All of the factory records were burned by Westinghouse right after WW1, to avoid having them become evidence a Congressional inquiry.  

By my own survey, which I've only just started, a 46xxx  s/n would put it somewhere in the mid to late '20s.  I think.  Manufacture of the plain Model 44 ended in about 1932, (according to Frank deHaas).   The highest s/n I've seen on a .25-20, (so far) is 52xxx.   

It's possible to date some Model 44s a little closer, when they are in the 1894 to 1903 area, due to feature changes which can be correlated to dated catalogs.  Catalogs are the only signposts we have, unless somebody has an original sales receipt with date, or some other such document.

It's also pretty certain that anything in a caliber bigger than .32-20 is pre-1903. In that year they started with the Model 44 1/2, and dropped the 44 action for everything but .22LR, .25 Stevens, .32 Long RF, .25-20, .32-20, and maybe .25-21 on special order.

It seems to me that there were no obvious feature changes in run-of-the-bog Model 44s after 1903, but I haven't looked very hard at the post-WW1 (i.e. Savage ownership) period. 

Model 414, which used the 44 action, was 1912 to 1932.   The Model 417, which was .22LR only and had a plain round barrel and other features, started in 1933, when the 414 was discontinued, and ran until 1947.   I have read that serial numbers of those get into the 60xxx range.  Never seen one to verify, though.  

I'm open to correction on any statement I've made, so fire away.....

Phil W.

Thanks, I'll add that to the database.  Unless Stevens did some numbershuffling, that pushes  Rick's  back to early 20's. Maybe.

I have been doing the same o serial numbers.  From my records the 78xxx number should be a Savage marked rifle.

You can also list the 25-25 as made in the 6 o'clock 
extractor guns. I have serial number 3033x.

Det

Just added this one to the survey.   

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Go take a look, but cover your keyboard first, to keep the drool off it.

Yes, that's the way those scopes were mounted from the factory.   Note that there is no dovetail where the ordinary rear sight would have been.  They specifically say in one of my catalogs that the normal dovetail will be omitted when the scope is specified.

Det, mine has no sign of Savage markings on it, just Stevens on the action and J. Stevens Arms Co. on the barrel.

uscra112 wrote on Jun 9^th, 2014 at 12:07am:

I have seen the dovetail cut into the barrel just in front of the receiver for the rear ring itself to dovetail into, but hadn't encountered the rear barrel dovetail purposely cut larger than the dovetail size already existing on the rear ring itself. Seems strange to remove more metal than necessary, which then requires an adapter to "fill the gap", so to speak. From what I've encountered, for the front dovetail, the dovetail cut on the front ring was cut sized to fit directly into the existing large Steven's size front dovetail.
Always something new to see.

I thought so too - that the checkering doesn't look right.  But I'm less than expert on that subject.   

According to one source, they made so many Favorites that the s/n would have been too long, so they started using a new letter periodically.    418's are supposedly on the Favorite frame.   

So, 417's started a new number sequence, it would seem, but 414's continued as from the beginning.   Since we know (I think) that the 414 ceased production in 1932, that puts an upper bound on that s/n sequence.

The checkering on that 44 is not only too coarse, but very amateur. Nothing that poorly checkered would have ever gone out the door at Stevens. It may well be Stevens wood that someone added checkering to at some later date. A lot of Stevens single shots were sans checkering, so maybe someone wanted it added to make it "special".

Phil W.

Thanks for the reply.  I thought that a barrel branded as mine would come from a gun prior to the sale to Savage in 1920.  The only marks on the receiver is the serial number on the bottom tang. No oval with svg anywhere I can see.

BTW, the barrel has been sleeved.  I assume that is not factory original, and diminishes its value.

frnkeore wrote on Jun 9^th, 2014 at 1:01pm:


Grant  thought so.  He wrote that that the New Ideal 107/08/09 series started at about 2000, and the Model 44 at 3000.   I'm assuming that too until something upsets that applecart.

Quote:


My 44/45 DST is 18,040 with the 6 o'clock, center extractor. It may have been, orginally ordered for a teen boy or a woman, as it had the #2 Schuetzen butt plate and a #2 barrel.

Frank

There is a 414 currently on Gunbroker #90039. Two of them listed. They have been re listed a time or two.

It is time to add my ideas.
1) Grant was right all swinging block Stevens large frames are in one serial number run.
what my notes show is as follows
Side plate actions low serial 41 high 1257
100 actions         low 2023   high 2629
44 w/ one piece bolt and 7 o'clock extractor
low 3267  high 14842
44 w/ two piece bolt and 7 o'clock extractor
low 15329 high 16269
44 w/ two piece bolt and 6 o'clock extractor
low 17108 high 62644
44 w trade mark stamped reciever and change to case colors low 71245 high 

My thinking is that the trade marked reciever and change in case color was the start of the Savage production.

Det

number 62644 is a coil spring.

Det

Interesting. I was just looking at the 1912 catalog. By then the Walnut Hill was on a 44 1/2 action and SSTs and DSTs were no longer available for 44s. Barrels were available up to 34 inches and in .25 or larger you could get a smokeless powder barrel for $3 extra and in No 2 or 3 weight only, a nickel steel barrel for $6 extra. Wonder if these barrels were marked differently?

Are you looking for sideplate info? Large frame or small frame or both?

Texasmac posted a reference that led to a Model 47 with a SN of 26140, which the seller claimed was made in 1910.  Any ideas as to why the seller was certain the year was 1910?  WAG?  My guess would be a few years earlier.

I have my spreadsheet assembled.  About 40 listed so far. If anyone wants a copy, P/M me with a direct email address, (or tell me how to do attachments using the forum email).

BTW I turned up one for sale last night that does have what is claimed to be the original sales receipt, dated 1899.

Yes, so far as I know that's original.  None of mine have a spring with a hole, and that includes my 1894 Model 108.

Favorite model numbers are two digits, 17, 18, 20 for the smoothbore version, etc.    Those 4 digit numbers that are so often referredeto are dates of introduction for new versions.  As I get it, there are 1889s, then 1894, then 1915.   I saw and passed up what I now think was an 1889 at a gun show in April.  Shoulda bought it, even though it was a wreck.  

I know little about Favorites, since I'm much more interested in the Model 12 and Model 101 in the boy's rifle category. 

Dont know if this data is of any value, but there were three Model 44 barrels on ebay (i missed out on the good one!!).
1.  s/n 15632, J Stevens A & T...APR 17 94, .25 RF.
2.  s/n 26088, J Stevens A & T...APR 17 94, 22 LR.
3.

Quote:


Rick-- 
       Your illustrated main spring is correctly configured (shaped) and correctly positioned in the action, but may not be an original O.E.M. part.  In order to opine that the spring is original O.E.M. J. Stevens, I would need to hold the spring in my hand for 20 seconds.

If it works the action, is that not enough ?

No one knows for certain when your Model 44 was made, so be accepting of that fact.  Unless you locate and consult with a clairvoyant.

C.M.M.

I have seen various theories on what happened to the Stevens records. Sort of like who really killed JFK? Lots of theories but no one will probably ever know for certain.

Back in 1953, when I was 13, I found a book in our local library called "Merchants of Death".  The book was about those American firms who profited from the sales of weapons during the 1914-1918 war.   

(My aunt was the librarian and pointed out the book.  That's probably why I remember the details.).

Anyhow, the writers of the book wrote that Westinghouse burned the Stevens records.

That's a very common mainspring arrangement, both for Favorites and for 44's.  The spring should have a slightly concave end to keep it indexed on the peg, and the metal at the rear of the frame and inletting in the grip area of the stock will keep it from wandering out in any case.

There was a guy (think his name was John Kubelka or something) who sold aftermarket springs of that type for several years.  They would primarily fit Favorites, but would work on 44's too, in a pinch.  I e-mailed him about a year ago but he'd run out of stock and wasn't planning on making any more.  I should have bought a couple extras, I guess.

The shape of the spring is crucial.   The geometry of the 44 action moves the force vector from the spring much closer to the hammer pivot as the rifle is cocked, when using the OEM spring shape.  This is why good 44s have such a light trigger pull, and require so little effort to cock.   Use spring of the wrong shape, and this advantage is negated.   

Look at the geometry of the last 44 - the model 417 - to see how to negate this feature entirely.   

Sadly, the design wisdom of Joshua Stevens seems to have been forgotten or ignored by his successors.

Quote:

Hi Waterman --

Am I correct that it was some time ago that you read this particular book?  Most published authors are scrutinized by proof readers, and then editors. 

Are you certain that the words "alleged to have burned " were not included in that sentence ?

C.M.M.

bent_ramrod, thanks for the reply.  My spring has no such concavity, and I was thinking of grabbing my die grinder and adding one.  My spring must be a replacement.  Now if I can just find my die grinder.

uscra112 wrote on Jun 9^th, 2014 at 5:17pm:


Just so that you can update your list again, I just bought a Stevens 44 in .25-20SS that is just slightly higher in serial number than your previous high number (your barrel #61,674) with my rifle being #61,820.  26" half round / half octagon with a 6 o'clock extractor.

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I also see that there is another 44 Stevens in .25-20SS very similar to the one I just bought in an upcoming Canadian auction that is listed as serial number 79,810.

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It has the flat main spring in it.  Off to the gunsmith tomorrow to get the trigger worked on.  My gauge only goes to 6.5 lbs. and the hammer still did not fall.  No hair trigger for sure!

I believe someone on the list has a very late 44 with a coil spring.

cheatin_charlie wrote on May 8^th, 2019 at 4:18pm:


What is the barrel rollstamp?  J.Stevens A&T, or just J Stevens Arms?  That number is right on the break in my database.  And what sights does it have?
Phil

Thanks!

LarryLee wrote on May 20^th, 2019 at 1:45pm:


Thanks, Wayne.  Actually yours is interesting.  That's the lowest s/n yet which has the J. Stevens Arms Company barrel rollstamp.  This would help define where in the s/n sequence the manufacture was taken over by Savage, save that there are many more of later s/n that bear the old J. Stevens A & T Co. stamp.  My surmise is that you have a replacement barrel there.  Whenever a 44 received a new factory barrel, they would have stamped the original s/n on the new barrel, since barrels do not interchange from one receiver to another.

It will have the 7:00 extractor, and the breechblock and lever pivot screws will be .288 diameter, more or less.  

Model 44s start in 1896, at about s/n 3000, and the last of the side extractors with one-piece screw pivots falls at about s/n 14500.  We think that the change to the two-piece pivots occurred in 1899 or 1900, based vaguely on catalogue references.  So 13781 would likely be 1898 or 1899.  Can't be more precise than that.

Phil

Any guess on when my 44 in 22LR, s/n 69762, might have been made?

Thank you.

It appears that with the advent of the 44-based Model 417 in 1932, Stevens started a new serial  number sequence.  This was, quite obviously,  well after the end of WW1.   Models 44 and 414 stayed with the original Model 44 sequence which began at about 3000 in 1896, and ends up in the 90,xxx range. The last 44/414s were made in 1933, according to Phil Sharpe.  

Model 44 1/2 rifles had their own sequence as well, chronologically beginning in 1903 and extending to 1915 or thereabouts.

Some photos of 8193 would be of interest.  Pull the forearm and read the numbers stamped there?  The 28" barrel was optional in that period, and seems unusual for a .32 Rimfire.  It will have the screw breechblock and lever pivots. The shank diameter of those would also be of interest.  The number falls in a transition zone; earlier the screws were about .258" diameter, later increased to .288" diameter.  This specimen will help narrow down the range.

Thanks!
Phil

Thanks!  That pretty much answers the questions.  It's a bitza.  (Bitza this and bitza that.) I'm more guilty than most of creating rifles like that from wrecks and evilBay parts.  

Still very interested to know the actual shank diameters of the lever and BB pivot screws.  It would help narrow down when the transition from .258" to .288" occurred.

Thanks, Dennis!  #8193 pushes the lower bound for that transition up by quite a lot, from #6939.  Closing in on the upper bound, which is #9225, the lowest number that I have positively identified as having the .288" screws.

Thanks for the serial number feedback, Phil. It is hard to get a grasp on the ranges. It might be interesting for someone to attempt a side by side graph of different model serial number ranges like yours. I wonder if there is a "War gap"?

I'm not sure if you're still collecting Model 44 Data.  I recently won an auction for a Mod. 44, number 2983x in 25-20 SS.  It has the barrel sight and what looks like the original front Beech type sight and a Lyman tang sight. Let me know if you need any additional info.

Just read thru this thread. Hopefully add to accounting of serial #
Have a Model 44 Ser. #65872 in a 25.20. 

MAH

Sadly there were no sights on the rifle when purchased. The barrel is half and half 26 inches long. The roll stamp just has the word Stevens. The reciever has no markings other than the serial number which matches the barrel.
Rifle had been lined with a red man liner, chambered to .22 lr. Sadly the liner is for a .22 short. It has now re built as a .22 lr, sporting a 26 inch Green Mtn barrel and new stock. This 44 was my introduction into the world of falling blocks. Started the disease with no cure.

MAH

FYI I have a Stevens 44, #77992, 25 RF, 26" round barrel, sporting rear sight, folding combination front, rear tang drilled with two small holes for tang sight but never had one mounted, case colored action, 6 o'clock extractor, I in circle on left rear of barrel and on left side of receiver, Stevens on left side of receiver but no outline, J. Stevens Arms Company on barrel, "S" and "O" on front of receiver.  Rifle is in excellent original condition and bore is like new.  Any other information I can give let me know.  Thanks, Wally Smith

I have a Stevens Model 47, but not the "range rifle", with a 44 action. The lever is not the common style and not the loop.  But the barrel is marked with the conventional Stevens stamps, SN on barrel is the same as SN on action.  Barrel is marked 25/20, standard Stevens markings.  But the groove diameter is .251 and the twist is 1:17.  Front of action is marked 47 and EX, as well as the mysterious 0s.

uscra112 wrote on Feb 12^th, 2020 at 11:53pm:


You already have the rifle in your database.

I' one of the .251 faction.  I think it is just an example of sloppy work & poor supervision at Stevens A&T, not a special order.  I think the EX was for a better-than-average stock & buttplate and a non-standard lever.

I have a couple of Stevens 44 that may be of interest.

A coilspring action with a full round barrel in .22lr.
#76437. It has a checkered trigger,I thought the trigger checkering was custom,but I've seen another late model 44 with the same checkered trigger.

I have a 44 A&T rifle in .22-15-60,with a higher serial number than you would think at #55144.

Another pic.