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Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies) A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think (Read 12888 times)
ssdave
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A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Nov 29th, 2009 at 1:26am
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This is almost enough to make a guy cry.

I'm considering buying it, though.  I'd love to have the sight.  I'd be pleased to have the lever.  Both of them would enhance my #45 stevens with double sets greatly.   

The 404/414 receiver I'm sure would be greatly appreciated by someone with one in poorer shape as the colors are great and the condition is excellent.  A correct lever and you're in business.  The action internals are in good shape.  The buttstock is in great shape, and would restore a plain jane 44 nicely.

The worst part of the crime was the forend.  What were they trying to do?  Maybe put on a side mount scope?  That's a model 46 or 47 barrel and forend, with perfect checkering and no chips or splits.  And no way to reasonably repair the notch.  The funny spot is the light glaring, not a defect.

What do you think?  The asking price is $700.  My opinion, the sight is worth $250 to $300.

dave

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westerner
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #1 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 1:46am
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Thats not so bad. I have a Hepburn 25/20SS barrel and forestock that was ground flat on the left side for a scope mount. Along with about six stripped screw holes. They didnt even take the forestock off before they ground it!

Now back to your prize Stevens. Since we're spending your money, I say BUY IT!  Tongue

I'm going to bed, and I'll sleep well knowing I just helped you. Goodnight.


                                 Joe.  Smiley
  

A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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thop
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #2 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 10:14am
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dave,

Can we assume it is still a rimfire?

Terry H
  

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38_Cal
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #3 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 12:12pm
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To us, today, as collector/shooters, it is a crime.  Taken in context of when it was done, 50 to 80 years ago, it was making a rifle usable for the owner.  Military collectors today cringe at the thought of Pachmayr side mounts on Garands, or Griffen & Howe sporter Springfields.  Looking at the photo, it would take some major work to make the modification disappear, and it's probably not economical to do it today.  That's not to say that should you buy it and repair it, it wouldn't break even or give a profit ten years down the road should you want to sell it.   

David
  

David Kaiser
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waterman
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #4 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 1:03pm
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I'm with David on this.  I have a really nice Low Wall that the original owner drilled & tapped for a Weaver N mount.  I twisted my knickers for a bit.  Then I found a Weaver N mount and a J 2.5 scope. A friend made a forearm from an old Carcano stock, and that's how it is.  Perhaps you should just try and find a scope mount that fits the Stevens victim, add a suitable scope and enjoy it.

None of us has enough time or $$ to restore them all.  Not everyone who goes to the hospital comes out restored.   

waterman
  
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #5 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 1:44pm
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Aw heck----- its only money.
Smiley
  
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ssdave
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #6 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 4:31pm
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Well, the guy that has it has several nice single shots, so it's not an accident, it's that way for a reason.

There are a minimum of two rifles, maybe three into that one.

The lever and forend are from a higher grade pistol grip double set 44 action.  The barrel doesn't have a rear sight notch, so it's from a 46 or 47 or such. The receiver is a 414 or 404.  I think the buttstock is original to it because it has a shotgun butt, not crescent.

The interesting thing to me, and the reason I posted it, is the strange juxtaposition of pieces.  A low value (at least a few years ago) receiver in near perfect condition. A high value forend and lever (even in DeHaas's day, he recommended not working on high grades, lower grades could be had for $10 or less).  Put together, it doesn't even make an attractive rifle.  The lever looks very poor with a single trigger and straight grip action.  And, to top it all off, the rifle is chambered for 25 hornet, on a 25 rimfire barrel.

The real question is what happened to the higher grade receiver?  Blew up and the pieces used to rebuild a common action?  The real hard find to rebuild something out of this wreck would be to find the double set tang to go with the lever.

Who knows!  Interesting when one of these odd ones comes up.  I'ts hard to imagine exactly what someone was thinking.  The thing I have to remember is that there weren't the resources of the internet a few years ago to help someone assemble the right pieces, and to get full value out of rare mismatched pieces that might be in his posession.

dave
  
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MAD MIKE
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #7 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 7:34pm
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Dave; That's a 414, 404's were on 44 1/2 actions. I got a set of DST's of Ken Briesen's before he sold to Paul Shuttleworth,,,maybe CPA will sell thier DST's, then;;;you still need a P/G stock, have to repair the fore end then might as well have the barrel relined......PASS.....MIKE
  
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slumlord44
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #8 - Nov 29th, 2009 at 9:27pm
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$700 may be a little high, BUT, the sight is probably worth close to $250. The forearm can be repaired by the right guy. I do not know much the lever is worth. Depends on if you can use or sell enough parts. It is definately worth more in parts than the gun itself.
  
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ssdave
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #9 - Nov 30th, 2009 at 11:19pm
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I decided to pass at the $700, but I just checked and it has sold to another person.   

I already have both a long loop lever and a ball and spur, and I can always buy an MVA sight to fit, so not a big loss to me, especially at the price.

It was an interesting conglomeration of parts, anyway. 

dave
  
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creedmoormatch
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #10 - Dec 3rd, 2009 at 3:35pm
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     Dave;   
              I was going to offer you a lever just as pictured in your posting ... put you say you already have one.

           Perhaps someone else needs such a loop lever ?

    Creedmoormatch
  
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #11 - Dec 6th, 2009 at 11:54am
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the fore arm most likely may have been cut for a removable palm rest!
irish
  
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rabid badger
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #12 - Mar 24th, 2015 at 9:56pm
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Maybe someone on this topic can help me.  I acquired a Stevens 414 that was mounted to a wall in a Ryan's restraraunt.  They drilled holes in the stock and forend to lag bolt to the wall.....no problem....for a shooter I will plug them.  I noticed two holes drilled and tapped on the left side of the reciever and a milled out section for the rear sight to be attached to the right side.  I then noticed a notched out section of the forend on the left....likely for a mount that those two holes were from.  Is there a common side mounted scope mount?  I know the collector value is shot to hell but everything is there and functions.
  
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Dr.Maynard
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #13 - Mar 25th, 2015 at 6:18am
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Hello R. Badger ---

A photo would help our readers identify the severity and extent of the alterations / abuse to which your M-414 was subjected, so maybe later when you get the time try to do that.

The wood alterations, to the extent that they exist, are not particularly difficult to correct.  There are a number of sources for duplicate replacement forearms and/or butt stocks.  My first choice for J.Stevens wood is CPA Rifles in Pennsylvania.

For abandoned screw holes, the solution would be to measure the diameters and thread pitch of each such hole and then purchase what are referred to as "blind screws".  If you already know the term, please excuse me repeating it.  Blind screws have no head, but do have a screw driver slot cut into the shank in order to place the screw even with the metal into which it is inserted.  Of course, the blind screw may be removed at some future time if the need to do so ever occurs. 

If the tapped holes are numerous and of a greater diameter than #10 screw, you may want to confer with your favorite gunsmith for his/her evaluation of the situation, particularly focusing on the strength integrity of the firearm.

The fact the someone has "milled" a section of the action / receiver metal gives me pause for concern which I relate to you for further investigation and assessment by a knowledgeable professional.  The milled (missing) metal was there originally in the original design and is now missing equates, to my way of thinking, to a weakness in the firearm.

Please do not risk your safety, nor the safety of those around you, by shooting a firearm which has been altered inappropriately.  Only an experienced and qualified firearms expert who has the necessary experience in such matters can advise you on the questions and concerns you have asked about on this particular firearm.
  
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rabid badger
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Re: A Stevens Crime - tell me what you think
Reply #14 - Mar 25th, 2015 at 8:36pm
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Dr. Maynard, I have attached some photos of the reciever.   Notice the trimmed wood on the forend......I believe tzus was done foe a scope mount and would explain the milling for the rear sight on the right.....maybe the original owner wanted iron sights and a scope.What I notice different compared to other 414's....my barrel is not marked in any way.  It chambers a LR with problem.  I am torn between stripping down and coating to make a shooter or restoring as much as possible.  I would love to find out what mount was on it.....right or wrong I would  put it back to what the original owner had.
  
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