Old stevens "falling?) block single shot price?

BerdanSS · February 23, 2015, 08:40 PM

I'm trying to help out the gentleman that I got my beloved S&W 1095 from. He's trying to find out what this rifle may be worth. It has a good bore, nothing mechanically broken and a tight action. He said it's a .25 and is marked J STEVENS A & T Co. Pat. 1794-25 stevens.

**Mike Irwin** · February 23, 2015, 10:43 PM

I think it's a Stevens Favorite and is probably chambered in .25 Long rimfire, a very common chambering.

I've seen them going for between 300 and 500...

Scorch · February 24, 2015, 02:36 AM

As Mike said, it is a Stevens Favorite or Crackshot (it might say which it is on the barrel or receiver). It is not a falling block, it is a tipping block. The 25s are not much in demand and go for $350ish, ones originally chambered in 22LR go for more because they don't have to be rebarreled to shoot them.

BerdanSS · February 27, 2015, 11:28 AM

thank you sirs.

Huffmanite · February 27, 2015, 01:45 PM

Own both a Stevens Favorite and a Stevens model 44. They are kinda similar in appearance. Do believe Stevens shown, is a model 44 Ideal. Heavy round/octagon barrel on it gives it away. Favorite is kinda a kids rifle and will not have that barrel. The 44 is a much larger rifle and was chambered in nine cartridges, anything from a 22 LR to the 44-40 and yes, 25 rimfire too. By the way, Stevens didn't make the 38-55 and 44-40 ones too long. Seems the action loosened up too much with those rounds. Also, if it were a Favorite, should have that name stamped into top of the receiver. Leastways, mine does.

My 9 year old Gun Trader's Guide catalog shows the value of one in good condition to be $425. Think I paid around $250 for my 22 LR model 44 about 5 years ago and it needed some work.

Now if it was a 44.5 Ideal, Stevens changed the action some, making it stronger, you can double the value on it.

Jim Watson · February 27, 2015, 02:07 PM

I think it is a Favorite. See the knurled ring on the barrel at the receiver? Frank DeHaas showed that as an adjustment to keep the takedown barrel snug, used on relatively few rifles.

If I had a mechanically sound but cosmetically challenged .25 RF, I would consider having it lined to .22 LR.
If the bore were pristine, I would see if somebody would make me some of the adapters that would use a .22 blank as a replaceable primer.

**Mike Irwin** · February 27, 2015, 02:19 PM

I'm pretty sure that an option on the Favorite was a half round, half octagon barrel.

I don't think that the 44 used that D loop take down screw, either, but I may be wrong about that.

According to this page (http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional...ite_rifles.htm) that's most likely a Favorite 1894 variant.

I would probably consider having it altered to .25-20, and using it with black powder.

Huffmanite · February 27, 2015, 08:37 PM

Yep, the takedown screw on bottom of action in pics kinda confused me too. Ideal has a counter sunk screw located there.

However, another reason I think it may be a 44 Ideal is the shape of the block that is exposed. Top of a Favorite block is straight for about 3/4"" then has a steep but slight outer curve down, while top of Ideal block is straight for only 1/4" and has a slight but much longer double curve downward. Looks more like an Ideal block than a Favorite block to me.

Suggest the action be measured across the width of the action to determine what it is. If it measures close to 15/16", its a Favorite, if 1 1/16" its a 44 Ideal

**Mike Irwin** · March 2, 2015, 07:54 AM

I can find no evidence that the 44 Ideal was ever offered with the barrel adjustment (the knurled ring).

February 23, 2015, 08:40 PM	#1
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Location: to close to other houses Posts: 1,176	Old stevens "falling?) block single shot price? I'm trying to help out the gentleman that I got my beloved S&W 1095 from. He's trying to find out what this rifle may be worth. It has a good bore, nothing mechanically broken and a tight action. He said it's a .25 and is marked J STEVENS A & T Co. Pat. 1794-25 stevens. __________________ One day, Men in tall hats will thump their chests and proclaim..."oh, what a great sea of mud we lived in"--The unalterable fate of billy creek .... "Smoke.....it's what's for dinner"

February 24, 2015, 02:36 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	As Mike said, it is a Stevens Favorite or Crackshot (it might say which it is on the barrel or receiver). It is not a falling block, it is a tipping block. The 25s are not much in demand and go for $350ish, ones originally chambered in 22LR go for more because they don't have to be rebarreled to shoot them. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 27, 2015, 11:28 AM	#4
BerdanSS Senior Member Join Date: April 3, 2011 Location: to close to other houses Posts: 1,176	thank you sirs. __________________ One day, Men in tall hats will thump their chests and proclaim..."oh, what a great sea of mud we lived in"--The unalterable fate of billy creek .... "Smoke.....it's what's for dinner"

February 27, 2015, 01:45 PM	#5
Huffmanite Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2006 Location: Northeast of Houston, Tx Posts: 393	Own both a Stevens Favorite and a Stevens model 44. They are kinda similar in appearance. Do believe Stevens shown, is a model 44 Ideal. Heavy round/octagon barrel on it gives it away. Favorite is kinda a kids rifle and will not have that barrel. The 44 is a much larger rifle and was chambered in nine cartridges, anything from a 22 LR to the 44-40 and yes, 25 rimfire too. By the way, Stevens didn't make the 38-55 and 44-40 ones too long. Seems the action loosened up too much with those rounds. Also, if it were a Favorite, should have that name stamped into top of the receiver. Leastways, mine does. My 9 year old Gun Trader's Guide catalog shows the value of one in good condition to be $425. Think I paid around $250 for my 22 LR model 44 about 5 years ago and it needed some work. Now if it was a 44.5 Ideal, Stevens changed the action some, making it stronger, you can double the value on it. Last edited by Huffmanite; February 27, 2015 at 01:51 PM.

February 27, 2015, 02:19 PM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I'm pretty sure that an option on the Favorite was a half round, half octagon barrel. I don't think that the 44 used that D loop take down screw, either, but I may be wrong about that. According to this page (http://www.wisnersinc.com/additional...ite_rifles.htm) that's most likely a Favorite 1894 variant. I would probably consider having it altered to .25-20, and using it with black powder. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

February 23, 2015, 10:43 PM	#2
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I think it's a Stevens Favorite and is probably chambered in .25 Long rimfire, a very common chambering. I've seen them going for between 300 and 500...

February 27, 2015, 02:07 PM	#6
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,542	I think it is a Favorite. See the knurled ring on the barrel at the receiver? Frank DeHaas showed that as an adjustment to keep the takedown barrel snug, used on relatively few rifles. If I had a mechanically sound but cosmetically challenged .25 RF, I would consider having it lined to .22 LR. If the bore were pristine, I would see if somebody would make me some of the adapters that would use a .22 blank as a replaceable primer.

February 27, 2015, 08:37 PM	#8
Huffmanite Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2006 Location: Northeast of Houston, Tx Posts: 393	Yep, the takedown screw on bottom of action in pics kinda confused me too. Ideal has a counter sunk screw located there. However, another reason I think it may be a 44 Ideal is the shape of the block that is exposed. Top of a Favorite block is straight for about 3/4"" then has a steep but slight outer curve down, while top of Ideal block is straight for only 1/4" and has a slight but much longer double curve downward. Looks more like an Ideal block than a Favorite block to me. Suggest the action be measured across the width of the action to determine what it is. If it measures close to 15/16", its a Favorite, if 1 1/16" its a 44 Ideal Last edited by Huffmanite; February 27, 2015 at 08:52 PM.

March 2, 2015, 07:54 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	I can find no evidence that the 44 Ideal was ever offered with the barrel adjustment (the knurled ring). __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.