Help identifying model on a J. Stevens

Tido4570 · March 20, 2012, 07:16 PM

I am looking for help identifying a model on this rifle that was brought in to me. It has a 20-1/2" barrel, it is a smooth barrel down to where the forearm starts and then it is octagon up to the reciever. The caliper reads .311 inches at the bore. The top of the barrel reads:
J. STEVENS A. & T. CO.
CHICOPEE FALLS MASS U.S.A. PAT APR.1794
It is a rolling block type of action.
Can anybody help me with this? Need any more info?
Thanks,
Steve

Jim Watson · March 20, 2012, 07:44 PM

Need pictures.
Stevens made several different light single shot rifles and "rolling block type" covers a lot of ground.
Yours is probably a .32 rimfire.
No ammunition available except collector's items and remnants of the last batch that one distributor had made up in Brazil 20+ years ago.

PetahW · March 22, 2012, 05:44 PM

FWIW, Stevens made the No.16 Crack Shot using a rolling block action, that had a 20" half-octagon bbl in .32 Short.

Stevens also made the 1900-1916 Favorite Bicycle Rifle No.21 in .32 Long was another rifle issued with a 20" half-octagon bbl.

A 22" bbl (or longer) was standard on most Stevens Rifles, with even longer bbl optional, paid by the inch.

Most of the Stevens Favorite Models used swinging block action's (that can be mistaken for a roller), and the Ideal Model 44-1/2 used a falling block - all those besides the various break-open's, i.e.

With some of the "models", the only difference was the type sights; with others, bbl length/type, etc - so sans pics, a very detailed description might help - but I'm betting in it being a Crack Shot No.16 (1900-1913).

Some of the ID would depend upon if the bbl length is "as issued/original", & not shortened from whatever; AND if the length was measured correctly (a rod downbore from the muzzle to/against the closed breech).

Fun, huh ?

.

Tido4570 · April 29, 2012, 03:46 PM

Here are some pictures for you guys to look at. Let me know what you think. Sorry its been so long, been busy!
Thanks!

Hawg · April 29, 2012, 04:24 PM

Favorite.

PetahW · April 29, 2012, 07:51 PM

It looks like it was a Stevens Favorite Bicycle Rifle No.21, made from 1900-1916.

.

Tido4570 · April 30, 2012, 10:13 AM

Thanks for your information! It definetly helped!

Tido4570 · May 18, 2012, 09:41 PM

On Gun Parts.com they only list Favorite 15, 17, 18, 1915, 20, 27, 30, 30G and Old Model but not 21. Can the parts on a 21 be cross referenced to one of these?

PetahW · May 23, 2012, 12:17 PM

Since most of the difference between Favorite "Model" numbers was in barrel config/length & sights, and sometimes the buttstock - I would think any of the internal action parts for one "model" could be fitted to amother.

FWIW, I've never found any old/replacement part that would simply "drop in" to those old guns, w/o some fitting.

.

weasle94 · June 27, 2012, 09:52 PM

I have one identical as that one ,It is a 32 long rim fire and I paid $55 for a box of shells {deal}.I have had it called everything ,but some parts I bought that fit it are from thr "FAVORITE" line up .the exact model number ,I do not know,but it is fun to shot.It was a kids gun ,short stock and a take down model as you remove what looks like a sling mount loose from under the barrel and it come right out of the receiver.very cool ,goes back together just as nice .I have a lot of extra parts if you need some ,email me .bullets ,I got from thew gun show. but the "Western Scrounger" sells then for $6.95 a piece ,other do too ,ouch.

March 20, 2012, 07:16 PM	#1
Tido4570 Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: Colesburg, IA Posts: 61	Help identifying model on a J. Stevens I am looking for help identifying a model on this rifle that was brought in to me. It has a 20-1/2" barrel, it is a smooth barrel down to where the forearm starts and then it is octagon up to the reciever. The caliper reads .311 inches at the bore. The top of the barrel reads: J. STEVENS A. & T. CO. CHICOPEE FALLS MASS U.S.A. PAT APR.1794 It is a rolling block type of action. Can anybody help me with this? Need any more info? Thanks, Steve

March 22, 2012, 05:44 PM	#3
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	FWIW, Stevens made the No.16 Crack Shot using a rolling block action, that had a 20" half-octagon bbl in .32 Short. Stevens also made the 1900-1916 Favorite Bicycle Rifle No.21 in .32 Long was another rifle issued with a 20" half-octagon bbl. A 22" bbl (or longer) was standard on most Stevens Rifles, with even longer bbl optional, paid by the inch. Most of the Stevens Favorite Models used swinging block action's (that can be mistaken for a roller), and the Ideal Model 44-1/2 used a falling block - all those besides the various break-open's, i.e. With some of the "models", the only difference was the type sights; with others, bbl length/type, etc - so sans pics, a very detailed description might help - but I'm betting in it being a Crack Shot No.16 (1900-1913). Some of the ID would depend upon if the bbl length is "as issued/original", & not shortened from whatever; AND if the length was measured correctly (a rod downbore from the muzzle to/against the closed breech). Fun, huh ? . Last edited by PetahW; March 22, 2012 at 05:49 PM.

June 27, 2012, 09:52 PM	#10
weasle94 Junior Member Join Date: June 27, 2012 Posts: 2	Stevens rifle I have one identical as that one ,It is a 32 long rim fire and I paid $55 for a box of shells {deal}.I have had it called everything ,but some parts I bought that fit it are from thr "FAVORITE" line up .the exact model number ,I do not know,but it is fun to shot.It was a kids gun ,short stock and a take down model as you remove what looks like a sling mount loose from under the barrel and it come right out of the receiver.very cool ,goes back together just as nice .I have a lot of extra parts if you need some ,email me .bullets ,I got from thew gun show. but the "Western Scrounger" sells then for $6.95 a piece ,other do too ,ouch.

March 20, 2012, 07:44 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,535	Need pictures. Stevens made several different light single shot rifles and "rolling block type" covers a lot of ground. Yours is probably a .32 rimfire. No ammunition available except collector's items and remnants of the last batch that one distributor had made up in Brazil 20+ years ago.

April 29, 2012, 03:46 PM	#4
Tido4570 Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: Colesburg, IA Posts: 61	Here are some pictures for you guys to look at. Let me know what you think. Sorry its been so long, been busy! Thanks!

April 29, 2012, 04:24 PM	#5
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Favorite.

April 29, 2012, 07:51 PM	#6
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	It looks like it was a Stevens Favorite Bicycle Rifle No.21, made from 1900-1916. .

April 30, 2012, 10:13 AM	#7
Tido4570 Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: Colesburg, IA Posts: 61	Thanks for your information! It definetly helped!

May 18, 2012, 09:41 PM	#8
Tido4570 Member Join Date: December 1, 2008 Location: Colesburg, IA Posts: 61	On Gun Parts.com they only list Favorite 15, 17, 18, 1915, 20, 27, 30, 30G and Old Model but not 21. Can the parts on a 21 be cross referenced to one of these?

May 23, 2012, 12:17 PM	#9
PetahW Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 4,678	Since most of the difference between Favorite "Model" numbers was in barrel config/length & sights, and sometimes the buttstock - I would think any of the internal action parts for one "model" could be fitted to amother. FWIW, I've never found any old/replacement part that would simply "drop in" to those old guns, w/o some fitting. .