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PetahW · September 17, 2009, 06:26 PM

Although the Favorite rifle was introduced in 1890, the earlier model wouldn't have had an 1894 patent date.

IMHO, your .25 cal Favorite is a No.17, introduced in 1894 & disc in 1935.
At this time, Stevens started (over the span of several years) to introduce different model numbered Favorites, like No. 17, No.18, & No.19.

That serial number would have been from the first year's production (1894) -since Stevens Arms & tool was an extremely prolific firearms manufacturer, being the world's largest at that time.

BTW - A No.18 Favorite would be identical to a No.17, except that it would have had a Beach combination front sight and a vernier peep sight.

The No.19 would have had a Lyman front bead and a Lyman #1 folding tang sight.

There are NO factory production or serial number records of Stevens A&T firearms, because they conveniently became "lost" (as the company explained to Congess after WWI), when they came under Congressional investigation for WWI profiteering.

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September 17, 2009, 06:26 PM	#10
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	Although the Favorite rifle was introduced in 1890, the earlier model wouldn't have had an 1894 patent date. IMHO, your .25 cal Favorite is a No.17, introduced in 1894 & disc in 1935. At this time, Stevens started (over the span of several years) to introduce different model numbered Favorites, like No. 17, No.18, & No.19. That serial number would have been from the first year's production (1894) -since Stevens Arms & tool was an extremely prolific firearms manufacturer, being the world's largest at that time. BTW - A No.18 Favorite would be identical to a No.17, except that it would have had a Beach combination front sight and a vernier peep sight. The No.19 would have had a Lyman front bead and a Lyman #1 folding tang sight. There are NO factory production or serial number records of Stevens A&T firearms, because they conveniently became "lost" (as the company explained to Congess after WWI), when they came under Congressional investigation for WWI profiteering. . Last edited by PetahW; September 18, 2009 at 07:22 AM.