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Verbrugen
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Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Dec 8th, 2020 at 10:31am
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I managed to pick this Stevens Target rifle up from a local gun shop earlier this year as my bargain purchase for 2020. Lucky for me the rifle was not easily identified and nothing similar was noted on any of the internet based gun sales sites for comparative pricing except the Stevens Walnut Hill 417-418.   I believe this to be a custom .22 build on a Stevens 44 1/2 action with double set triggers.  The rifle has an unmarked bull barrel, monte carlo stock with rollover cheekpiece.   Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
  
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Verbrugen
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #1 - Dec 8th, 2020 at 10:35am
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another
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #2 - Dec 8th, 2020 at 11:14am
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Looks like they started out with a 44 1/2 action that was a special model to begin with. If the barrel isn't serial numbered to the action, and has no Stevens markings, then it's likely a new barrel, and of course custom stocks. Has the appearance of maybe a WWII era, or post era build.
Probably a great shooting rifle if a quality barrel on it.
  

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Sure shot
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #3 - Dec 8th, 2020 at 11:33am
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If I found a rifle like that locally for a good price, I would certainly have bought it. I would take the forearm off to look at the front of the frame to see if the model number is stamped there. My guess it started out as a #47 with special ordered double set triggers. If the rifle was built by an unknown maker, you could rebuild it into whatever configuration you wanted without guilt, unless you want to keep it as is.
  
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Verbrugen
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #4 - Dec 8th, 2020 at 12:03pm
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The barrel is unmarked and the frame is marked as a #47, and I think that is a Lyman 144 tang sight.  It is well done work for a custom build and I love the DST on the 22, and that barrel does sock-em all into one ragged hole.
  
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Kurt_701
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #5 - Dec 8th, 2020 at 12:54pm
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The rear sight looks more like a Lyman 103. The 103 is a better sight.
  

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Verbrugen
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #6 - Dec 8th, 2020 at 1:00pm
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Thanks on the sight ID, I will have to take a closer look.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #7 - Dec 9th, 2020 at 1:23am
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I like it. I'd leave it as is. I have an thing about period custom work on Stevens.
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #8 - Dec 9th, 2020 at 9:56am
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You might check back at the gun store and see whether there was another spare buttstock that fits your rifle.  It looks like the forend was set up for prone shooting with a sling.  The buttstock would have a flat (maybe adjustable up and down) buttplate, a higher comb, and much less drop than the obviously offhand-only stock presently on the rifle.

Don’t know which four-position matches would allow a double set trigger, but if the match was informal enough, they might have let the issue slide.  In the Northeast, indoor “gallery” matches at 75 feet were very popular in the wintertime; some economy-minded owner/gunsmith might very well make up a rifle that covered both Scheutzen and four-position shooting with sling.

I also like the looks of those 1920-1930-era rebuilds of what were then just “used” guns.  Made up an Allyn Tedmon “small deer” special for myself out of bits and pieces of a wrecked Stevens 414 and a skinny old Weaver scope.  Not a recreation of Victorian splendor, but very “period,” nonetheless.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #9 - Dec 9th, 2020 at 11:32am
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Zettler Bros. indoor range in New York City held some of the biggest and highest paying matches in the world in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The top shooters in the US all competed at Zettler's range, and prize money back then was $1,000 for big matches! 
Zettler Bros. also built single shot rifles for the competitors on request.
  

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Verbrugen
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #10 - Dec 9th, 2020 at 12:23pm
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I added the handstop from one of my 52's so I could lay in the dirt with it.  I have shot it from bench at IR 50/50 targets and at 100 yds at schuetzen targets and have been impressed. I plan on leaving this one as is.  I have checked with the shop where this came from about other barrels and stock setup and this was it.  I count myself lucky get this one.
  
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Verbrugen
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #11 - Dec 9th, 2020 at 12:29pm
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I did check the rear sight and it is a Lyman 103. thanks for pointing that out. Gave me something to do last night looking at all the various Lyman sights.
  
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Re: Custom Stevens .22 Target Rifle
Reply #12 - Dec 10th, 2020 at 11:23am
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That's a fantastic buy.  If the barrel is good you have a treasure.

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