marlinguy wrote on Dec 10^th, 2016 at 10:15am:


Before ebay and the internet, the very few Stevens scopes that showed up at gun shows were always priced like "museum pieces."  But when pickers & others began listing them on ebay, it became apparent that a lot more had survived than I'd previously believed, and the prices got a lot more realistic.  Not that you don't still see them listed at ridiculous prices--right now there are two on ebay that have been listed for months with no takers.

It really depends on the Stevens scope model and length. The shorter Stevens scopes like around 17" versions 248, 268, 331, 338, etc. can be found with good optics and straight tubes for $250-$325. 
But the longer the tube, and the older the model, the prices jump quickly. Condition can also make huge leaps with all old scopes, so a Stevens with perfect optics and excellent condition will bring easily 50% or more over average scopes.
The long 26"-32" will get double what the short Stevens get in equal condition. People love the old long scopes in decent shape, or any complete shape!
I buy old external adjustment scopes often, and rarely see the Stevens come up for sale in nice condition, and good glass. When I see them they're usually kinda beat. I picked up two long Stevens scopes this year. One at a match in Eastern Washington with 30" tube for what I felt was a bargain at $700, and another good buy on a 24" tube for $500 with brand new optics, and in excellent outside condition.
Often I have to buy an old gun to get a deal on a nice scope, and then sell the gun to recoup the difference.

marlinguy wrote on Dec 10^th, 2016 at 2:46pm:


True, but the irony of this is that Stevens long scopes, the Favorite models, were the cheapest in their line and had the crudest mounts!  Their one and only advantage was easy mounting by use of existing sight slots. 

The two you mentioned were excellent buys, but I really don't like using them (i.e., hunting or otherwise walking around with the gun in your hands) on anything heavier than a Favorite, or other short-barreled gun in the 4 lb. or under weight class.  Only one I still have is mounted on a #3, 30" brl, and it's too clumsy to be anything but a bench gun.  It's 32", the longest Stevens made, but that's still 2" too short for a 30" brl.

marlinguy wrote on Dec 10^th, 2016 at 5:58pm:


You've been grossly mislead (perhaps by some of the malarkey about Stevens made up out of whole cloth by John Campbell?).  Stevens purchased the assets of the defunct Cataract Co. at a bankruptcy sale in 1901, so it would have been impossible for Cataract to have mfg. Stevens scopes, and by mid-1902 were advertising their new scopes in Shooting & Fishing. The first (lavish) Stevens' catalog appeared in 1903, which you can buy in a cheap Cornell reprint (which doesn't begin to match the beauty of the original, however).

"Favorite" was the only model name ever applied to the long scope, and although its mounts went through several improvements over the years, "No. 1" was the only designation applied to them from 1903 until the last catalog under Savage ownership, which you can confirm in Cornell's reprints of these later catalogs. The ends of the adjustment screws on my No. 1 were so "un-flat" they worked like cams until I squared them off, and the lack of a binding screw in the rear mount means they can be accidentally moved.

I don't doubt Stevens scopes wound up in Malcolm mounts, either because the buyer preferred a fixed rather than sliding mount, or just wanted to use mounts he already owned; likewise, you see Feckers in Stevens mounts, Unertls in Lyman mounts, etc.  But there's no reason to believe Malcolm ever supplied mounts to Stevens when Stevens was mfg. their own in several variations, and in fact the Malcolm Co. was on a downhill trajectory by the time Stevens introduced their first scopes.  The best "asset" Stevens acquired in that bankruptcy auction was the services of F. L. Smith, the most talented scope builder of his time, so they most certainly had no need to "borrow" from the fading Malcolm Co.

It looks like you did Well!

Thanks both.  As I was looking at the sight, I got another surprise.  It's not a No. 2, it's a Lyman 103 Wind Guage.  I see those are pretty collectible too.  On scopes, this one does have blocks for the Unertl, and one open dovetail.  Not being a scope guy, I'm wondering how ugly the barrel will be if I remove the blocks.  Are they drilled/tapped in?  Then I could put some headless screws in, that wouldn't be too bad.  The .22 short barrel has some filled holes too. As I'm getting older, maybe a scope would be good. 

I would want a scope that has reasonable optics, even if not exactly 1916 period.  Perhaps a Winchester B5?  I have a couple of Mossbergs, from generations later (1940s), and a Weaver B6.  They are horrible little scopes compared to my Lyman Targetspot Jr, and this Unertl.  What's a good scope, from the 1920s period that would look better, but actually work for small bore silhouette?  A Fecker?

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AZshot wrote on Dec 11^th, 2016 at 7:42am:


If you're talking about MVA's B5, that's a good choice--an "old" scope with modern optics; the original is not a good optical design (excessive eye relief), even if you don't mind the time & cost to obtain one. An original Stevens 368, or similar model, is a better scope, and could be found if you're patient and diligent in searching internet sites.  Even a '20s Fecker will not compare optically with the Unertl, so be prepared to accept somewhat lesser optical performance.

Frankly, I think this beautiful piece is FAR too fine to subject to the rigors of any kind of organized competition, where, no matter how careful you'd be in handling it, shit happens.