Quote:

Redsetter, in the Savage & Stevens Arms book, it reads: In the No 53 catalog of 1911, an attractive rifle described as the "Semi Military Model 404 appears, etc. etc... not 1913 to 1916
And this rifle was on a 44 action not a 44 1/2, because it was chambered for a 22LR only

Quote:


Either a typo or careless research--#53 speaks for itself, & the 404 ain't in it.  (I have 2 original copies.)  It's first listed in #54, & did not (like the 414 model) return to production after the war.

However, it's correct that some were produced on the 44 action, as Grant reports them.  What's fascinating is that the 404 illustration in #54 shows (if you look carefully) a 44 action, but the description of it states 44-1/2!  Which suggests to me that Stevens initially planned to offer it built on the 44 action (perfectly suitable for .22RF, of course), but for some reason switched to the newer action. 

But the fact that some 404s were built on 44 actions does not alter the fact that the model itself was only in production 3 yrs or less according to the catalog.

Redsetter - I defer to you and original catalogs. 
Stevens information,in my short time frame, thought determining  the 44 1/2 serials was going to be a walk in the park. What I'm coming to realize - the serials are not easy to compile. Digging around on the internet for other 44 1/2 serials and what the forum members posted ... the serials are primarily 4 digits and 5 digit serials are few. So I've only come up with 8 serials with 5 digits, the highest one being 12897.  Lead Pot believes there are no serials higher than 13000, yet on Gun Auctions, they listed one for sale with a serial of 16029. Mistake? Could be. AMOSKEAG listed two 44's for sale and Gail at CPA spotted they were wrong, one being a 44 1/2 that I bought from her
The highest 4 digit serial so far is 9831 and the lowest being 1240 on Cow Auction. If the rifles were numbered sequentially, that puts 8591 rifles that were made and sold...or guessing an average of 660 per year during a period when smokeless powder rifles were the vogue and single shot shooters were in the minority ... which believe is a lot of 44 1/2's
PS:  Good Night Gracie and All

BP wrote on Apr 11^th, 2019 at 2:07am:


Then I stand corrected--only explanation I can think of is that #53 went through a second edition or printing.  Sharpe also listed 1913 as the first year of 404 production.

I was bored some Saturday and was away from home so I didn't have any books with me....so apologies up front for all the nomenclature in the linked spreadsheet being wrong (and needs to be corrected), but the best I can contribute at the moment.   Have other folders with photos of several of the rifles listed, but can't upload folders to the drop box.    

I thought I would dedicate more time to the effort but only manage part of a day....but I have kiddos 10 & 12 who are a lot of fun.... might as well go to someone with more time than me.   

Spreadsheet has a few tabs it in.

Like I said only part of a day...(password will quit working after a couple of days)   

A lot of info available on the web if someone has time to stay after it. 

Stevens
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If you read Grants book page 102 he describes the 404 Semi- Military. It reads, the rifle was made up on the 44 1/2 action with automatic ejectors and 28 inch round barrel. Chambered in 22LR only. I can tell the difference between the 44 and 44 1/2 action. Just look at the profile. I would not buy a rifle with a 44 action. In my opinion they are too weak for smokeless powder. I saw one that Ray Day wrecked with a moderate load of smokeless and it was factory engraved. It was a 32-40. I will post a close up picture of my 44 1/2.

I agree John, I refer to that book often. It was given to me in the early 1960s. While the cover is pretty beat up I would never sell it. I used to shoot muzzle loading rifles on the same day the single shot guys met. I fell in love withe the Stevens but of course I couldn't afford one. They were much more expensive than the Winchester Hi Wall, any Remington, even the Hepburn or Ballard either, unless it had a Pope barrel. When you could buy a 1911 in excellent condition for $35 a Stevens 44 1/2 cost several hundred. I did get to trade for a model 45 but the barrel was pretty poor. I had a friend named Ed Mason who had a very large Stevens collection. When he became terminally ill he began to dispose of his Stevens rifles and pistols. I was able to buy the 404 at that time. I don't know why Joe Gorgian bought most of the guns I don't know why he passed on this one. I spelled Joe's name wrong but you get the idea. He does a large business in single shot rifles.

How quickly we forget these days, even when we had such a long and fairly enlightening discussion about Stevens catalog numbers and dates only last fall.  Be that as it may, the No. 53 is indeed one of the catalogs that had its number repeated, as back then we firmly established that there were at least 1911 and 1912 versions.

Bill Lawrence