What a great site you guys have here. I had no idea until I started researching this ol Stevens. I've been reading quite a bit here but have not yet seen a 44 1/2 like this one. I'd like to get an idea of the time frame it was made. From what I've gleaned here it seems to be pre war judging by the serial number but the color case style indicates post war. Then there is the 28" full round barrel and it's markings. What have I got here gents? Another Stevens mystery?


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Snyd wrote on Jan 13^th, 2017 at 1:40am:
Wow, what a gem.  Very late in the production run from the look of the stampings.

Very nice!! I had one in 32/20 near mint with a SN of 12,87x. That was the latest number I had ever seen until your's. What's interesting is that mine had the striped CC with a part octagon barrel. I think all of the later ones had the extra screw for the kicking "extractor". 
Mike

I've never seen a 44 1/2 Stevens like this, the serial number puts it as one of the very last 44 1/2 ever made ,very unique.  Ledball

Redsetter,

That was my thought also.  A receiver assembled after WW1.  Maybe the last or close to it.  The highest SN I have seen.

waterman wrote on Jan 13^th, 2017 at 1:36pm:



Would this explain the marking on the barrel? I thought I read that pre war markings were "J Stevens A & T Co." not "J Stevens Arms Company"

What's up with the round barrel? Just an option? It seems most are half octagonal.

Snyd wrote on Jan 13^th, 2017 at 1:52pm:


Round barrels were common on the post-War guns, and no doubt optional at any time, but the half-round was customary with Stevens; why?, who knows, because every other maker charged extra for it.  On the other hand, what's unusual on a Stevens, but standard on most others, is a full-octagon, priced about $2 extra. 

The 44 1/2 was only manufactured from 1904-1916. They were not made after WW1. The first catalog I have after the war is 1918 and they are not in it. The marking on the side of the reciever has me stumped. Never seen it before but that doesn't necessairly mean anything. Looks to me like the marking on the 417-417 1/2 Walnut Hills. They were much later than 1916. The full round barrel is not your usual 44 1/2 but they were available. Thats a very nice example you have. The .25-20 Single Shot is a good shooter and brass not cheap but is available. I am also thinking late production but to my knowledge none were made after WWI. A lunch hour gun built after the war from left over parts? Anything is possible but it is a rare variation from what I have seen.