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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) An early Favorite (Read 30020 times)
uscra112
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #45 - May 17th, 2016 at 6:36am
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coljimmy wrote on May 16th, 2016 at 11:59pm:
Thanks for the hint, mine, s/n 51697, has the last three stamped across the lower inside of the buttplate upside down.  The plate measures 0.102-0.104 thick and looks like it was case hardened on the inside.  The bare wood under the plate appears to be numbered with a faint 69 with some sort of marker, room for a 7 but not visible.  Real quality not seen nowadays.
James


I have to admit that I've long looked down on Favorites as just cheap toys, but the one that started this thread has changed my mind.   
  

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Redsetter
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #46 - May 17th, 2016 at 9:26am
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uscra112 wrote on May 17th, 2016 at 6:36am:


I have to admit that I've long looked down on Favorites as just cheap toys, but the one that started this thread has changed my mind.  


You doubted that "it is simply impossible to make more accurate shooting barrels than are on this rifle," as asserted in the Favorite ad shown in Plate 2 of Boy's SSR?  No need then, it follows, to keep saving up for a No. 52 or 54, except to get the engraving & nicer wood.
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #47 - May 17th, 2016 at 10:46am
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Allyn Tedmon's writeup on the Favorite in Grant's More Single Shot Rifles should set anyone straight on the quality of the little rifle.  They were made to a price, but were not cheap toys.

That's why the Stevens company is my favorite marque.  They did not cultivate dangerous-game hunters and did not hanker after military contracts (at least before they were bought out by some soulless conglomerate).  They went after the market that included plinkers, target shooters, woods loafers and gun-crazy kids.  Single shot rifles were not just something to plug into a repeating rifle product line; they were Stevens' product line.  They set their prices to the affordable level and put the quality where it was needed.  They thought everybody should have a single-shot rifle.  How cool is that?
  
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Redsetter
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #48 - May 17th, 2016 at 11:53am
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Would appear Stevens spent a larger portion of their advertising budget on Favorites, & other boy's rifles, than on all their other rifles combined.  (Shotguns are a different matter.)  The following are all full-page, large-format, ads from publications like Youth's Companion.
  
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uscra112
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #49 - May 17th, 2016 at 12:27pm
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Bent_Ramrod wrote on May 17th, 2016 at 10:46am:
Allyn Tedmon's writeup on the Favorite in Grant's More Single Shot Rifles should set anyone straight on the quality of the little rifle.  They were made to a price, but were not cheap toys.

That's why the Stevens company is my favorite marque.  They did not cultivate dangerous-game hunters and did not hanker after military contracts (at least before they were bought out by some soulless conglomerate).  They went after the market that included plinkers, target shooters, woods loafers and gun-crazy kids.  Single shot rifles were not just something to plug into a repeating rifle product line; they were Stevens' product line.  They set their prices to the affordable level and put the quality where it was needed.  They thought everybody should have a single-shot rifle.  How cool is that?


That about sums it up for me, too.   I've now got at least a dozen Model 44, 45, 108, 47, and 44 1/2 rifles, plus two Favorites. One is a 1915 that I rebarreled.  From that experience I can see that this early square-corner one is a lot better made.  I think I mentioned before that the case hardening of the breechblock is so deep that I had to break it with a carbide tool before I could ream for the oversize link pins I installed.  Didn't have to do that on that 1915, nor any of the Model 44s I've done.   

@Redsetter - Thanks for posting those old ads !   Love to see that kind of stuff.
« Last Edit: May 17th, 2016 at 12:32pm by uscra112 »  

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uscra112
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #50 - May 17th, 2016 at 12:50pm
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Redsetter wrote on May 17th, 2016 at 9:26am:
uscra112 wrote on May 17th, 2016 at 6:36am:


I have to admit that I've long looked down on Favorites as just cheap toys, but the one that started this thread has changed my mind.  


You doubted that "it is simply impossible to make more accurate shooting barrels than are on this rifle," as asserted in the Favorite ad shown in Plate 2 of Boy's SSR?  No need then, it follows, to keep saving up for a No. 52 or 54, except to get the engraving & nicer wood.


I confess to have been lumping them in with the Hopkins & Allen, Remington, Flobert, and Davenports which I have collected in years past.   Mea culpa.
  

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ledball
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #51 - May 17th, 2016 at 2:27pm
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In the 1940's if you sold a wagon-load of cloverline salve they would give you a Stevens Favorite. Mom & Dad ended up buying a lot of salve.  Ledball
  
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #52 - May 21st, 2016 at 10:32pm
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Given comparable condition, are the early square cut Favorites more valuable than the later models?
One with little finish sold as part of a pair (with a later, brown patina model) for $240 today.
  

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uscra112
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #53 - May 21st, 2016 at 10:36pm
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Rebel wrote on May 21st, 2016 at 10:32pm:
Given comparable condition, are the early square cut Favorites more valuable than the later models?
One with little finish sold as part of a pair (with a later, brown patina model) for $240 today.


I don't think many potential buyers know what they are.  I bought the one that started this thread for $300, and I was the only bidder.
  

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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #54 - May 21st, 2016 at 10:59pm
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Seems like I might have blown it then, I bid $230 and thought that was enough given the condition of both of the 22's
I'm still thinking about that 25-21 I missed.
  

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uscra112
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #55 - May 21st, 2016 at 11:06pm
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Rebel wrote on May 21st, 2016 at 10:59pm:
Seems like I might have blown it then, I bid $230 and thought that was enough given the condition of both of the 22's
I'm still thinking about that 25-21 I missed.


Condition is everything.  That $300 got me a rifle that with very little work is almost as good as new.   
  

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Redsetter
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #56 - May 22nd, 2016 at 10:04am
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Rebel wrote on May 21st, 2016 at 10:32pm:
Given comparable condition, are the early square cut Favorites more valuable than the later models?
One with little finish sold as part of a pair (with a later, brown patina model) for $240 today.


Where the hell was that???  I've never seen ANY gun sell on Gunbroker that wasn't at least moderately, if not grossly, overpriced.
  
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uscra112
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #57 - May 22nd, 2016 at 4:01pm
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True, about 95% of their listings are dealers with stars in their eyes, (or greed in their hearts), but every so often a bargain shows up.  Usually an individual who wants to SELL, rather than wait months or years for the Greater Fool.  Gotta troll the site thoroughly at least once a week to spot 'em .

  

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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #58 - May 22nd, 2016 at 5:23pm
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Quote:
I've never seen ANY gun sell on Gunbroker that wasn't at least moderately, if not grossly, overpriced.


I think part of that, as far as private one time sellers is, they look through the adds and see something similar for sale. Naturally think theirs is better so it goes on at a bit higher price. 

They don't realize that the ones they are gauging their price on have been being relisted for the last 2 years because it is over priced for what it is.
  
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Re: An early Favorite
Reply #59 - May 22nd, 2016 at 6:14pm
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Redsetter wrote

Where the hell was that???  I've never seen ANY gun sell on Gunbroker that wasn't at least moderately, if not grossly, overpriced.

Kramers Auction
I should say $240 + 20%

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