I had intended to do a article on these but finally decided my writing days are over.
This is the first model that started them all:

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These Model 55's were based on the small frame side plate model, but lack the removable side plate.

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They were followed by the Model 21.

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All the time the drop block Ladies model were made, Stevens offered deluxe features for Favorites. When you priced them out, they were much more expensive than comparable Ladies model. I had to turn to my always logical wife for an explanation. She pointed out that when a rich father want ed buy his son a special rifle, he would not pick out one sold as a "Ladies model". This is one of those rare Deluxe Favorites. 

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Stevens saved the best for last when they brought out the Model 56 based on the 0 44 1/2.

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That's an excellent question. As you can see they both are threaded. I was sure I had one without the right angle rear receiver cut and not threaded, but when I went to get them out to take the pictures I couldn't find it.

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Beautiful rifles. Still have one of these on my bucket list. Finally got an English Model a while back in . 25-25 and just bought one in .22 Long Rifle. The Ladies Models have evaded me so far. Hard to find and expensive when you do find one. Only actually saw one once at a gun show in Kansas City many years back. Guy had a couple but they were out of my price range at the time. Wish you would do the article. Would love to see it.

Those are all beauties! Thanks for posting the pictures!

Great Photo's !!!

I have an old photo of "lt'l Miss Sur-Shot" (Annie O) holding what appear's to be the first Model you show in your post !!!  Better Eye's than mine will confirm this as soon as I find it .....

Good work !!!

Ed...

Actually you had it right. Many years ago a number of her firearms went up for sale. What was interesting was many of her rifles were smooth bored.

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I noticed that your model 21 Ladies is an early one, before the 1903/04 ? lever change that added the spring loaded plunger to bear against the link.

Again some nice examples of the Ladies model.

WCF

It is also my understanding that factory Stevens records do not exist. Wish there was one all inclusive reference book on Stevens but I doubt it will ever happen. I have what I consider to be a good collection of books that include Stevens and to put all that info into one book would be a monumental task and would be a REALLY big book. Sure makes collecting and documenting them a challenge at times.

Simply look at the extractors changes they did on the Fav, and compare them to the 44 1/2 time frame.

The 44 1/2 came out in 1903 with the spring loaded plunger bearing on the link.

Then all of a sudden the Fav and 44 have the same system, but the Fav had the lever redesigned to clear the hole for the spring.

Also look at the 25 Stevens cartridge, some date it as 1903. but the Stevens catalogs show it in 1901. Lots of side extractor Fav out there in 25 cal, which corrensponds with the extractor change to center style. Again look at parts lists and you will see patterns of internal changes that can be dated.

Figure an year for the factory to use up parts, but they had to keep a few on hand for repairs, and you can work out a time line of certain changes.

The M21 you have has the S shaped lever, which was only used on the side extractor, and the first type of Center extractor, with the .240 wide top. That is the two normal extractors you encounter with that shape of lever.

Yes the factory records are gone, but they left an trail of catalogs, and parts lists for you to pick thru

I have tracked down and have sample rifles of 6 different shaped Favorite extactors, and if you look at them you can see the production style changes they did.

I guess I have just come from it using a different point of view.

WCFMetalsmith

The collective knowledge displayed around here amazes me.  Observations of subtle variations by many individuals, gained from numerous sources and years of experience, all freely set forth in an attempt to enlighten all of us.  And, it is all the more valuable, especially because of those lost records.

Thank you.

Kudos, gentlemen.

Oye am I ever late on this one! Up here in Canada and locally in southern Ontario I have found a deluxe Stevens that some industrialist father bought for his son. It was the early square frame corner type action , single trigger , straight grip super deluxe wood, swiss butt plate, .22 caliber. This must have cost the father a bit more than the ladies model. You just can't give a boy a ladies rifle you know - it just doesn't jive! It was the one and only small frame deluxe rifle that I have ever seen in 40 years.
There were many S/S clubs out here back in the day. Some interesting gents from Michigan showed up at the events. Ahhh those days!

Life#75 wrote on Sep 23^rd, 2015 at 4:51pm:


In regards to Canada and Stevens, Ken Cope who wrote the book on Stevens pistols and bicycle rifles moved from here in Wisconsin to Canada.