Picked up a M54 a while ago and finally got around to cleaning and fixing it.  It is missing a firing pin and retaining screw/bolt, and had a broken hammer which I got tig welded and filed back to healt but not sure it will last long.  SN is 4504, so was wondering a couple things... 1) what year was it produced , 2) were serial numbers shared across all the models  ie 44, 44 1/2, 54, etc. 3) where can I find parts???  

Thanks in advance..  Tom

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Very nice rifle! Your model 54 has the 44 action, I am afraid finding an early high grade model 44 hammer, cut for a fly for double set triggers is going to be very difficult. Finding a ready made centerfire firing pin for a 44 is also going to be difficult, I don’t know of anyone making them. The firing pin retaining screw will be easy to find, CPA has them in stock. Could a hammer from a 44 1/2 cut for a fly be made to work?

serial # with 4 digits and a 28/30 don't jive. The 28/30 came out around 1901, just be fore the introduction of the 44 1/2.

I've handled this rifle and it's a real gem.
What Tom didn't mention is that it will be at the OCGA show in Wilmington this coming weekend, and as far as I know, for sale. 

I'm certainly no authority, but I would have thought if this rifle left Stevens as a center-fire, it would be the thicker frame (I can't tell) and have a lugged hammer.  Is the breach block recessed for a lug?

I have a 7 ‘clock extractor 45, that appears to have been re-bored, by Stevens.

The original chambering is marked under the the forearm, new chambering where you would expect it. 

Same on a 107

CPA doesn't have firing pins, don't know about other parts. Think this is a Steve Durran project. Parts don't go well between 44 and 44 1/2 actions. That 107 is really neat. I have never seen one. Stevens announced the .28-30 in 1900.

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.