Most people who have even a passing interest in the J. Stevens production rifles (and pistols) and who have done any amount of reading on the subject knows the story regarding the disposition of the company's corporate records at or about the end of WW II.

      I am most interested it pursuing the subject of what is remaining of the original written history of the company and it's activities during the entire period of it's existence, i.e., prior to the Savage acquisition.

      There are any number of historical repositories containing records which were external to J. Stevens and which did not meet with the process of purging undertaken by the company.  An example would be the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

       I have prepared a preliminary plan for uncovering as much information from "official sources", but would like to hear from any of our constituents who either have a desire to participate or who have information to share.

       Please advise.

        Creedmoormatch

I would definately be interested in seeing what you can come up with. I would be willing to help if there is anything I could do. I accumulate any thing I can that is Stevens. Have a fair collection of resource books, old and new, reprinted cataloges, and any original stuff that I can afford to buy when I come across it. I am also interested in a Stevens orginization of some sort if possible. It seems to me that there should be enough Stevens collectors out there to justify some type of orginization. I know a guy in St. Louis Mo that is into pistols. Also a vendor at the New Berlin Ill gun show has a collection. There has to be more of us out there.

Stevens collectors are an elusive bunch!   Since the information on Stevens firearms is so full of holes most people have more questions than answers. The 44 1/2 is probably one of the easier models to figure out dates, etc. since the production was so limited in both numbers and time frame.

Sure hope something can get started on Stevens! There are more Stevens collectors than people realise, they just don't have a place to share info, or a good resource book to document the products.
I remember Marlins and Ballards being in a similar situation before Brophy's Marlin book, and Dutcher's Ballard book. The change was dramatic after Bill wrote the book on Marlins. Prior to that they were cheap, and common, but afterwards the prices really climbed!
Keep that in mind. It's a double edged sword, so if there's better info, then the prices will skyrocket!

Ken,

This is only my opinion or best guess.  My understanding is that Stevens moved the extractor from a side position to the 6 o'clock position in 1900.  I have a 25-20 SS with a 25 RF barrel, # is in the 26XXX range. It has a center extractor. I have a 28-30 on a 44 action, same center extractor.  IIRC, Stevens only made the 28-30 on a 44 action from 1900 until the 4 1/2 came around in 1903 or 1904.  The 28-30 has a # in the 28XXX range.  And I have another 25-20 SS on a 44 action, same center extractor, with a # in the 43XXX range.  My understanding is that Stevens continued making the 44 action for rimfires and for the 25-20 SS until the Depression.  Whatever you learn, please keep us posted.

Waterman

Lets go back to the original post. I for one am interested in a Stevens orginazation or website. Some place for us Stevens nuts to gather and share info.

Last time I checked I had over a hundred guns with the Stevens name on them. I have a few pistols but most are rifles with a shotgun or two thrown in. I have the books you mentioned plus everything in print that I have found over many years. I am definately interested. Who do we have to convince??

I am interested in Stevens              collecting and think a Stevens catagory  on this website would be good.   I have three old Favorites and always looking for the next one to restore.     JB