Childhood .22 rifle

RickG30 · September 19, 1999, 08:45 AM

Hello, I just bought a Springfield 187 .22 rifle. I thought it was just like my .22 I had as a kid....but not quite after a closer look. The bolt stop is different. The 187 I have has a stop that is curved, similar to a trigger. It can be pushed into a hole in the reciever to hold it open. My old .22 had a round bolt stop and it could be pushed in into two places. It had a second hole that would lock the bolt in the forward position. I think it was for single shot operation with shorts. Every thing else is the same as my old one. Serial # on this one is B9415xx, Series A. My old was bought 40 years ago. Any idea exactly what I had?
Thanks,
Rick

Jeff OTMG · September 20, 1999, 12:55 PM

You answered your own question. You had a 187, this one is a 187 Series A.

RickG30 · September 20, 1999, 04:35 PM

Jeff, that seems logical but do you know for sure? None of my books show a 187, just the 187 series A. Do you have some references?
I'd like to know when the 187 came out, how many were made, etc. This was the first one I've seen of either type. Thanks.
Rick

Jeff OTMG · September 20, 1999, 08:36 PM

The 187 was made for:
Cotter & Co 487T

The 187 Series A was also the:
Sears 101.54880
Western Auto 135
Western Auto 160

I do not have any production or value info on the Springfield, only found the info in house brand xref listings.

James K · September 20, 1999, 09:27 PM

There was a whole string of those .22s, made under the Savage, Springfield and Stevens brand names, as well as under other trade names. The numbers are simply bewildering, with suffixes and dashes. The early version included the Model 87; it used a round recoil plug and a side safety. A later version, with different numbers and suffix letters and which included the 187, had a streamlined recoil plug which contained the safety.

The mechanism was unique. When fired, the bolt recoiled, then locked back until the trigger was released, when it went forward loading a round and allowing the gun to be fired again. This was apparently done because the tubular magazine feed could not present a round to the bolt in time for use of a normal bolt cycle. The guns were (still are?) a gunsmith's nightmare, as they never seemed to work right.

Jim

Harley Nolden · September 20, 1999, 10:21 PM

RICK G30
I couldn't find much either, but this is what I was abe to locate.

Cotter & Co 487T Springfield 187
Savage/Stevens 80A
Autoloading rifle, caliber .22 Long Rifle; Made from 1976 to date. Note: This rifle is essentially the same as Model 60 of 1969-72, except that it has a different style of checkering, side instead of top safety, and plain bea instead of ramp front sight.

I note that it says mfg'd 1976 to date. Keep in mind, my resources are realy dated back some.

It is noted that the rifle is essentially the Savage model 60, which was mfg'd from 1969-1972.

HJN
_____________________
P>S> I have the blow up and parts list if you would like to have it. _________________________________________________________

[This message has been edited by Harley Nolden (edited September 21, 1999).]

RickG30 · September 21, 1999, 05:51 PM

Thanks for all the info. I've got a lot to research. Rick

**4V50 Gary** · September 22, 1999, 08:40 PM

I've one of those guns I inheirited from my father. It doesn't feed reliably when it comes to 22 LR. You have to use the lower velocity 22 longs.

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Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt

September 19, 1999, 08:45 AM	#1
RickG30 Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: Orlando,Fl USA Posts: 26	Hello, I just bought a Springfield 187 .22 rifle. I thought it was just like my .22 I had as a kid....but not quite after a closer look. The bolt stop is different. The 187 I have has a stop that is curved, similar to a trigger. It can be pushed into a hole in the reciever to hold it open. My old .22 had a round bolt stop and it could be pushed in into two places. It had a second hole that would lock the bolt in the forward position. I think it was for single shot operation with shorts. Every thing else is the same as my old one. Serial # on this one is B9415xx, Series A. My old was bought 40 years ago. Any idea exactly what I had? Thanks, Rick

September 20, 1999, 12:55 PM	#2
Jeff OTMG Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: OKC, OK & Austin, Tx Posts: 3,707	You answered your own question. You had a 187, this one is a 187 Series A.

September 20, 1999, 04:35 PM	#3
RickG30 Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: Orlando,Fl USA Posts: 26	Jeff, that seems logical but do you know for sure? None of my books show a 187, just the 187 series A. Do you have some references? I'd like to know when the 187 came out, how many were made, etc. This was the first one I've seen of either type. Thanks. Rick

September 20, 1999, 08:36 PM	#4
Jeff OTMG Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 1998 Location: OKC, OK & Austin, Tx Posts: 3,707	The 187 was made for: Cotter & Co 487T The 187 Series A was also the: Sears 101.54880 Western Auto 135 Western Auto 160 I do not have any production or value info on the Springfield, only found the info in house brand xref listings.

September 20, 1999, 09:27 PM	#5
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	There was a whole string of those .22s, made under the Savage, Springfield and Stevens brand names, as well as under other trade names. The numbers are simply bewildering, with suffixes and dashes. The early version included the Model 87; it used a round recoil plug and a side safety. A later version, with different numbers and suffix letters and which included the 187, had a streamlined recoil plug which contained the safety. The mechanism was unique. When fired, the bolt recoiled, then locked back until the trigger was released, when it went forward loading a round and allowing the gun to be fired again. This was apparently done because the tubular magazine feed could not present a round to the bolt in time for use of a normal bolt cycle. The guns were (still are?) a gunsmith's nightmare, as they never seemed to work right. Jim

September 20, 1999, 10:21 PM	#6
Harley Nolden Staff In Memoriam Join Date: January 8, 1999 Location: Brunswick,GA USA Posts: 1,884	RICK G30 I couldn't find much either, but this is what I was abe to locate. Cotter & Co 487T Springfield 187 Savage/Stevens 80A Autoloading rifle, caliber .22 Long Rifle; Made from 1976 to date. Note: This rifle is essentially the same as Model 60 of 1969-72, except that it has a different style of checkering, side instead of top safety, and plain bea instead of ramp front sight. I note that it says mfg'd 1976 to date. Keep in mind, my resources are realy dated back some. It is noted that the rifle is essentially the Savage model 60, which was mfg'd from 1969-1972. HJN _____________________ P>S> I have the blow up and parts list if you would like to have it. _________________________________________________________ [This message has been edited by Harley Nolden (edited September 21, 1999).]

September 21, 1999, 05:51 PM	#7
RickG30 Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: Orlando,Fl USA Posts: 26	Thanks for all the info. I've got a lot to research. Rick

September 22, 1999, 08:40 PM	#8
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,832	I've one of those guns I inheirited from my father. It doesn't feed reliably when it comes to 22 LR. You have to use the lower velocity 22 longs. ------------------ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt