dibbler wrote on Dec 25^th, 2013 at 6:12am:


Let me get this PERFECTLY straight before I blow $200 on this book:  you're telling me that it contains SIGNIFICANT information about the history of Stevens NOT found in the works of genuine authorities like Grant, Roberts, Sharpe, DeHaas?  

I don't need to buy another book like Stroebel's Old Scopes, which anyone who's studied the subject ought to be able to see was mainly plagiarized from other sources, Roberts, Whelen, Sharpe, etc.

Bent_Ramrod wrote on Dec 25^th, 2013 at 3:32pm:


He wrote several outstanding articles for the Rifleman, however:

"Those Stevens Rifles" (12-1-26)--first general history of Stevens ever written;

"The Scope Sight You Can Afford" (7-27)--Stevens scopes;

"Boys and Rifles" (11-27)--mainly Stevens boys' rifles;

"The Stevens Ideal 44-1/2 Action" (7-30);

"Sighting 'Small Deer' Rifles" (8-31)--mainly Stevens;

"Rim Fires and Game (11-31)--again, mainly Stevens.

Stevens was often mentioned in other articles.

A few years ago, I suggested to the editor of the Rifleman that some of his pieces be reprinted--there are enough to make up a book.  His response:  "Are you kidding--no BLACK rifles?"  Actually, I'm kidding--I GOT no response...as if a mere Benefactor member was entitled to such a great favor.

On Tedmon himself, there's "Allyn H. Tedmon, Godfather of Stevens Rifles," in the late, lamented Precision Shooting of Dec. '99.

I stand by West's first edition as being the best out there. Tons of photos of actual guns from collections. Not just a collection of excerpts from old catalogs which is what Strong's book is. It is a nice book but one that does not meet your criteria. West's book is in chronological order which is good in some ways and bad in others. Looking at a copy before paying $200 would be a good idea. Think I paid $100 for mine several years back and consider it money well spent. Grants books are good with much good information but you would need all of them to have good coverage of all the guns and West's book has more info in one book and has great photos of original guns. I wish I had kept good records on how much I have spent on reference material on guns over the years. Just bought a great book on Remington .22 Rifles that just went out of production. The good thing is that the good books are like the good guns, the prices keep going up if you sell later on. Sure wish I could come up with copies of the American Rifleman articles on Stevens mentioned by Redseter. I would gladly pay someone a fair price for photocopies of these articles if they have the original magazines.

The ASSRA archives has complete sets of the Rifleman along with a lot of other valuable reference information that is accessible to members.   That is the purpose and intent of "our archive" and why part of our Association dues are used to support it.   

I'd not be surprised if our Archivist might not be induced to copy and put together a package of those articles for members.  If he sees this thread he might already be working on it and making a master file of the copies for further need.

Members can also borrow books so you might want to check as see if those books "you need to look at before spending $200" are available for loan.

I'd also like to suggest that in making plans for the long-term future of our personal collections; we give consideration to placing reference material in the ASSRA archives for the use of future single-shotters.   

Just as a minor post-Christmas rant :  We, myself included are often frustrated by a lack of information about interesting single shot information on the gunsmiths, guns, loads, bullet design etc etc etc of an earlier era.   I ask, rhetorically of course, if WE are doing OUR share of providing our single shot shooting descendants with the information we generate and collect; or are we also contributing to the historical data vacuum.

You'll have to contact him to be sure. But, making copies for members for educational purposes may be one thing; actually posting on-line might be another, from a legal/copyright standpoint.

Its been a while since I had to deal with copyright issues and the laws have changed in some areas.

QuestionableMaynard8130 wrote on Dec 26^th, 2013 at 12:18pm:


Thanks to the congressional votes bought by lobbyists for the publishing & movie industries, copyright has been extended to cover everything produced later than about 1920.  The US Congress--best that money can buy.

Reg wrote on Dec 26^th, 2013 at 11:54am:


I'd be more than willing to pay for the articles to offset the cost, if that's even possible these days.

Lauri,

I would gladly pay just about anything for NRA:
Stevens
Model 44 rifle      5/l8/40, 7/ll/40
Model 44½ rifle      7/l3/30, l/45/35, 5/l8/40, 7/ll/40, 5/24/80 

How do I actually order these?