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powderhead
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Stevens Sure Shot
Jul 6th, 2011 at 7:11pm
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I don't see any rules against this, so I am going to mention that there is a Sure Shot listed under the antique section on Gunbroker.  It's not mine, and considering the opening bid, it's not going to be mine.  I currently have two; one in poor condition and one in real nice shape.  Other than that, the one on Gunbroker makes only the fourth one I have ever seen.  It is nice to see others to compare mine with.  With 2 days to go, there are no bids yet.  It'll be interesting to see what happens.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #1 - Jul 6th, 2011 at 8:32pm
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Powderhead
That is the one I was asking about. I have only seen one myself. Several years back at the Belleville Illinois gunshow. Condition was poor. I passed on it at $100 or $150 because of the poor condition. Big mistake! I am still thinking about this one. Price is nuts, I think, but it would not be the first time I paid too much for a gun I realy wanted. Sometimes I get a deal. Sometimes not. I do not think that I have bought a scarce gun that I have ever regreted.
  
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powderhead
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #2 - Jul 7th, 2011 at 8:36am
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Slumlord, I am sorry.  I just didn't see your post just under mine, or I wouldn't have started a new thread.  As far as the value of this one goes, I would like to see it sell for over the opening bid, as that increases the value of mine.  However, I believe this one is about $700 too high.  I would consider buying it at $1000, but not much over that.  I sent pictures of my two to a collector in Texas who said my better one was in the $1000 range, and it is in better shape than the one on Gunbroker, except the sights on mine aren't original.  I believe he was going by Flaydermans values which I believe are not relevant to a gun as rare as these.  Another Stevens collector looked at mine at the Louisville show this spring and mentioned that he sold one in comparable condition for $2200.  I have another in fair - poor condition that I gave $550 for that I was pleased to get at that price.  I saw one at Louisville this spring similar to my poor one that had an asking price of $900.  Also, I heard from my Texas friend of one at a show in Dallas this year in about 80% condition for $1200 that did not sell.

I hope these prices I have mentioned will help give you a basis for making a bid on the one on Gunbroker.  I guess you have to ask yourself how many opportunities you have to get one of these at any price.  I hope you can make it yours. 

If you do a search you'll find some pictures of mine that I posted sometime this spring.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #3 - Jul 7th, 2011 at 10:09pm
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Powderhead, Thanks, this is the kind of information that I was looking for. I would be interested in seeing the photos of your guns. If you could post them here or email them to me I would appreciate it. I am still thinking about bidding on this one. Sort of like the Stevens Bisley that I have. Price was realy not something I worried about when I bought that one. Condition was not pristine on it but it was so rare that it did not matter.
  
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powderhead
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #4 - Jul 10th, 2011 at 1:13pm
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Well, I wasn't able to follow the auction for the Sure Shot to its closing; did it sell?
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #5 - Jul 10th, 2011 at 3:03pm
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Yes, I decided to bite the bullet and put in the minimum bid at the last 5 minutes of the auction. I looked at my 2007 Standard Catalog of Firearms today and maybe I did not pay too much for it after all. Price was about right according to it and that is a 2007 price. It was the one Stevens Boys rifle that I was missing. Of course you could probably never get all the variations that were made and I do no know if I am ready to part with enough cash to buy a Favorite Ladies Model. I have had my hands on a couple at a Kansas City gun show several years back. Would like to have one, but high dollar.
  
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powderhead
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #6 - Jul 10th, 2011 at 6:04pm
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That seller posted the owners phone # on that auction.  I tried to call this afternoon to see if had sold.  I was going to see if they were going to re-list it or what.  I was prepared to offer them a handsome price for it, but less that their minimum bid for sure.   

Well, I am glad you got it though.  It is a pretty decent one, and the listing said the bore was good.  Of the three I have actually handled, the bores have been poor.  I expect we will hear more about it when you get it in hand.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #7 - Jul 10th, 2011 at 10:15pm
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I will let you know how it looks when it comes in. When it was first listed there was no return policy listed. I questioned this and he then added a 3 day inspection period. I hardly ever buy anything without and inspection period. That way if there are any major defects I am only out shipping. I have bought from him once before and had no problems as I recall. The only one I had looked at and passed on was a total mess including some missing parts and a sewer pipe for a bore. I do plan on shooting this one. CB shorts or target shorts only.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #8 - Jul 20th, 2011 at 8:47pm
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The Sure Shot arrived today. The bore is actualy a lot better than I expected. It is not perfect but nice and shiney with hardly any noticeable pits in it. The gun locks up about as good as you can expect with a gun that originaly sold for a few dollars and is over 100 years old. The hairline crack in the stock is actualy a split and it has been glued and is clamped in my woodworking vice at this time. I shot several CB's and Targetr Shorts through it at 50 feet and actualy got a group under an inch with the shorts. Good enough for a small kids gun. I will not try Long Rifles in it. I would never describe it as sturdy.
  
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powderhead
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #9 - Jul 21st, 2011 at 12:19am
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I'm glad you're happy with your new gun.  I envy the good bore  in yours.  The bore in both of mine kinda suck.  In fact, in my poorer example, you can hardly that there was ever any rifling in it.   The rifling in my nice looking gun is poor at best.  I don't know if it would even spin a bullet.  When you get time, let's see some pictures.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #10 - Jul 22nd, 2011 at 1:20am
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Here are some photos from the Gunbroker Listing. (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links) (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)[IMG]http://i940.photobucket.com/albums/ad242/slumlord44/StevensSureShot6.jpg (You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)[IMG]
I went through a couple of my references again. Anybody seen one with a blued frame? How about other sighting options like tang or peep sight? 
It also seems funny that one source says they were well built and another says they were fragile. Hope the photos are of interest.
« Last Edit: Jul 22nd, 2011 at 1:40am by slumlord44 »  
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powderhead
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #11 - Jul 22nd, 2011 at 2:37pm
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I think you got a good honest example of a very rare gun.  

My first one either has so little chrome left it can't be seen or it was blued.  I tend to think is a blued one.  My second is in real, real, nice shape other than the bore.  It has the holes for a tang sight (minus the filler screws), but I see no evidence that one was ever on it.  However, I do suspect there was one at one time early in its life.  I say that because the sights are not original.  The rear is a Lyman folder patent 1891, and the front sight of undetermined origin.  I think that rear folder was due to a tang sight being used.

I know a guy in Texas who told me that he knew of a man out east that has eight of these.  When I asked if he could put me in touch with that guy, he said he had lost his contact information, so it looks like its just you and me, Slumlord.  I'm in central Illinois, and  something makes me think you are south of me somewhere.  Maybe we could get together at a gun show sometime.  I wouldn't mind bringing mine along for you to see

Would you mind sharing the serial number - even to the nearest hundred?
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Sure Shot
Reply #12 - Jul 22nd, 2011 at 7:31pm
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Mine has no serial # that I can find. It is supposed to be on the lower tang.  James Grant in his book Boys Single Shot Rifles refers to an example with serial #3827. He seemed to think that there must have been many made based on the serial #. From everything I have learned so far, you can't rely on Stevens serial #'s for much of anything. My gun does not have holes in the tang for a tang sight. Frank de Haas refers to a No. 23 with plain open sights, a No. 24 with the same peep and globe sights as on the Stevens Tip Up Pocket Rifle, a No. 25 with a Beach front sight, open rear sight, and Vernier tang sight, and a No. 26 with a  front bead sight and a Lyman tang rear sight. According to Bill West in his book Savage and Stevens Arms and History there were approximately 75,000 made. I personaly doubt that anywhere near that number were made. See PM I am sending you.
« Last Edit: Jul 22nd, 2011 at 7:57pm by slumlord44 »  
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