Stevens Little Scout 14 1/2 in action

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NorthCoastBigBore

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My 5 year old middle daughter using it at the Rimfire Shoot a fellow is kind enough to put on every week here. She braved the rain to come out and ring some reactive targets. YA her form is off in these pictures, I was helping her when she actually fired. Not her first rodeo, but still learnin'.

This particular Little Scout I got from a CGN'r and it is GORGEOUS. Original bluing and case hardening, and I have to say it is surprisingly accurate despite the fixed sights. The LOP is very short, just right for a little girl. Production of the 14 1/2 was from 1910-1932 although the barrel length on this one indicates 1910-1924 (they lengthened it after '24).

For anyone not familiar with the Stevens actions, these are NOT strong actions (same with the Favorite, don't let the under lever fool you) and although they are marked "Long Rifle", these are not up to modern high velocity ammunition. The breech blocks (including the Favorites) pivot on very thin pins, which wear and/or bend under modern pressures (often manifested by drooping levers in the favorites). IIRC only the 44 and 44 1/2 are actual falling block actions.

So at any rate she is shooting CB Longs in this case (which are within the safe pressure range for this model), which are plenty of fun for her and I find, pleasantly accurate. Fun rifles to shoot, and I think really nice rifles to look at.

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That is so neat. :)
Hope to get our almost 5 year old Grand Daughter to the range this summer, so far her only visits were for Easter Egg Hunts.
I envision her first day back at Day Care: "So dear, what did you do at your Grandparent's cabin on your holiday?"
"My Grampa taught me how to shoot his guns, how to skin a squirrel and gut a fish."
Teacher feints, Grand Daughter is the new Day Care hero to the kids and I get a visit from the RCMP.
Thanks for the info on the Stevens, I've been looking for a Stevens Crack Shot like my late Father-In-Law had when he was a kid. He's a very special man to me, he started me on this gun nutz pastime. Like to get something that is shootable.
 
Thanks guys, yes hoping she enjoyed it enough to go more often. My oldest started out shooting a fair amount, now she's more interested in other stuff. That's all right. I have a .36 caliber frontstuffer sort of 80% complete for her as well.

Iron Glove, the Crack Shots came in two varieties. One had a thumb lever, the other I think was an under lever. For a shooter, consider avoiding the thumb lever style. Both use VERY thin pins and a very slight breech block; I had to replace one the other day in a thumb lever model that was using the broken end of a nail setter to keep the breech block in place (!!). I had to carefully bore out the pin holes and turn new pins and make a new thumb lever and bushing for it. The pins I REPLACED the original with only measured 0.148" and I'm guessing the originals were something in the neighborhood of 1/8" (0.125"), or slightly larger than that. Use of modern high velocity ammo in those not only wears them out, but has potential to be very dangerous and without warning.

The thumb levers also rely on a rather poorly designed system of a bushing with a "tooth" on it that engages the hammer and rotates the breech block; the steel is not hard and they wear out. Replacing the thumb lever is OK if you have the tools but if you have to buy the parts, they are scarce and $$.

But if you can find one and it is tight (or can be made safe) then these are a blast to shoot (pun intended)! Great for the kids also - I know the schools do get a little weird about the shooting references although my daughters' has been decent, lots of the teachers grew up here so they know what hunting is (and know who I am, or my family is - so they've been good!).
 
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Thanks Northcoast for the info.
I think Stevens ( Savage ?? ) made a newer version of the Crack Shot ( Favourite ?? ) not too long ago and maybe that's what I'll look for.
Have a Savage Cub that is my very petite Wife's and that's probably what my Grand Daughter will start with. Her Mom and Dad have no problems with me doing this, they think it's kinda cool. :)
 
Iron Glove said:
Thanks Northcoast for the info.
I think Stevens ( Savage ?? ) made a newer version of the Crack Shot ( Favourite ?? ) not too long ago and maybe that's what I'll look for.
Have a Savage Cub that is my very petite Wife's and that's probably what my Grand Daughter will start with. Her Mom and Dad have no problems with me doing this, they think it's kinda cool. :)
Click to expand...

You are right - I forgot all about those! Would be a great choice. All the styling coupled with the modern upgrades.

That sounds great, I am sure you will have a ton of fun with your grand daughter!
 
NorthCoastBigBore said:
My 5 year old middle daughter using it at the Rimfire Shoot a fellow is kind enough to put on every week here. She braved the rain to come out and ring some reactive targets. YA her form is off in these pictures, I was helping her when she actually fired. Not her first rodeo, but still learnin'.

This particular Little Scout I got from a CGN'r and it is GORGEOUS. Original bluing and case hardening, and I have to say it is surprisingly accurate despite the fixed sights. The LOP is very short, just right for a little girl. Production of the 14 1/2 was from 1910-1932 although the barrel length on this one indicates 1910-1924 (they lengthened it after '24).

For anyone not familiar with the Stevens actions, these are NOT strong actions (same with the Favorite, don't let the under lever fool you) and although they are marked "Long Rifle", these are not up to modern high velocity ammunition. The breech blocks (including the Favorites) pivot on very thin pins, which wear and/or bend under modern pressures (often manifested by drooping levers in the favorites). IIRC only the 44 and 44 1/2 are actual falling block actions.

So at any rate she is shooting CB Longs in this case (which are within the safe pressure range for this model), which are plenty of fun for her and I find, pleasantly accurate. Fun rifles to shoot, and I think really nice rifles to look at.

P7E916b.jpg


LLQh397.jpg
Click to expand...
Thats pretty awesome she looks like she enjoyed it alot. I am just wondering if you or anyone knows where I can get a firing pin and thumb lever for the little scout 14 1/2 and hopefully somewhere in Canada since the other places I have found keep saying cant ship to Canada and I live in alberta
 
Ha ha ha WOW ten years - yeah she's upgraded a little but all her favorite guns made the ban list.... !

Andrew Flyberg: I had another one of these that needed the thumb lever and I had to make my own, could not find one at the time - very doable but time consuming. You have to fit to the rifle especially if there is any wear. These are VERY weak actions. That particular example I still have and it looks like it's probably been shot more by my kids in the last ten years than it's been fired over the past 100.
 
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