Stevens Favorite project

Fargone4sure

Fargone4sure

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Been working on restoring/rebuilding this Steven's Favorite for awhile, so thought I'd share some pics.

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The gun was originally in 25 Steven's. The top tang had been broken, and repaired with a big glob of braze. Work done:
- cut off top tang, grind off brazing, and plasma weld back together
- drill out barrel and put in 22 caliber barrel liner
- ream new chamber with 22 match reamer
- cut new extractor slot
- rebuild action using the loading block from a donor 22 caliber rifle
- machine new extractor
- color case harden action
- chrome hammer
- sand blast barrel and armacoat black
- repair all screw heads
- machine new rear sight elevator
- fit and finish new semi-inletted front and rear stocks
- install new butt plate

Stock will get several more coatings of finish over the next week before being really done, and I have a few other minor touch ups I need to do. But all in all I'm really happy with the end result.
 

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I have been doing that off and on for 15 years , was going try some engraving when I got everything flat.
I have had a NOS gunparts ( numeric's/) barrel in 22LR for years, the one I am working on is a very nice 32, over the years ,I have had many of these,
but all the 22 one are usally overpriced crap.
Some guys have made 22mag out of these, but not a good idea, these are not a falling blk. as some think.
You did a nice job, but that chrome hammer looks "off" to me.
If I had to restock, I don't as the wood is exc., I would make a "Ladies model", but lot more work.
BTW, how did you do the CH, if I may ask/
 
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Agreed that 22 mag would be pushing the action pretty hard, given the size of the pins that hold it together. Originally I was going to nickle plate the hammer, because I like the look of nickle better. But went chrome due to the amount of wear the hammer gets. Albeit neither would be correct for the Favorite, I wanted to get some real contrast going against the case hardening. The case hardening was done using Blue Halo and Flame FX, both from Steel FX in the states.

I could have used the existing wood, but it was not great, and the rest of the rifle was looking good enough to justify the new walnut.

I had wanted one in 22 for awhile, but like you mentioned, they are often overpriced and/or worn out. So I thought the only route to go was to build one. Truthfully I put more money into this than it is technically worth. But I find them a wonderful little carry rifle, with a balance that's hard to beat, and their share of simple elegance.
 
Could a .32 RF be re-chambered to a .32 LC ? The firing pin would need altered to CF ........Harold
 
The 32 RF uses .316" bullets, while the 32 LC uses .312 diameter.

However, there are still a lot of 303 Lee-Enfields with barrels that are that much oversize, and they still shoot .311 and .312 bullets reasonably well. So.... it might work, especially at ranges one is likely to be using the long Colt.

I actually inquired a few years ago about getting some 32 rimfire ammo produced. All we needed was an order of 500,000 rounds and it could have been done. IIRC, posted about that here, and got essentially zero response, so another dream dashed. ;)

Ted
 
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nice job .I am doing a repair/patch up job on one in 25rf aswell.
My goal was to make it a shooter with minimum $$
Rebarreled with a 10-22 take off ,patch repaired the stock ,made bushings for the worn out lever pivot.
almost done , will post pics.
Ed
( hi Ted ,hope all is well with you )
 
338 Imperial said:
nice job .I am doing a repair/patch up job on one in 25rf aswell.
My goal was to make it a shooter with minimum $$
Rebarreled with a 10-22 take off ,patch repaired the stock ,made bushings for the worn out lever pivot.
almost done , will post pics.
Ed
( hi Ted ,hope all is well with you )
Click to expand...

All is well, Ed. Thanks for asking.

With apologies to the OP for the brief hijack... it's a long ways from a Stevens Favourite, but did you get that 585 Nyati shooting yet?
Ted
 
I suspect it could be done. And if you could come up with hollow base bullets, you might get decent accuracy out of it. Power levels are pretty close so the action should handle it. But with the extra cartridge length, extraction/ejection might be an issue.
 
I really like Favorites, bought my first one when I was 15 yrs old and 25 RF was available. Your rifle looks great and is now usable.

I wonder if the Favorite aficionados here could help me clear up a mystery (to me). I don't have a 22 to compare with my 25 but the firing pin strike on my 25 is inboard from the rim, and I have long wondered if the 22 and 25 breechblocks were made the same with respect to firing pin placement. Does anyone have the two blocks on hand to compare?
 
Waba said:
I really like Favorites, bought my first one when I was 15 yrs old and 25 RF was available. Your rifle looks great and is now usable.

I wonder if the Favorite aficionados here could help me clear up a mystery (to me). I don't have a 22 to compare with my 25 but the firing pin strike on my 25 is inboard from the rim, and I have long wondered if the 22 and 25 breechblocks were made the same with respect to firing pin placement. Does anyone have the two blocks on hand to compare?
Click to expand...

On the breach blocks I have the placement is different. But Steven's did a bunch of changes during the time they produced these. Lots of the action parts aren't interchangeable. And on yours the firing pin may be inboard enough that you could use it in a conversion to 22. But you would still need to deal with the changes to the extractor.
 
the stevens line of single shots are a hoot to shoot , they make great 22 silhouette rifles
I had a good friend build two for my boys one was a model 44 the other was a favourite both were redone to the 9s with new wood , and new green mountain barrels, MVA tang sights. I had them built for their 12th birthdays as a heirloom , but they shoot them.
 
In the Cartridges of the World book they list the 32 Long rifle as .312 and the .32 Long Colt at .313 , the .32 S+W is .312 Is a .32 Stevens different than the .32 Long rifle? Don't mean to hijack but curious.Harold
 
I know of a couple that where done that way, but never shot them. I think they where 32 short colt cf., brass could be a bit hard to find now.
 
A few years ago , there was a run of 32 rim that came out of Europe some where , anyone remember?
I am going to have to get back to mine. At one time I had about 12 stevens ss , never could afford a 44 1/2 action, but did have a couple walnut hills.
 
Fargone4sure said:
On the breach blocks I have the placement is different. But Steven's did a bunch of changes during the time they produced these. Lots of the action parts aren't interchangeable. And on yours the firing pin may be inboard enough that you could use it in a conversion to 22. But you would still need to deal with the changes to the extractor.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info and yes, there were a number of variations over the lifetime of this model. Both my 25 and my 32 have the later spring loaded extractor. I am not interested in converting either one of them out of their original calibers ( still have ammo for both) but I still wonder if perhaps the 25 ever had the breechblock replaced with one off a 22. Although the strike is about where I would expect for a 22, there is no problem with ignition.
 
Just measured both breach blocks. On the 25 caliber, it measures .265" from the top of the breach block, to the top of the firing pin. On the 22 cal it measures .225".
 
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