Stevens 16 ga. Want info, how do I find it

[lfalk]

My father gave me a shot gun that his father had. It is a Stevens 16 ga. Patented August 12, 1913. Under the fore grip is the number 365. and what looks like IL. I would like to know how do I find out it's age. What size 16 ga shells does it take and where can I get a front sight for it. I have looked up stevens on the internet but have not figured out how to find it. Thanks for any info Lee

 

[35Rem]

What action type? Single shot, pump, auto? Pictures?

 

[lfalk]

It is a single shot breakover I don't have pics yet but i can try and do that. I am a little behind on the technical stuff on computers. My wife will probably help me. thanks Lee

 

[35Rem]

Does it look like this?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=262670495

Or like this?
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=262402547

 

[lfalk]

It looks like the one in the second link. only it is a 16 ga.

 

[35Rem]

I honestly don't know if the early guns were chambered for 2 3/4" shells in 16 ga. Short chambers in 16 ga were very common early on (pre WWII, or so)

An inspection by a gunsmith wouldn't hurt to make sure it's safe to shoot. He should be able to measure the chamber pretty easily.

The front sight would have been a simple bead, screwed in a threaded hole. I have found that many of the early threads were odd, by today's standards, and it is much easier to re-thread the existing hole (bigger, of course) to a commonly available bead thread. 5-40, or 6-48.

 

[lfalk]

Thanks I guess I will take it to the gunsmith and see if he has a bead site to fit or if he will put in a new one. It wouldn't be a bad idea to check it out anyway. I don't know when the last time it was fired. Lee

 

[bbrownie]

it,s probably 2 1/2"chamber unless someone has reamed it out to 2 3/4"chamber.