Stevens Favorites

I was into Steven rifle and handguns few years back, That Varner is great, good thing I never run into them back in the day.
Stevens did make a very small few like that original, pre war, special order.
Grandfather had a 25 cal, that started the whole thing.
Good 22's are hard to find as they where used way more. 25 and 32 ammo harder to find , more money.
I have shot 25 and 32 ammo, that looked as new, 1/2 the time primers seem to be dead., these days the ammo is too much to shoot
Last box I seen sold 120.oo 32RF.
 
I enjoy my Stevens a lot. 32 rf was I little expensive and not reliable so I started thinking could it be converted to center fire. 32 short and long colt cases are perfect. The problem was the bullet. The original steps down to fit in the case. Bullets main diameter is the same as the outside case diameter. Find a mould or have one made. Before I decided to have one made I decided to try making bullets on my lathe. My chuck pieces are aluminum so I spun out the nose profile. Bullet goes in and stops at the same depth every time. Set your your cutter up for proper diameter,inside mouth diameter and how far you want the bullet to go in case. Easily repeated. Takes about an hour for 240 bullets. The first few rounds I was using 4f black powder. Fill the case and seat the bullet, I knew it was safe. I ended up finding 32 long colt data so I use that now. I had a couple of extra breach blocks. One I modified by drilling and changing the angle of firing pin. Firing pin was made out of a finish nail. I am over 700 rounds with no problems.
 
Just joined the Stevens Favorite club myself. No pictures yet, just waiting on a box of parts to come to get the thing back into servicable condition. Barrel is currently shot out, but I was able to snag a .22LR barrel liner from brownells and will be having that installed once the gun is able to fire again.

Funnily enough, the rifle I got came with a filed nail for a firing pin. Striker crumbled at some point and the back was awfully mushroomed, can only assume it worked for one shot. Either way, got new firing pins on the way, a replacement fore-end and buttplate/screws to finish up the stock it currently has. The stock itself will need to be repaired, theres a nasty crack running down the wrist but isn't too bad that it's too far from being repaired. I will just have to epoxy and pin it. Won't look pretty, but it saves me 170 dollars US from buying an intact stock.

Mines an 1894 model with the supported breech block. Planning to only shoot SV .22lr through it once that liner gets worked in.

How do you folks feel about refinishing these? I'm thinking about doing a plum finish across it, maybe with a blued barrel, but we'll see what happens when I get this thing going.
 
I enjoy my Stevens a lot. 32 rf was I little expensive and not reliable so I started thinking could it be converted to center fire. 32 short and long colt cases are perfect. The problem was the bullet. The original steps down to fit in the case. Bullets main diameter is the same as the outside case diameter. Find a mould or have one made. Before I decided to have one made I decided to try making bullets on my lathe. My chuck pieces are aluminum so I spun out the nose profile. Bullet goes in and stops at the same depth every time. Set your your cutter up for proper diameter,inside mouth diameter and how far you want the bullet to go in case. Easily repeated. Takes about an hour for 240 bullets. The first few rounds I was using 4f black powder. Fill the case and seat the bullet, I knew it was safe. I ended up finding 32 long colt data so I use that now. I had a couple of extra breach blocks. One I modified by drilling and changing the angle of firing pin. Firing pin was made out of a finish nail. I am over 700 rounds with no problems.

Sounds like you have 'r sorted but Jethunter (member here - jetbullets. com) sells the correct heeled bullets and they work well. Old West Molds sells the correct mold and they have a heel bullet crimp die for these. Also converted my 32 (and my 25) Favorite to CF. I have a bunch of .32 Short Colt brass and make my own .32 Long Colt brass by swaging down .32 S&W, takes a bit of time but they last seemingly forever.
 
I have the Favorite's big brother, a Model 44 in .22LR. I believe it is a late one, made in the 1930s.
It is in fine condition, the bore is excellent, and it shoots really well. I retrofitted a Lyman 17 globe front sight (altered the sight dovetail to fit the barrel, not vice-versa), and a tang sight.
 
I'd love a 44 (or even better, a 44&1/2). Despite the design shortcomings of the Favorites, the styling is gorgeous.

I have a couple of 1894's in .25 & .32 and recently picked up a 1915 in .22; I've also got a variety of their smaller "Boy's Rifles". The .22 1915 also has a tang sight with a globe front and I need to look at that one and figure out if the sights are original or if they were added.
 
94 front globe

I'd love a 44 (or even better, a 44&1/2). Despite the design shortcomings of the Favorites, the styling is gorgeous.

I have a couple of 1894's in .25 & .32 and recently picked up a 1915 in .22; I've also got a variety of their smaller "Boy's Rifles". The .22 1915 also has a tang sight with a globe front and I need to look at that one and figure out if the sights are original or if they were added.

These are 1894 sights , I don't have a 1915 with a tang sight
they should be the same Lymans.
 

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Stevens Favorite 1894

Stevens Favorites .22lr
#1 Complete Re & Re - Rex in Sask.
#2 Re Barreled (factory ?) Model 17
#3 Original Model 19 ( Lyman Tang & Globe Sights)
 

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Stevens 418 Information

I'm looking for more information on the
Stevens 418 & 418 1/2 .

thnkz in advance .. skwerl
 

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Stevens 418 Walnuthill Jr.

New to the Arsenal is this Stevens 418 in .22 lr ( some .22 short)

Lyman 144 tang sight , Front Globe ( #55 ? )

Single shot , 66 cm (26'') bbl. , 2950 gr ( 6.75 lb )

Searching for production numbers & the Canadian population
of this Stevens Model .( 1,000 or 1,500 )

They were manufactured between 1932 to 1947 or
1930 to 1942 or ?

Any others out there or more information is eagerly
awaited.

thnkz in advance .. skwerl
 

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Hi Skwerl:
I have one. Mine doesn't have the scope blocks on it.......very few marks in the wood and strong case colours. Marked H849 on the lower tang [hand stamped].
DeHaas book says they were intriduced in 1932 and discontinued in 1940. Same 26" barrel........wTc
 
Picture search brought up a Gunbroker auction.

You the buyer?

It looks like a nice rig!

Well, for a Stevens Favorite trying to be a target gun. Unless its based on the 44 action, in which case, it's a decent rimfire target gun.
 
About 4 pounds lighter than the 417's, the 418's were called juniors.

What type of tang sight is that? It looks like a Lyman base with a King upright on it.
 
Favorite Things

"These are a few of My Favorite Things"
**Hey Happy New Year** ... skwerl
 

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