelk

· #22 · 9 d ago

sharps4590 said:
Ah-Ha!!! My turn!! It's a Beech or Beach front sight....lol I can't remember which way it's spelled.

Ah..evidently it is "Beech."

Well, I'll be a son-of-a .....

Reactions: 1

sharps4590

· #23 · 9 d ago

You know, I was pretty sure I remembered it being spelled "Beach" but, when that indisputable source, "the internet" was checked it was spelled "Beech". But, what do I know. I go back to those halcyon days when people read books and gun magazines had writers who knew what they were talking about and editors could spell and punctuate.

I didn't know Lyman made a similar sight, good info.

Reactions: 1

marlinguy

· #24 · 9 d ago

I've owned a few Stevens and only the early Stevens Ideal rifles had rounded bottoms to the octagon part. All my 44 and 44 1/2 with octagon barrels had octagons complete to the receiver.
With the Stevens font on this barrel it's obviously a factory barrel. Stevens 44 and 44 1/2 barrels are very close in thread size, and shanks. The 44 is 20 V TPI with .745" round shank 1.575" from barrel step to chamber end, and the 44 1/2 is 16 V TPI with a .83 round shank. 1.438" barrel step to chamber end.

Reactions: 4

Grizzley1

· #25 · 9 d ago

Good info marlinguy, If Don has a thread pitch gauge or a set of calipers he can identify what action it went to.

Reactions: 2

$fracedon$

fracedon

Discussion Starter · #26 · 9 d ago

Gentlemen, Great info very informative and much appreciated! No idea how this separation happened, this was inherited from my Dad who was also a collector. but knowing him he was intending on reuniting this it with the other half. I am trying to finish all the things with his portion of the collection that he would have done had he lived longer. We were both Life members of the NRA, and life tIme collectors, so I want to honor him by finishing what he started.

I have thought about how this rifle became separated, my guess is that at some point in it's long life it was separated to accommodate storage then... who knows?

Thank you all....so good to talk to other "gun nuts"

Regard, Don

Reactions: 3

Grizzley1

· #27 · 9 d ago

Well, if you ever find the rest of the rifle let us know.

Reactions: 1

TRAP55

· #28 · 9 d ago

sharps4590 said:
You know, I was pretty sure I remembered it being spelled "Beach" but, when that indisputable source, "the internet" was checked it was spelled "Beech". But, what do I know. I go back to those halcyon days when people read books and gun magazines had writers who knew what they were talking about and editors could spell and punctuate.

I didn't know Lyman made a similar sight, good info.

Vic, I don't know who started the spelling difference, probably the same guy that started calling magazines, clips!

I used to spell it "Beech", then dug up the original patent to see the guy's name was "Beach". Lyman most likely made more of the sights than Beach did, but so many called them a Beach, you would never know it.

marlinguy said:
With the Stevens font on this barrel it's obviously a factory barrel. Stevens 44 and 44 1/2 barrels are very close in thread size, and shanks. The 44 is 20 V TPI with .745" round shank 1.575" from barrel step to chamber end, and the 44 1/2 is 16 V TPI with a .83 round shank. 1.438" barrel step to chamber end.

MG, good info! "Somewhere" I have that info, and couldn't find it. The two rifles look about the same, but the parts don't interchange. I've heard the 44 1/2 stocks will go on a 44, but the wood is extra proud.

Reactions: 2

$fracedon$

fracedon

Discussion Starter · #29 · 9 d ago

Gentlemen,

Thank you for the great info, very informative and very much appreciated!

No idea how this rifle became separated, my guess is that it was taken apart for storage at some point in it's long life then...who knows?

This was part of my Dads collection, and I know he would have made this rifle whole again had he lived. He and I were/are both lifetime collectors and life members of the NRA. He fought the Japanese in WWII, so I have decided to honor him by finishing things he passed before he could accomplish, and this once mystery barrel is going to be next in line.

Still can't figure out the sights issues and why the Stevens identification would be covered given the holes through it for a rear sight? At the same time that is the only sign of a rear sight, seems very sloppy for a manufacturer installed sight, even a tube scope consistant with the hole further uo on the barrel?

Thanks to all for the excellent info, it is good to communicate with other "gun nuts"

Regards, Don

See less See more

Grizzley1

· #30 · 9 d ago

2

Don, the scope probably wasn't mounted at the factory and on this rifle the rear sight would have been a tang mounted sight sight similar to this one

Factory scope mounts, if it had them, would have been just forward of the receiver and just aft of the oct to round transition leaving the Stevens address unmolested by drilled and tapped holes.

See less See more

Reactions: 3

marlinguy

· #31 · 9 d ago

Usually when they were factory special ordered with a Stevens scope the rollstamp was moved to the 45 degree flat so it was visible when the scope was mounted. They also don't get a rear barrel sight dovetail when a scope was ordered.

Reactions: 4

$fracedon$

fracedon

Discussion Starter · #32 · 9 d ago

Very interesting, I hadn't even considered a tang mounted sight, although I have probably seen it and not noticed . The factory scope (as shown) would be mounted over the company logo, seems odd? Nevertheless, the holes further up the barrel is not consistent with the factory mount shown. Odd the rifle pictured appears to have a depression where the front sight would have been?

Thanks again Gentlemen, Don

Reactions: 2

Hawg

· #33 · 9 d ago

It probably had a scope something like this. The factory wouldn't have drilled holes in the barrel address.

See less See more

Reactions: 3

$fracedon$

fracedon

Discussion Starter · #34 · 9 d ago

Now that looks cool and makes perfect sense given the existing holes. I guess finding the larger part of the rifle comes first, then the original sight with plugs for the holes, if not a scope that fits the existing holes, either way I am now committed to having this rifle in one piece and firing it ,or pass it on to my son if I run out of time as well.

Thanks and Regard's, Don

Reactions: 2

marlinguy

· #35 · 8 d ago

It would depend on when the barrel got fitted with a scope as to what target or external adjustment scope it was fitted with. The long spacing tells me it likely wasn't one of the later Lyman, Unertl, or Fecker target scopes as they usually used a 7.25" spacing. More likely it would be one of the long Stevens scopes like the #1, #4, or #368 that came in a variety of longer lengths.
This is a #368 on my Ballard with barrel rebored by J. Stevens:

Most likely your barrel got separated from the gun because someone either got an extra barrel in another cartridge, or had a custom target barrel made for it. Often when the owner passes away, the family doesn't know what extras go with a gun, and these parts get separated from their guns.

See less See more

Reactions: 2

$fracedon$

fracedon

Discussion Starter · #36 · 6 d ago

If only these parts could talk....but in a way they really do, through the knowledge and understand of folks like you guys who love the history and associated artifacts as much as I have come to.

Based on this I now know that this barrel belongs on a Stevens model 44 (Not 44 1/2, based on the dimensional criteria provided for the "attachment nipple" my wording as a retired plumber, really don't know know the proper term.

Moreover, from the factory it had the rear sight on the "Tang" then later in its life an aftermarket scope was added and the factory rear sight was removed or this barrel may have been mounted on a different "back half" again my words, which seems logical because I know that 25 Cal amo was expensive and hard to find at some point in this barrel's life.

In either case some dumb ass (again my words) mounted the new scope over the "badge" again my word address is I now believe the correct term, both for the address and the person that did the mounting. Any way keep me in mind if you hear of one of these "back half's or other parts crosses your path.

Thanks again for the amazing info, Regards, Don

See less See more

Reactions: 2

Grizzley1

· #37 · 6 d ago

Stevens actions turn up on the auction sites now and again But finding a complete back half as you call it will be a tough find. But now that you know what you are looking for you might find what you need. Good luck on your search.

Reactions: 1

marlinguy

· #38 · 5 d ago

Best bet is to find a complete Stevens 44 rifle in .22LR, and then you'll have a two barrel set with your current .25RF barrel, and the same firing pin will work for both. May need a 2nd extractor once you try it and see if the .22LR extractor catches the rim of the .25 and extracts OK. The two barrel set will also add value to the whole package, as a Stevens in .22LR has more interest and value than one in .25 Stevens RF. The .25 RF's are avoided by most people simply because the ammo is scarce, and extremely expensive when you find it.

Grizzley1

· #39 · 5 d ago

marlinguy said:
Best bet is to find a complete Stevens 44 rifle in .22LR, and then you'll have a two barrel set with your current .25RF barrel, and the same firing pin will work for both. May need a 2nd extractor once you try it and see if the .22LR extractor catches the rim of the .25 and extracts OK. The two barrel set will also add value to the whole package, as a Stevens in .22LR has more interest and value than one in .25 Stevens RF. The .25 RF's are avoided by most people simply because the ammo is scarce, and extremely expensive when you find it.

His barrel is for the 25-20 SS not the .25 RF

Reactions: 3

21 - 39 of 39 Posts