A friend reported that the rifle has a 6:00 extractor which was introduced in 1901. Higher grade 44s were no longer supplied by Stevens after 1903 when the 44 1/2 came out so the rifle was made between 01 and 03. The rifle has the heavy Schuetzen action and a few similar rifles have turned up in similar serial number range with the 6:00 extractor. It is my belief that a run of the heavy actions were made in one lot fairly early and were used until the end of 44 action use. I also believe that there was no serial number use of one after the previous but that the actions were pulled out of the parts room with no regard to consecutive number.

I have seen a couple. of other of the heavy Schuetzen action with the 6:00 extractor. I have one, a Pope Special. Looking at the numbers and estimated production time by looking at extractor placement, checkering style etc. there does not seem to be any rime or reason to the progression of the serial numbers. These heavy Schuetzen actions appear to be only used in the higher grades. In a previous post I said Ross left in 1911. It was a mistake it was 1913.