unkown stevens favorite model
- Thread starter Steelshot
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Jim Watson
Member
Wow, it is missing a lot of parts. Do you expect to find, make, or have them made?
The ring takedown screw is typical of the 1894 version Favorite.
I am not expert in the gun, but think that caliber is determined by the breechblock and its firing pin placement for .22, .25, or .32 rimfire.
The ring takedown screw is typical of the 1894 version Favorite.
I am not expert in the gun, but think that caliber is determined by the breechblock and its firing pin placement for .22, .25, or .32 rimfire.
BCRider
Member
If you like this sort of thing you might search out the Frank DeHaas book "single shot rifles". It'll have a cut away that would be a great guide to shaping the internal bits and pieces. Or perhaps someone can take a picture of that page for you?
The receiver you have is pretty badly corroded. I've seen better examples show up at various gun shows. Keep your eyes open.
The receiver you have is pretty badly corroded. I've seen better examples show up at various gun shows. Keep your eyes open.
it may be case of picture looks worse,inside theirs years of dust stuck to congealed oil,very minor surface roughness no deep pitting,since its going to be a shooter with no collector value i will sharpen corners and refinish,what i need to know is what can i stuff in it for parts?its likely a 1894 as previous person said,from research,i just bought it sunday,you cant really interchange between model years,but they dont say if its a stripped rec like this can i use all say 1915 parts?thanks
SGW Gunsmith
Member
It does appear to be an 1894 version of the Favorite rifle, but it could be one of two versions. The very early style has the ejector at around the 8:00 O'Clock position in the breech face, the slightly later version, still with the ring take-down screw, has the ejector positioned at 6:00 O'Clock in the breech face same as the picture lower, right:
SGW Gunsmith
Member
Well, no, not all 1915 Favorite parts. I'll try to answer a couple of questions posted above, so hope some of it helps. Concerning the rough metal finish on many of these Stevens boys rifles. The receivers are metal forgings, so the process doesn't provide for a nice smooth finish, and they will easily rust if not kept oiled. This is a Stevens 1915 Favorite action that I received several years ago. The receiver sides were not flat and the color case was rusted away:
After block sanding the receiver faces with progressive grits involving #150 and up through #600, the receiver faces became flat and all the pitting was removed:
The 1894 receiver has a flat mainspring that's mounted in a different manner, and the breech block is of a different style. It's best, and less maddening to deal with, if you use the proper period parts to resurrect your receiver. Also, make sure the parts you use are for the .22 Long Rifle version, as trying to find .25 Stevens and .32 Long ammunition is pretty dang scarce these days, and if found, quite pricey.
Obturation
Member
Those are such great guns, i bought one in perfect like new condition for $100 about 10 years ago. I think its the 1970s version (savage 72?). I would love an older one though. Cant tell you how many squirrels and other critters have fallen to that rifle in the past decade but i would imagine in the hundreds. Dont give up on her, i think its a great project.
SGW Gunsmith
Member
Many of these desirable rifles that are still in a condition like the one you now have are very scarce and in private collections. If/when they do come up for sale, the prices are quite high. I tend to look for the orphans left behind that languish in closets and cow barns that need a complete resurrection back to being an enjoyable firearm once again. I do these restorations mainly during the winter months as work slows down in my shop, so I'll pick a few up over the summer at gunshows and estate sales that look like they just might have some semblance of promise.
Still, it's always a neat thing to have an owner bring me what looks like a hopeless case and then observe their facial expression when they come to take it back home.
Geldarr
Member
Not sure how helpful this might be, but take it for what it is: free information!
If you go onto the Google patents website, you can track down the patents that George S. Lewis, via J. Stevens Co., submitted way back when (1909-1912) that show nice line drawings and spatial relationships of parts. The patents in question are US1059477A and US939142A, which can be entered into the search box at https://patents.google.com/
The pictures that pop up are clickable to bring up a PDF file that can then be printed out for reference. These might evenbe able to be used in fabrication of parts if, down the road, some can not be located. Not guaranteed to match the final production version, but they are pretty to look at.
If you go onto the Google patents website, you can track down the patents that George S. Lewis, via J. Stevens Co., submitted way back when (1909-1912) that show nice line drawings and spatial relationships of parts. The patents in question are US1059477A and US939142A, which can be entered into the search box at https://patents.google.com/
The pictures that pop up are clickable to bring up a PDF file that can then be printed out for reference. These might evenbe able to be used in fabrication of parts if, down the road, some can not be located. Not guaranteed to match the final production version, but they are pretty to look at.
SGW Gunsmith
Member
Very interesting, thanks for that info. I'll bet they will be helpful and will check those out. I do have a book by a fella named Frank DeHaas, that is replete with 'line-drawings' of parts, and identifies what those parts are for each version of rifle.
I did go there and did print both out. I used antique looking paper, so the pictures look sorta neat.
Grayrock
Member
Get on rimfirecentral.com . They have a forum for Stevens. Some good info there.
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