ASSRA Forum - Stevens Reference Book

ASSRA Forum › General › Collecting Single Shot Rifles › Stevens Reference Book

(Moderator Group: Moderator)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Page Index Toggle

Pages: 1

Normal Topic

Stevens Reference Book (Read 6540 times)

slumlord44 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2850 Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254 Joined: Dec 21^st, 2007	Stevens Reference Book Apr 17^th, 2009 at 9:50pm	Print Post
	Just took delivery of a reprint of A Short Illustrated History of the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company by Joseph T. Vorisek, Copyright 1992. Cornell Publications has it for $22.95 + shipping. Have only had time to give it a quick once over. A lot of the information is covered in other references that I have, but I see a lot of info that is new to me. If you have other Stevens references, it is still worth the money. If you do not have any other Stevens books, it is a very good reference to start with. Quality is excellent for a reprint, as usual for Cornell.


	IP Logged

red_stevens Ex Member	Re: Stevens Reference Book Reply #1 - Apr 17^th, 2009 at 11:34pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the review to this book. I was considering purchasing it and your review has helped me decide. I was wondering if you have a copy of the Kenneth Cope book "Stevens Pistols and Pocket Rifles" and what you think of it. Its tough to come by now and I was considering purchasing it as well. Thanks again! Red


	IP Logged

slumlord44 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2850 Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254 Joined: Dec 21^st, 2007	Re: Stevens Reference Book Reply #2 - Apr 18^th, 2009 at 1:05am	Print Post
	I have a leather bound copy, #65 that I think I paid around $100 for. Way more than I thought it was worth at the time, But it was a limited edition and when I got it it was like new. Have not read it thouroughly yet, but have gone through it enough to get a good idea. I would recomend it if you can get the standard copy for a fair price. Mine is amost too nice. I will read it but want to be prety careful with it. The Vorisek reprint is a bargin to me for the money and all the info in it. Have been going through it some more tonight while my internet access was down and there is some very good info there. I am one of those Stevens nuts that prety buys anything in print that I can find if the price is anywhere near realistic.


	IP Logged

red_stevens Ex Member	Re: Stevens Reference Book Reply #3 - Apr 21^st, 2009 at 12:49am	Print Post
	I just bought the standard copy of Stevens Pistols and Pocket Rifles and look forward to its arrival. Its shipping from the UK so I may have to wait up to 6 weeks. It will try my patience. Slumlord, thanks for your helpful input. I am particularly interested in the Stevens pistols so I will hold off ordering the other book until I see what the Cope book has to offer. I may not need the other book. Thanks again Red Stevens


	IP Logged

BrianJ Participating Member Offline Posts: 34 Joined: Nov 29^th, 2007	Re: Stevens Reference Book Reply #4 - Apr 21^st, 2009 at 6:38pm	Print Post
	If you can find a copy try "A History & Digest of" "The J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company" by Harold Strong 1993. Its another worth having. BrianJ


	IP Logged

slumlord44 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2850 Location: Lebanon, Illinois 62254 Joined: Dec 21^st, 2007	Re: Stevens Reference Book Reply #5 - Apr 21^st, 2009 at 10:23pm	Print Post
	Strongs book is also of interest. Got one directly from him, signed by him, at a local gun show back in '93 or '94. Savage & Stevens Arms & History by Bill West, 1971, is one of the best Stevens references that I have found. A little hard to find. There has been one on GunBroker forever with a $400 minimum bid. The guy is way off base. I paid $45 for mine at a gun show a couple of years ago. J. Stevens Arms Catalogues-1875-1899 by Bill West, 1970, is of interest. Savage & Stevens Arms Collectors History by Kimel is good also. I have found that the reference books are as interesting as the guns. Knowledge is power when you are buying this old and unusual stuff. The 418 and 418 1/2 I just bought were reasonable because the sellers did not know what they were and I did. My primary interest is rifles, but I have a few pistols and am always looking for a deal on one. The Stevens Catalog reprints from Cornell's also make good reading.


	IP Logged

Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 4070 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: Stevens Reference Book Reply #6 - Apr 22^nd, 2009 at 7:04am	Print Post
	Bill West's books that include coverage of single shot rifles are quite good for their time, but watch out for a lot of mistakes and questionable information/opinions. I have both the Winchester SS and the Marlin/Ballard books he wrote and referred to both quite frequently until they were just about memorized. West self-published those things years ago, so there never were that many in circulation, and IIRC, he has been dead for at least ten or more years, so mint copies of his books are beginning to appreciate, but I agree, $400 is way out of line!! I have also dealt with Cornell a few times and find them to be a great source of information through their unrivaled selection of reprints of catalogs, etc. I was pleased to see they have even gotten permission to reprint the old Wolff book on the Nunnemacher Ballard Collection. Froggie


	IP Logged

BrianJ Participating Member Offline Posts: 34 Joined: Nov 29^th, 2007	Re: Stevens Reference Book Reply #7 - Apr 22^nd, 2009 at 4:59pm	Print Post
	Slumlord, I used to live in Chesterton and miss that Valpo show. bjm


	IP Logged

Page Index Toggle

Pages: 1

‹ 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 0.5696 seconds.