Frank de Haas in his book Single Shot Rifles And Actions says about 1904.Jay Kimmel, Savage & Stevens Arms Collector's History says  about 1904. Bill West, Savage and Stevens Arms & History says 1902. The 1902 Stevens catalog, page 25, under the description of the Model Ideal No.44, under Ammunition states: For special calibres and extras see description of our No.44 1/2 rifle, wich has an entirely new action. I also could find no actual description of the 44 1/2 or any other mention of it in the 1902 catalog. My best guess is 1902, but god knows when they actualy reached the general public. It took me almost a year to get my hands on the Savage / Stevens model 30 in .17 HRM after Savage announced it!

Page 43 of Grant's "More Single Shot Rifles" shows a Stevens invoice dated December 2, 1903 for a 44 1/2 rifle. Too bad no serial number is given as that would give us a general idea of how many had been made up to that time.

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