Good morning Booger--

You are correct in your understanting that the two J.Stevens actions are quite different.  The M-44 came first and was of the "swinging block" design and the M-44 1/2 came later and is of the "falling block" design.

I shall not differentiate the two designes right now, other than to stay that the falling block action is stronger by virtue of the fact that the breech block is provided more strength by it's supporting mortise walls. 

There are other nuances in the way J.Stevens used model numbers to catalog the two style actions.

The CPA action is a modern reproduction modeled after the J.Stevens M-44 1/2 made in Pennsylvania and used for schuetzen, and other disciplines of competitive shooting.

Welcome to the ASSRA forum and hope you enjoy your time here.

C.M.M.

CMM,
I believe 44 1/2 actions which were originally made for the .22 RF etc...have that forward screw. Something to do with an ejector...?
Terry

Best way I've figured to tell them apart every time for sure is the receiver wall is higher and more rounded on a 44 1/2 where it drops down from the receiver ring.

John

Quarter Bore has the easiest way to tell. Just look at the bottom of the receiver and it is a no brainer. From the side is a little more difficult but once you get familiar with them the profile is definitely different. The extra screw on the .22 is there and makes it a little more difficult to tell if it is a .22. The centerfire's do not have the extra screw and also make it easier to identify the 44 1/2. It took me a while to figure it out when I first got into the 44 and 44 1/2's.

What you are finding is that most auction houses, like most gunsmiths are woefully ignorant about single –shot rifles, actions and especially equipment. Even a casual look through almost any catalog will show easily identifiable mistakes. That doesn’t even account for scopes that are sold as X20 or X24 and show up clearly marked X15. The current attitude is sell it at all costs and see if the buyer will be angry enough to send it back. 

40 Rod

Quote:


Great idea, but I'm going to have mine made up with  1/2 PENTAGON and the other 1/3 fully round;
The remaining 1/6 will be cut off as scrap.

No, it would be a DoD contract.

CMM

The flip side is that sometimes they think it is a 44 and it is a 44 1/2 and price it accordingly. Cabellas had one like that several years ago and someone snapped it up before I could jump on it. Another one that is often misidentified and hard to recognize if you are not familiar with it is the 418, 418 1/2.