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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Stevens Walnut Hill production (Read 5295 times)
Brian L
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Stevens Walnut Hill production
Dec 19th, 2021 at 8:07pm
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I am looking for information on a Stevens Walnut Hill I have. I am not sure if there is a way to date the rifle from the serial number but the number that is on it is 64085. Is there a date range that the Walnut Hills were produced? Any help would be appreciated.

  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #1 - Dec 19th, 2021 at 9:37pm
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1932 to1947. No way to narrow it down. No serial number records available.
  
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Tnlonghunter
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #2 - Dec 30th, 2021 at 10:39pm
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As I understand, there was a fire at the factory that destroyed all the serial number records for these rifles. I've also got one and wish I could date it more precisely.
  
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uscra112
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #3 - Dec 31st, 2021 at 9:53pm
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The infamous fire was in 1920 or 1921.   

Another purge of Stevens records occurred sometime after WW2, according to some sources.

Either way, the records are gone.   

My Model 44 database project has logged numbers as high as 90,248. I've long believed that Walnut Hills had their own number sequence.  A number in the 60xxx range implies to me that your rifle isn't a Walnut Hill, or I've been missing something.
  
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LarryLee
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #4 - Jan 5th, 2022 at 11:50pm
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My 417-2 is SN 244
  
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oneatatime
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #5 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 12:34am
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Just curious, but what makes a Walnut Hill a Walnut Hill and not just a late heavy barreled 44?
  
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uscra112
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #6 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 12:39am
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Heavy coil mainspring, lighter hammer, the wood, of course, and the firing pin hits at 9:00 for more consistent ignition.
  
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slumlord44
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #7 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 12:57am
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The speed lock action for one thing. Lever is different also. Walnut Hill stamped on the barrel also. Metal checkered butplate and overall weight. What have I missed?
  
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uscra112
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #8 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 1:05am
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The gun was intended to compete with Winchester and Remington for the belly-shooter market.   According to Allyn Tedmon, (an admitted Stevens partisan) the barrels were quite good enough to compete, but operating the lever in the low prone position was awkward enough to deter most potential buyers.
  
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gnoahhh
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #9 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 12:15pm
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Marked differences in receiver height dimensions, WH versus 44. Hold the two side by side and it's apparent. The WH almost looks like a 44 1/2, but it's not.
  
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gnoahhh
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #10 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 12:23pm
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My 417 Walnut Hill is devilishly accurate, comparable to my Martini M12 and Win 52, but when the chips are down I reach for the BSA International.

Mine also has the closed loop lever. Any ideas on the rarity of that? Time period the closed loop lever was made/offered, throughout the entire run, or early, or late? If I were a prone competitor I can see where this type lever would be easier to manipulate than the "standard" 417 lever. (But that's a moot point as I haven't laid on my belly on the ground since, like, forever and probably never will again!)
  
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bnice
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #11 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 12:38pm
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You Got a few pictures you could post?
  
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gnoahhh
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #12 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 1:18pm
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Only pic I have.

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)
  
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Sure shot
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #13 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 1:36pm
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gnoahhh wrote on Jan 6th, 2022 at 12:23pm:
My 417 Walnut Hill is devilishly accurate, comparable to my Martini M12 and Win 52, but when the chips are down I reach for the BSA International.

Mine also has the closed loop lever. Any ideas on the rarity of that? Time period the closed loop lever was made/offered, throughout the entire run, or early, or late? If I were a prone competitor I can see where this type lever would be easier to manipulate than the "standard" 417 lever. (But that's a moot point as I haven't laid on my belly on the ground since, like, forever and probably never will again!)


The 1933 Stevens catalog reprint I have does not have the loop lever mentioned, the 1946 catalog reprint has the loop lever listed as an option, along with the extra heavy 29” barrel as an option.
I don’t have any Stevens catalogs reprints in between those two. So I cannot say for sure, but the loop lever might have been more of a later option???
  
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bnice
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Re: Stevens Walnut Hill production
Reply #14 - Jan 6th, 2022 at 3:12pm
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thanks, like the loop lever, mine has  the standard lever. Do you have your iron rear sight?
  
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