J. Stevens A&T Co. Pat. Oct 29.89 - Model 45? . . . .

Hello, I hoping to get some assistance identifying and possible value on a recent piece I acquired.

It is stamped "45" and "0" on the end of the action (behind the foregrip).
The Barrel has "11XXX" and "1" on it, and does not look to be a pope barrel, but a lighter weight "No 1" version. 
28" long. (not the standard 26") Half octagon. (so longer and lighter then normal).

Chambered in 22 LR (not the more common 25 Stevens).
It also has a numbers matching Swiss butt plate.

Front site looks to be a "Beach Combination" flip sight with ivory post and looped pin bead.
(Lyman No.5) - with pat info stamped into outer ring (ending in JJLY14.91)

Rear site is a tang, which appears to be original, Stevens model (like a #104 or #108) WITH a thumb screw, but NO wind-age, and a fixed .050 eyecup. (so a cross between a 100 and a 104)

Action is an older Model 44, with the curved mainspring, and a "7'oclock" extractor. Single trigger - not DST.

My best guess so far is that based on the stamping and combination of barrel, action, and sights - that it should date about 1889-1894 for manufacture (some time after 1889 but before 1900 (or even before Apr. 17, 1894).
--Using the logic that if it was manufactured post 1894 - then the barrel would NOT have the Oct.29.89 patent stamping.)

Straight stock - no pistol grip!.  Swiss buttplate.

While I don't have full access to catalogs (only sparse web images here and there) - I could not find a direct match as far back at Catalog #50 of 1902.  I have not been able to find enough web info on catalogs prior to that.


She looks to be a bit of an "Odd Duck" for the higher end Model 45, but on an older 44 action, with lighter barrel, swiss butt, improved but not top end sights
(and single trigger).

Any feedback and assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You. 

Rocketnutz wrote on Mar 29^th, 2019 at 12:54pm:


Logic does not apply to Stevens' system of marking its products. That brl. may have been in inventory years before it was assembled to a rcvr.

Rocketnutz wrote on Mar 29^th, 2019 at 3:45pm:


You're right, a little unusual--26" #2 brl. was standard, but #1 was available at the same price.  That combination of sights was called the "D" package, for about $4 extra.

But something new to me is that screw head on top of the hammer. Does it regulate sear engagement, for adjusting trigger pull?

Rocketnutz wrote on Mar 29^th, 2019 at 5:26pm:


Short of removing the hammer to inspect it, you can turn the screw in or out to determine the result on pull.   

The screw in the hammer is a new one to me. I'm curious as to what its function is. I doubt that it's factory but with Stevens you can never be 100% sure. Sights are easy to change and to be truthful there is no way to know who put them there and as long as they are correct it doesn't matter. I go with tang sights or scopes on a lot of guns because my old eyes shoot better with them.

As everybody has noted, the screw in the hammer IS the most interesting thing about this rifle.  Moreover, while what Red says makes sense as to its probable purpose, I can't say I've ever seen the like before on any rifle.  So come on, Rocketnutz; play with it and tell us what you discover.

Bill Lawrence

pic

pic

I'm sure they were a factory option.  I have owned two and have seen at least one other.  Like Stevens rather problematic single set trigger, they were apparently not very popular.    

The screw had a cone shaped end which limited the sear engagement as it was turned in.

Leon

Good for you Red; I didn't look back far enough.

Bill Lawrence

Rocketnutz wrote on Mar 29^th, 2019 at 3:45pm:

Your tang sight is the Stevens No. 100 Mid-Range Vernier Peep.
Regarding the sights that Stevens offered circa 1900, Stevens stated "We will fit any sights to our rifles, but for convenience we have grouped the sights as they are generally matched, vis.:" 
If your rifle was ordered with the "G Sights" group, the No. 100 Mid-Range Vernier Peep would have been matched with the Stevens Wind-Gauge Front sight.
The "E-Sights" group consisted of the Lyman #5 Combination Front sight matched with the Lyman Tang Sight.
And a bunch of sights swapping has occurred during the past 12 decades of time.

If you happen to find a Stevens catalog circa 1900, and look in the component parts price list for the "Ideal" rifle, you'll see some options listed for the hammer:
No. 6. Hammer...    $0.70
No. 6A. Hammer with Set Screw...    $1.00
No. 6B. Hammer with Stirrup and Fly...    $1.25 
It looks like the "No. 6A Hammer with Set Screw" was installed in your particular rifle.

BP wrote on Mar 30^th, 2019 at 4:17pm:


The 1900 catalog also lists special hammer & block screws for Schuetzen models.  Perhaps because Schuetzen receivers were thicker than standard models, requiring longer screws?

Yes, BP, but the standard barrel supplied was a # 2, not a # 1; therefore, it's still at least an odd duckling.

Also, on the assumption that a "hammer with stirrup and fly" would have been automatically supplied with set triggers, why would you order such a hammer by itself?

Bill Lawrence

Could you post a pic of those "hammer with stirrup and fly"?  The DST setup used my DST Model 44 is almost identical to the 44 1/2, which has a radically different mainspring for starters.  Hadn't thought to see whether that hammer would otherwise fit a Model 44, but I'd think that the spring alone would preclude it.  

*****************
Filling in a blank - on page 32 of More Single Shot Rifles, Grant describes on a Model 107, s/n 2291, the screw through from the top of the hammer as a "trigger adjusting screw".