uscra112 wrote on Oct 10^th, 2018 at 7:12am:


They are shown in catalogs from the '80s up to about 1900-- two different styles, if the catalog illustrations are accurate, first a thick base, later a thin base, which was the same evolution in Winchester sights; in fact, they resemble Winchester sights of the same period.

Stevens 108 that sold on Ebay awhile Back.

Kurt_701 wrote on Oct 10^th, 2018 at 12:59pm:


That sight isn't the one he means, which is the one with an adjustment screw for elevation at the top.

These Steven's rifles are often encountered by me in my travels. Usually looking like the one on GB, as posted. Mostly they're pretty well worn, brown, chipped and buggered. Mostly rimfire, rarely centerfire. So what I wonder is : is the 1300.00 opening bid the going rate for that type rifle with the sights and in that condition? Seems too high to me, but what do I know?

Well, the more you pay, the more it's worth, as the old auctioneer cry went.

That one is interesting because of the very low serial number.  According to most sources, the series started at 2000, and at about 3200 the two-digit model numbering starts.  So it's literally one of (approximately) 1000.

I've paid quite a bit less for two good examples in that range, but I've been lucky, maybe. Right place at the right time, and knowing more than the seller about what was on offer.   

BTW by my ongoing survey, centerfires outnumber .22 rimfires among survivors by a comfortable margin of about 3:1, until you get past WW1 in the timeline.   

Apparently yes.  Grant stated it with confidence, anyway.  The lowest s/n I have logged is 2013, a Model 109.  The highest number that's got the square corner is 2629.  The next one up that I have logged is a Model 54, with the rounded corner, and it's s/n 3210.  So Grant's surmise that 3000 may be the change from three-digit number to two-digit seems probable.  Need to find a few in between 2629 and 3210 to narrow it down.   I have not made any attempt to log sideplate models.  They're just too rare when searching the Internet. 

Well, I'll continue the hunt for a nice centerfire Stevens and if I have to pay the long dollar, then there it is. I just don't think a brown gun is worth over $1000, unless it's really special. Anyways, I'm still involved with my low wall project, which I found on the rack at a local shop for $50 bucks out the door.