ASSRA Forum - New Stevens Martini

ASSRA Forum › General › Single Shot Rifles › New Stevens Martini

(Moderator Group: Moderator)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Page Index Toggle

Pages: [1] 2

Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies)

New Stevens Martini (Read 1800 times)

ArtS Newbie Offline Posts: 3 Joined: Aug 22^nd, 2022	New Stevens Martini Aug 26^th, 2022 at 1:54pm	Print Post
	New user here. Bought a strange Martini on GB recently. You may have seen this. It is a small frame commercial Martini (not Cadet) fitted with what looks to be a stevens barrel in 25.20 SS. Barrel is exactly 26", marked "1" under the fore end. Fore end is stamped "J.A." inside. The action carries only Birmingham View proof marks (pre-1904). Only makers marks are an "H" on the front of the frame and a "G. H" as well as two other marks (unreadable) on the tang under the lever. Front of frame carries a 5 digit serial number. From all this, I can come up with no other likely scenario than that this was a trade action barreled by Stevens, either in the US or by someone representing Stevens in England who then shipped it to the US. If it had been barreled and sold in England, it would carry proof marks. Even most English export guns were proofed. The same if someone in England or the US rebarreled an existing rifle with an existing barrel. Really doubtful that someone in the US could obtain a trade action, and if so that they then used a used barrel. I would like to hear any comments. Not being a .22 and not a military frame, it doesn't seem to fit the mysterious Bisley models.


	IP Logged

ArtS Newbie Offline Posts: 3 Joined: Aug 22^nd, 2022	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #1 - Aug 26^th, 2022 at 2:09pm	Print Post
	Here are some pictures:


	IP Logged

ArtS Newbie Offline Posts: 3 Joined: Aug 22^nd, 2022	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #2 - Aug 26^th, 2022 at 2:11pm	Print Post
	And the rest.


	IP Logged

MrTipUp Frequent Elocutionist Offline Quality is to a product what character is to a man Posts: 1301 Location: Indiana Joined: Feb 19^th, 2020	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #3 - Aug 26^th, 2022 at 2:52pm	Print Post
	This is very interesting. First and most importantly, this is NOT one of the fabled Stevens Bisley Martini-actioned rifles. Second, it is a genuine Stevens barrel. Third and weakest, I think the front sight is a Marbles Vickers-Maxim which despite what it's name sounds like is an American sight. It's also a very elegant-looking little rifle; I hope you enjoy it. Bill Lawrence


	IP Logged

marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 15769 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #4 - Aug 26^th, 2022 at 3:44pm	Print Post
	Looks like a Martini that needed a new barrel, and someone had a Stevens barrel installed on it. Or they just wanted a more common caliber, and put the Stevens barrel on it. If the work was done at Stevens they marked the barrels to indicate a rebarrel, or rebore done at Stevens.

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)
	IP Logged

Sure shot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 838 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #5 - Aug 27^th, 2022 at 8:19am	Print Post
	Very nice rifle and find. I am curious to know the width across the flats, and the length of the octagon portion of the barrel. Also the diameter of the barrel at the transition from octagon to round, and the diameter at the muzzle. With this info maybe it can be determined whether the barrel was a barrel from a model 44/44 1/2 originally.


	IP Logged

marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 15769 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #6 - Aug 27^th, 2022 at 9:28am	Print Post
	Sure shot wrote on Aug 27^th, 2022 at 8:19am: Very nice rifle and find. I am curious to know the width across the flats, and the length of the octagon portion of the barrel. Also the diameter of the barrel at the transition from octagon to round, and the diameter at the muzzle. With this info maybe it can be determined whether the barrel was a barrel from a model 44/44 1/2 originally. Wouldn't the #1 on the barrel indicate a fairly lightweight barrel?

	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)
	IP Logged

Sure shot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 838 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #7 - Aug 27^th, 2022 at 11:17am	Print Post
	Yes, but I have at least three 44 1/2 barrels that are mis-marked from the factory, a #3 that’s marked a #2, and a couple of #2’s that are marked #1. The barrel on the martini, if it was originally a 44/44 1/2 barrel, appears to have been turned down to a smaller diameter starting at the transition from octagon to round.


	IP Logged

waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2795 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #8 - Aug 27^th, 2022 at 12:08pm	Print Post
	Sure shot wrote on Aug 27^th, 2022 at 11:17am: Yes, but I have at least three 44 1/2 barrels that are mis-marked from the factory, a #3 that’s marked a #2, and a couple of #2’s that are marked #1. The barrel on the martini, if it was originally a 44/44 1/2 barrel, appears to have been turned down to a smaller diameter starting at the transition from octagon to round. Those are not the only mis-markings on Stevens barrels. I have a .25-20 SS marked & chambered barrel that has a .251" groove diameter and a twist for the .25 rimfire cartridge.


	IP Logged

Green_Frog Frequent Elocutionist Offline "It ain't easy being green" ASSRA Life #281 Posts: 3912 Location: Lynchburg, VA Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #9 - Aug 30^th, 2022 at 9:34am	Print Post
	Of course back in their glory days Stevens would rebarrel your action for you… just about any action. A friend who knew virtually nothing about single shots showed me his “unusual” Stevens rifle… it turned out to be a DST Ballard action with a Stevens factory rebarrel. I wish I’d had the money to buy it from him!! Froggie


	IP Logged

Fred Boulton Oldtimer Offline Posts: 801 Joined: Jan 6^th, 2007	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #10 - Aug 30^th, 2022 at 12:27pm	Print Post
	It ain't English. The action is a Francotte. These were imported into England by the Braendlin Armoury. A popular Rook and Rabbit action. This one was retailed by Rodda and is marked for both 360 no 5 and 380 long, Fred


	IP Logged

Crown-C Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 443 Location: St. Marys Kansas Joined: Apr 6^th, 2009	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #11 - Aug 30^th, 2022 at 4:57pm	Print Post
	Fred; That is a handsome and classic looking rook rifle!

	Richard Crown-C Ranch in the Flinthills NRA Life Member ASSRA Member # 10366 Member & Founders Society, Cody Firearms Museum Veteran
	IP Logged

kensmachine Oldtimer Offline Posts: 549 Joined: Nov 21^st, 2012	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #12 - Aug 30^th, 2022 at 10:49pm	Print Post
	let's see the front of the forearm


	IP Logged

Aussie_Hunter Full Member Offline Posts: 193 Location: Hervey Bay,Queensland Joined: Jul 7^th, 2008	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #13 - Sep 22^nd, 2022 at 1:12am	Print Post
	Interested in Fred Boulton's comment that the action is a Francotte, I have had a few of them (just bought another in 297/230) and all have had the Francotte trade mark on the left hand side of the action, which it would appear this rifle doesn't. It is a lovely looking rifle though,well bought.


	IP Logged

MartiniBelgian Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1649 Location: Aarschot Joined: Jun 7^th, 2004	Re: New Stevens Martini Reply #14 - Sep 22^nd, 2022 at 9:48am	Print Post
	There the issue is whether the rifle was directly sold by Francotte, or supplied complete rifles or parts to the gun trade, where the 'finisher/retailer' would have put on his own markings. Like the Westley Richards ZAR 'improved martini' rifles, which were built by WR on Francotte actions - but marked Westley Richards.


	WWW IP Logged

Page Index Toggle

Pages: [1] 2

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

« Board Index ‹ Board Top

Top

ASSRA Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.6.12!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2024. All Rights Reserved.

Valid XHTML

Valid CSS

Powered by Perl

Source Forge

Page completed in 1.3401 seconds.