I don’t know how the color hardening was done, agree it doesn’t look right. I think it’s a beautiful rifle though. The 38-55 stamping on the top flat doesn’t look factory. The seller does say it was a restoration. However, the seller doesn’t show or say if the serial numbers match on the barrel and frame.

I doubt you could get the defined colors and striping that gun has with a torch. It also think it looks like what CPA does on their guns.

Somebody spent a boatload of money and a lot of work restoring that rifle....It would probably be a lot less startling if the photos were done without flash.

I'm about to embark on  building one for myself and I've been wrestling with how far to go with wood selection and finishing....I dislike the extreme look of "new" case colors, especially when it fights with beautiful walnut.

That barrel stamping in the wrong place really looks weird!

Somebody did spend allot of money on the restoration but unfortunately is quite abit different from an original.

I’ve had CPA recolor case 4 Stevens frames, they look exactly like the action in the picture JLouis posted. My first thought on the barrel stamping was that it was factory drilled and tapped for scope blocks, but no evidence of holes in the pictures, and the 38-55 should be on the left flat. I would also guess that the rifle would have to weigh at least 15 pounds or more.

Somebody will buy it, I suppose.  But not one of us.

It’s up to $1900, but the reserve hasn’t been met. I would be interested in it if it had a lighter weight barrel, I think it would be too heavy to shoot offhand. The double set triggers could just need a little adjustment, but I guess one doesn’t know.

Even with its obvious flaws, would it be possible to buy an original DST 44 1/2 action, have it barreled and stocked for about $2000? From that standpoint, it seems a reasonable price.
My biggest issue with the rifle as a possible shooter, is the poor fit of the butt stock to action at the wrist. The description does not mention barrel length, that could be another issue. It certainly is not a collector piece.

I'm quite sure those colors were not applied with a torch. 
Lee Gibbs pres.ASSRA

A friend had quite the original Stevens collection and I have never seen a roll stamp placed there on any of his original rifles. The caliber marking also looks a bit odd. Its as if the barrel was re-fitted to the action and it needed to be rotated to have the roll stamp placed back into the correct position. But as RWS stated if it doesn't sell for to much it could end up being a real nice buy. 
I once owned a Stevens Pope 044/1/2 28-30 and the only caliber marking was nicely engraved on the side of the extractor. My collector friend said that was how some of them were marked. The roll stamp was on the top of the barrel and that is why it makes me wonder how this barrels caliber was actually marked. And or if the barrel had been improperly re-fitted to the action being shown. I also don't understand picture 39 of 40 showing two different caliber barrels. Was the one on the right the original barrel and the 38-55 possibly then improperly added. I can't figure that one picture out and I didn't see it mentioned unless I inadvertently miss something that might have also been there.

Here’s my 45-44 1/2 .28-30 that was re-bored from.22 LR. It was color cased by CPA. The barrel was factory drilled and tapped for scope blocks also.

Vall he once had a very extensive collection of original Stevens rifles. All of the various Models and calibers Stevens offered at the time. And of special features that various customers could order at the time and all in pristine condition. He started collecting back in the 70's and has since sold most of his collection off not wanting to leave that burden to his wife or to his children and understandable so. So that every item that went to each individual rifle also went with that rifle and not separated from that at times is unfortunately done.

In  the photo archive that accompanies my Model 44 database I believe I can find a few with the address stamped upside down.

I asked the seller a question about the rifle on gunbroker, he said that the serial number on the barrel does match the frame. I also asked if he knew who did the color case hardening, he replied that he didn’t know, and that he has owned the rifle for 14 years.

uscra112 wrote on May 30^th, 2021 at 2:07pm:


Glad to hear I'm not the only one whose seen these upside down rollstamps on Stevens.
First one I owned was a Stevens 44 in .44-40, and when I showed it to a friend who was an avid Stevens collector, and mentioned this "mistake"; he laughed at my comment. Said he could show me a bunch more, and next time I was at his house he pulled out 6 or 7 marked upside down on the 45 degree flat.

Recently I acquired a Stevens 45, 44 1/2 with No.3(?) full octagon (flush with receiver) that has the role stamp (upside down) on the right, 45 degree barrel flat. Caliber is stamped on left 45 degree flat. Barrel numbers to the action.
With an upside down role stamp on the right barrel flat, it reads rightside up when the rifle is held by a right handed shooter. So it does kind'a make sense, IMO.
It appears as though such upside down role stamps are out there.

The bidding on the Stevens 51 went to $2600, but the seller’s reserve wasn’t met, and the listing ended without re-listing.