ASSRA Forum - Stevens 417 and 418 action size

ASSRA Forum › General › Collecting Single Shot Rifles › Stevens 417 and 418 action size

(Moderator Group: Moderator)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Page Index Toggle

Pages: [1] 2

Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies)

Stevens 417 and 418 action size (Read 16474 times)

thop Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 271 Joined: Jan 12^th, 2008	Stevens 417 and 418 action size Feb 7^th, 2009 at 1:20pm	Print Post
	While researching information on Stevens 417 and 418 actions I came up with a question related to the size of the action. Frank de Hass, in the section of his book "Single Shot Rifles and Actions", dealing with 44 Ideal rifles, stated that the 417 was "...the finest action of this type ever made." and eluded to it being the final refinement of the 44 Ideal action. I had always assumed the 418 also used the basic 44 Ideal sized action. During my research I discovered articles which refer to the 418 using the 1915 Favorite action, which of course is considerablly smaller than the 44. Other information I have read discusses both the 417 and 418 being chambered for the .22Hornet, although my 1968 Wahl's Gun Traders Guide lists the .22 Hornet available in the 417 but not the 418. If the 418 was built on a 1915 Favorite action I do not believe Stevens would have chambered it for .22 Hornet. Does anyone have examples of both of these rifles? Are they indeed the same size action or is the 418 Smaller? Thanks Terry

	thop
	IP Logged

MAD MIKE Oldtimer Offline Posts: 655 Location: So Cal Joined: Oct 31^st, 2006	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #1 - Feb 7^th, 2009 at 8:05pm	Print Post
	terry, I've owned 418's & 1915 favorites,but not at the same time & it seems to me that the 418 was a little beefier.as far as being chambered for .22 hornet that was the 417,& that didn't last long because the higher pressures created headspace problems eventually.I own a 417 1/2 (sporting model) & a few 44's now & the 417 is definately afiner action. just MHO. MIKE


	IP Logged

slumlord44 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2850 Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254 Joined: Dec 21^st, 2007	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #2 - Feb 7^th, 2009 at 11:02pm	Print Post
	I do not thing the Favorite action was not used on the 418. I am looking at the 1933 Stevens Catalog. 417 weighed 10 1/2 to 11 pounds with a 28" barrel. The 417 1/2 weighed 8 to 8 1/2 pounds with a lighter 28" barrel. These were chambered in .22 Hornet for 2 years. I have one in the hornet. The 418 weighed 6 to 7 pounds with a 26 " barrel. It was advertised as having a new heavy Junior Ideal take down frame. It was also advertised as having the same Original Ideal breech block as the 417. They also used the same Lyman 144 Tang sight that was used ONLY on the 417's and 418's The Favorite had a 24" barrel and only weighed 4 1/2 pounds and was also takedown. I have a 417 1/2 and a 1915 Favorite but do not have a 418 to compare it to. Looking at the weights of the rifles ,and the Ideal Breech block used on both guns,it seems unlikely that the 418 used a Favorite frame. Anyone else know for sure?


	IP Logged

thop Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 271 Joined: Jan 12^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #3 - Feb 8^th, 2009 at 2:41pm	Print Post
	Mike/Slumlord, Thanks for the response. The attached URL contains an article titled "Stevens Favorite Rifles and Closely Associated Versions" by an unknown author on Wisner's parts site. I've read it several times, as others have that are interested in old Stevens single shots, but I had not payed much attention to the description of the 418 and 418 1/2 rifles until now. The Paul Wahl Gun Trader's Guides were always a good source for this type of information but the two I have ('68 and '81) make no mention of the actions being different sizes. It is interesting in that although it does list the .22 Hornet for the 417, that roffering is conspicuously missing from the discription of the 418 and 418 1/2. I believe that if the two actions had the same lineage (44 Ideal) they would have both been offered in 22 Hornet when they first came out, even though we know it was dropped later. Interesting stuff. Thanks for your input guys....Terry (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)

	thop
	IP Logged

Warkshop Junior Member Offline Posts: 84 Location: Kimberley Joined: Apr 7^th, 2006	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #4 - Feb 8^th, 2009 at 8:04pm	Print Post
	Terry You need to get a copy of deHass's "MORE SINGLE SHOT RIFLES AND ACTIONS" in which these two actions are discussed between pages 85 and 90. In summary, the 417 is a refined 44 action and the 418 is an improved 1915 Favorite action modified with higher side-walls over the breech block and a curved lower tang for a pistol grip stock - weight of a 1915 Favorite action is about 20 oz and that given for the 418 is 24 oz. Thickness is .930" for the 1915 Favorite and given at .945 for the 418. deHass also states that the catalog illustrations used for Model 418 rifles appear to be the same as the ones for the Model 417 but that this is not in reality the case as the Model 418 and 418 1/2 were much smaller in size being comparable to the Favorite. He closes the section with the comment that these were the best of all the many boys rifles that Stevens made. Bill


	IP Logged

BP Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 8039 Location: Westside Joined: Aug 27^th, 2006	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #5 - Feb 8^th, 2009 at 8:55pm	Print Post
	Just curious, but was the 418/418-1/2 barrel a slip fit into the receiver like the Favorite or was it threaded in? BP

	There are three kinds of men: The ones that learn by reading, the few who learn by observation, and the rest who have to pee on the electric fence and find out for themselves. Proud Noodlehead
	IP Logged

thop Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 271 Joined: Jan 12^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #6 - Feb 8^th, 2009 at 9:06pm	Print Post
	Bill, Thanks for providing the information from de Haas's book. I have seldom seen a 418 available for sale and the recent appearance of one on GUNBROKER had peaked my interest. I'm also interested in the question BP posed. Does "MORE SINGLE SHOT RIFLES AND ACTIONS" indicate whether or not the 418 barrel shank is threaded? Thanks again Bill. Terry

	thop
	IP Logged

Warkshop Junior Member Offline Posts: 84 Location: Kimberley Joined: Apr 7^th, 2006	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #7 - Feb 8^th, 2009 at 10:30pm	Print Post
	Terry, BP deHass does not state that the barrel was or was not threaded. He states that quote "Actually, the 418 action is not unlike the Stevens Model 1915 Favorite action, different from it only in that it has a curved lower tang for a pistol grip and higher side-walls over the breech block. Just as the Model 1915 Favorite action is an improved version of the M-94 Favorite the No. 418 is an improvement over the Model 1915" This suggests that the barrel in not threaded - I would expect that if the action was threaded for the barrel, deHass would have noted the fact among the changes from the 1915. He does state that the Stevens catalog states that the barrels were tested for accuracy. One photo shows a barrel set screw but the 44 and 44 1/2 also have these. Have never seen or handled a 418, do have a couple of M-94 and a 1915 and prefer the 94's. Trust this helps. Bill


	IP Logged

slumlord44 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2850 Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254 Joined: Dec 21^st, 2007	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #8 - Feb 8^th, 2009 at 11:08pm	Print Post
	I would tend to think that it is not threaded. The 1933 catalog that I was looking at last night indicated that the 418 was a takedown. The 417 was not described as a takedown. This would imply that the 418 was not threaded if it was a takedown. Now I guess I am going to have to try to find a 418 to buy so I can check this all out!


	IP Logged

dennismc Junior Member Offline Posts: 60 Location: Eureka, CA Joined: Jan 17^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #9 - Feb 9^th, 2009 at 2:12pm	Print Post
	I own several 418s. The barrels are not threaded...just a slip fit with a dimple on the shank for the set screw to tighten into.


	IP Logged

thop Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 271 Joined: Jan 12^th, 2008	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #10 - Feb 9^th, 2009 at 3:02pm	Print Post
	Ahaa! I knew if we thrashed around for awhile someone that actually owned one would get flushed out Thanks for your post dennismc. Slumlord, BP, Bill, Mike, thank you also for the interesting and informativ edialogue. Terry

	thop
	IP Logged

rkcal22 Ex Member	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #11 - Feb 9^th, 2009 at 8:22pm	Print Post
	.


	IP Logged

rkcal22 Ex Member	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #12 - Feb 9^th, 2009 at 8:22pm	Print Post
	.


	IP Logged

rkcal22 Ex Member	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #13 - Feb 9^th, 2009 at 8:23pm	Print Post
	last one


	IP Logged

rkcal22 Ex Member	Re: Stevens 417 and 418 action size Reply #14 - Feb 9^th, 2009 at 8:29pm	Print Post
	Hello, This is the first time posting with photos and I had to get my daughter to do it I'm better with a rifle than a computer. I hope you can see the size difference between the 417 and 418. Without a doubt the 417 is larger. The scope on the 417 is a Lyman Targetspot in 10x and might have been put on when new. I have also included an ad from a 1932 magazine, look at the prices. If any other onfo is needed just ask. Richard


	IP Logged

Page Index Toggle

Pages: [1] 2

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

« Board Index ‹ Board Top

Top

ASSRA Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.6.12!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2025. All Rights Reserved.

Valid XHTML

Valid CSS

Powered by Perl

Source Forge

Page completed in 0.5664 seconds.