First time Stevens owner.  Bought Stevens rifle to get into Schuetzen league and matches.  Rifle is a Stevens 44 1/2.  Original action but, the rest is rebuilt over 20 years ago.  Last owner used it very little and gun has been parked for more than 15 years.  33-47 configuration.  At first range outing won't fire.  Light marks on primer.  The case seems to pinch on closing with bright marks case head.  Tried filing a bit on the case head and a little penatrating oil on pin. Friend said to turn up main spring pressure by turning  a screw under action turning clockwise.  All attempts were no goes.  Next thing to try is pulling action apart.  Where can I get instructions for disassembling?  Any ideas on issue?

From de Hass - loosen the set screw holding the finger lever pin and drive out this pin.  With pin removed the entire breech block assembly can be pulled from the bottom of the receiver, including the finger lever, extracter, link and breech block.       
    This should let you inspect the firing pin length and operation.  HTH

Regards,
Joe

Ok going to basement to see if I can get this taken apart.  Nice clue to locate small screw.

Ok found set screw loosened that up and took pin out, extractor came out but, can't get lever and "action" out the bottom.  Any other thing that has to come out? Any screw on the side?  Hammer pulled back or forward?

I see the link.  When I rotate the lever forwards the top block is in alignment to come out.  When I rotate the lever backwards so the link rotates to a position it could get past the opening on the frame the top action becomes cooked inside frame.  The hammer is fully forward, or pulled back just slightly, or pulled all the way back.  Those are the three settings.  I feel like I'm missing something.  Still stuck.

I would remove the extractor from the bottom of the action in case that is jamming on something. Place the hammer on full cock and hold it back with one hand, so it won’t fire, and with the other hand try moving the link back in forth, without rotating the lever by grasping the lever and pulling back and forth and then down, you will have to overcome the spring pressure on the lever plunger while doing this. Hopefully it will come out unless it is hanging up on the firing pin tip as suggested. When you do get the breech block and lever assembly removed be careful of the breech block plunger and spring it will likely fall out, sometimes the plunger and spring are missing, as the rifle will function okay without it. Or possibly while trying to remove it, if the breech block was pushed up too high towards the top of of the action, the breech block plunger may have become un-seated and jammed in the breech block which will make it very difficult to remove, hopefully this didn’t happen.

Ok back in basement going over what is done.  Set screw hilding pin loosened and pin to lever tapped out. The extractor is out.

Mark,

I made a slave pin to hold the extractor in place when installing the breach block. It makes it a lot simpler. 
Since you live in North Central Wis. bring that shooter and parts down to the .22 mini palmer match at Wisconsin Rapids Wis. next weekend and I will help you put it back together. If for some reason I cant come up there are shooters there that shoot the .44-1/2 CPA's that will help you.

Kurt

A bound-up firing pin would give light strikes, fer sure.  The pin configuration is the only legitimate knock against the Stevens. The angle reduces the pin energy even when it is free, and it lacks any form of positive retraction.   

If you have the action back together with the extractor out, you can easily unscrew the barrel and see.   

Or, with barrel still in place, run a square-ended rod just under bore diameter in from the muzzle to push the pin back. (A trick all Sharps-Borchardt owners soon learn.)