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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Stevens 44 /2 (Read 7156 times)
gewehrfreund
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #15 - Nov 3rd, 2021 at 3:28pm
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chipmaker wrote on Nov 3rd, 2021 at 1:04pm:
Thanks to all for your comments.
I'm still looking for someone who knows who C. BUNCH was/is.


It might help if you looked for "J. Bunch", since that's what's stamped on the barrel.
  
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chipmaker
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #16 - Nov 3rd, 2021 at 7:57pm
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gewehr
Thanks for the heads up. Yes. It is J BUNCH but searches for both J and C BUNCH got no hits.
Otto
  
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MrTipUp
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #17 - Nov 3rd, 2021 at 9:03pm
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Try to get copies of Michael Petrov's two volume study of 20th century custom gun makers.  They're rather expensive to buy, but a shooting friend might have them or perhaps you can obtain them through inter-library loan.

Bill Lawrence
  
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chipmaker
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #18 - Nov 4th, 2021 at 12:42pm
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TU
Reviewed both of M. Petrov's books but no J. Bunch seen. 
Actually, while the design of the through bolt is interesting, the quality of the workmanship, in both wood and metal, isn't guild quality.
Otto
  
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boats
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #19 - Nov 7th, 2021 at 5:06am
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Lot of “J Bunch” hits on Ancestry.com.  Figuring out which one is connected to your gun would take a lot of work & luck. Could focus on likely birth date,  someone who would build a rifle like yours. Probably 1900 or later & before 1950

Another separation could be place Mr Bunch lived. Look for Varmint Rifle use locations. Luck would be finding a Bunch with a trade that is linked to gunsmiths in obituary’s 

Boats
  
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chipmaker
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #20 - Nov 8th, 2021 at 12:41pm
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Boats
Thanks for your research suggestions. 
I have no idea of J. Bunch's birth date or where he might have lived. 
I think that we can narrow down the date of the conversion a little. I'd suggest the period from 1937 to 1968 would seem reasonable, as the 218 Bee didn't come along until 1937 and the federal firearms law of 1968 emphasized the importance of serial numbers. 
A friend has a book dealing with 22 varmint rifles. A brief look at the book, during my last visit, revealed many unfamiliar shooters and gunsmiths. I'll look at the book carefully during my next visit.
Otto
  
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JLouis
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #21 - Nov 8th, 2021 at 1:45pm
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Having worked on CPA's with through bolts the mortice has gone all the way to the face of the action. When putting a white piece of paper under the action in this area I have been able to clearly see light on both sides of the action. From the back of the tang all the way back to the actions frame. The only contact points left are two very small cheeks on each that are just barely contacting the frame. The issues that I have worked on personally is this created and issue with the triggers actually working or not. If the through bolt is to tight they tend not work and if backed off until they do now work the contact points at the back of the action are no longer tight enough. And that now becomes a swivel point and accuracy is now non obtainable. But there is a real fine line when everything will actually work, no more swivel point and double sets will now work. What I believe is actually taking place is the bottom tang is being flexed just enough for the entire trigger group to no longer work as was originally designed. I might also add that I have personally worked on more than one having this same issue. And all though there are four screws, two on each side attaching the bottom tang to the frame it can still flex enough for the triggers to no longer work. These were also just after CPA offered a through bolt option and I don't know if they have since changed that original design. 
  

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chipmaker
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #22 - Nov 8th, 2021 at 7:18pm
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LJ
Thanks for your comment.
It appears as if the Stevens 44 1/2 through bolt system pulls the butt stock into contact with the back of the action, as well as the back of the two tangs. Getting all three contact points seated with equal pressure is the goal, as well as avoiding additional contact points, that might cause the "swivel point effect" referred to in your response.
Could you answer the following questions:
1. Do you have any photos of the CPA through bolt system? I wonder if it is similar, in concept, to the "Bunch" system.
2. In the actions that you saw, was the wood solidly inletted into the inside radial cuts, at the back of the action, as suggested by "bobw" earlier in this thread?
My plan to restore the butt stock, includes the following:
1. Inlett the wood to the back of the action, including the radial inside cuts, at the rear of the action.
2. Ensure that there is no wood contact at the back of the tangs and the back of the through bolt block between the tangs.
3. After #1 & 2, epoxy bed the back of the upper and lower tangs.
4. Finally, refresh the epoxy bedding around the action, as was originally done.
I'd appreciate any comments, if it looks as if I missed something important.
Otto
  
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chipmaker
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #23 - Nov 13th, 2021 at 8:03pm
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In cleaning up the action, I discovered that the serial number was stamped on the extractor. There was also the initials TR engraved/stamped on the other side.
Does anyone know who TR was?
Otto 
  
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Sure shot
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #24 - Nov 13th, 2021 at 8:15pm
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Looks like L.R. to me for .22 long rifle. Extractors are often stamped with the serial number and or caliber.

Appears your rifle was in .22 long  rifle originally. Does the breech block appear to have been converted from rimfire to centerfire?
« Last Edit: Nov 13th, 2021 at 8:28pm by Sure shot »  
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chipmaker
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #25 - Nov 14th, 2021 at 12:22pm
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Ss
Thanks for your input. I was unaware that the serial numbers and caliber were stamped on Steven's extractors.
I'll check the other parts for serial numbers as I clean them. Do you know of any additional action parts that might have a serial number?
Yes. The breech block does look as if it was converted from rim fire to center fire. The firing pin was also reduced to .062".
The main issue now is removal of the barrel, which is super tight and might have some epoxy or Loctite in the threads.
Otto
  
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bobw
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #26 - Nov 14th, 2021 at 12:49pm
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chipmaker, can you take a picture of the rear of the breech block for me?  I’m curious how they did the conversion.  Is the original pin body hole used with an offset new pin or was the old pin body hole milled out with an insert fitted then rebored for a new pin with a centered pin?  
Bob
  

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JLouis
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #27 - Nov 14th, 2021 at 1:26pm
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Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to share on hand. On one of the rifles the contact points / stock to action on side was not touching the back of action. The mortice cut from back of action to back of tang. Left very little as  contact / bearing points. And to the point of allowing the wood to per-say warped and no longer being straight with the tangs. I don't recall the rear contact of the back of the tangs to the stock. It is typically an area of having no direct contact to minimize possible wood splitting. My own CPA uses the tang screws and both tangs and the contact points at the face of the back of the action have been fully epoxy bedded. This has also improved accuracy and the screws also put forward pressure towards the action when tightened. I also replaced the tapered tang screws that had a tendency to back out with straight shanked screws with very course threads and that has eliminated that issue.  The end result is there is now no flex between stock and action or a means for possible movement. 
I hope that helps to answer your questions and the original barrel a 32-40 has 140'000+ bullets down the bore. And there has been damage caused to the stock by having the back of the tangs being in hard and direct contact with the stock.
  

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JLouis
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #28 - Nov 14th, 2021 at 2:28pm
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For any of those who might have shown an interest in the tang replacement screws that I used here is a picture of one.

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Sure shot
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Re: Stevens 44 /2
Reply #29 - Nov 14th, 2021 at 2:31pm
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Chipmaker, the extractors are not always stamped with a serial number or caliber, but often are. As far as serial numbers being stamped on other parts, I have only seen the buttplate stamped, and sometimes you can see the serial number written in pencil on the butt end of the stock, and the barrel channel of the forearm.
Sometimes 44 1/2 rimfire breech blocks are stamped with the caliber, usually just a 22,25, or 32. 

As you can see only one of the loose extractors I had laying around had been stamped with the serial number, but all were stamped with the caliber.

  
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