One of my projects...

SaxonPig · April 21, 2017, 02:19 PM

Bought this Stevens at a police auction in 1987 for $11.50. Someone had drilled a hole through the breech block and sunk a big machine screw through rendering it inoperable. Probably some clown making it into a toy gun for his grandson. Sights were missing. Wood was horrible. No finish left. Really, at $11.50 I probably overpaid.

Spent 10 years searching for a replacement breech block. Finally one day at a gun show I saw a used parts dealer set up on 12 tables. All filled with ammo cans full of small gun parts. I asked out of habit if he had a Model 14&1/2 breech block expecting the usual "Nope." Instead he rolled his eyes skyward for a moment, deep in thought. Then he turned and dipped into one of the ammo cans and came up with the needed part. I was flabbergasted.

"How much?" I asked

"Five bucks." he said.

I have never pulled my wallet out so fast in my life. Now that I had the missing part I started working on the little rifle. I stripped the corrosion off the metal and used cold blue. I think it turned out OK. I stripped the wood and refinished it. Again, results were OK. Bought a rear sight for $4 from Numrich and used a file to enlarge the dovetail so it fit. I made a new front blade from a nickel I hammered flat and trimmed to fit. The take down screw is from an old camera tripod that worked perfectly in the rifle. Total monetary investment is about $22.

Oh, it shoots just fine. At least it shoots...and I think that's fine.

Blindstitch · April 21, 2017, 02:37 PM

Any pictures of the hole drilled in it?

Looks like it works good now.

SaxonPig · April 22, 2017, 07:50 AM

No before photos and I tossed the ruined part. It was drilled through firing pin hole greatly enlarging it and a big machine screw was sunk through it and ground off flush with breech face.

g.willikers · April 22, 2017, 09:15 AM

Good job.
It's always been fun to resurrect a lost cause.

damienph · April 23, 2017, 09:11 AM

Good job! I like seeing old or abused firearms brought back.

shootbrownelk · April 23, 2017, 09:38 AM

You did an excellent job bringing back the dead to shooting condition. Well Done! I have a Winchester 1890 in .22 Long that I plan to do this summer. It's a rough example, I plan to do the metal work & blueing and replace the wood with repro stuff, but first it needs a liner installed...the bore is badly pitted.

SaxonPig · April 24, 2017, 06:56 PM

Found a clearer photo.

bamaranger · April 26, 2017, 10:48 PM

An acquaintance bought two of those that had been fire damaged. He mixed and matched parts, and ended up with one pretty neat rifle that shoots OK.

Well done Pig.

flashhole · April 27, 2017, 06:55 PM

Your patience was justly rewarded. Great job.

lockedcj7 · April 28, 2017, 09:17 PM

That'll do pig, that'll do.

April 21, 2017, 02:19 PM	#1
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	One of my projects... Bought this Stevens at a police auction in 1987 for $11.50. Someone had drilled a hole through the breech block and sunk a big machine screw through rendering it inoperable. Probably some clown making it into a toy gun for his grandson. Sights were missing. Wood was horrible. No finish left. Really, at $11.50 I probably overpaid. Spent 10 years searching for a replacement breech block. Finally one day at a gun show I saw a used parts dealer set up on 12 tables. All filled with ammo cans full of small gun parts. I asked out of habit if he had a Model 14&1/2 breech block expecting the usual "Nope." Instead he rolled his eyes skyward for a moment, deep in thought. Then he turned and dipped into one of the ammo cans and came up with the needed part. I was flabbergasted. "How much?" I asked "Five bucks." he said. I have never pulled my wallet out so fast in my life. Now that I had the missing part I started working on the little rifle. I stripped the corrosion off the metal and used cold blue. I think it turned out OK. I stripped the wood and refinished it. Again, results were OK. Bought a rear sight for $4 from Numrich and used a file to enlarge the dovetail so it fit. I made a new front blade from a nickel I hammered flat and trimmed to fit. The take down screw is from an old camera tripod that worked perfectly in the rifle. Total monetary investment is about $22. Oh, it shoots just fine. At least it shoots...and I think that's fine.

April 22, 2017, 09:15 AM	#4
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Good job. It's always been fun to resurrect a lost cause. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

April 26, 2017, 10:48 PM	#8
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	very nice An acquaintance bought two of those that had been fire damaged. He mixed and matched parts, and ended up with one pretty neat rifle that shoots OK. Well done Pig.

April 27, 2017, 06:55 PM	#9
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	Your patience was justly rewarded. Great job. __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

April 28, 2017, 09:17 PM	#10
lockedcj7 Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2007 Posts: 1,215	That'll do pig, that'll do. __________________ To a much greater extent than most mechanical devices, firearms are terribly unforgiving of any overconfidence, complacency or negligence.

April 21, 2017, 02:37 PM	#2
Blindstitch Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2013 Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 2,693	Any pictures of the hole drilled in it? Looks like it works good now.

April 22, 2017, 07:50 AM	#3
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	No before photos and I tossed the ruined part. It was drilled through firing pin hole greatly enlarging it and a big machine screw was sunk through it and ground off flush with breech face.

April 23, 2017, 09:11 AM	#5
damienph Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Kansas Posts: 319	Good job! I like seeing old or abused firearms brought back.

April 23, 2017, 09:38 AM	#6
shootbrownelk Senior Member Join Date: August 27, 2013 Location: Wyoming Posts: 329	You did an excellent job bringing back the dead to shooting condition. Well Done! I have a Winchester 1890 in .22 Long that I plan to do this summer. It's a rough example, I plan to do the metal work & blueing and replace the wood with repro stuff, but first it needs a liner installed...the bore is badly pitted.

April 24, 2017, 06:56 PM	#7
SaxonPig Senior Member Join Date: April 24, 2006 Posts: 1,900	Found a clearer photo.