You might consider having someone graft on a more commonly available favorite (slightly thinner) or 44 (slightly thicker) lever to your original 044 1/2 lever by welding. Then it could be polished and color hardened, or you could try to match the finish of your rifle if it has patina. This is what I would probably do.

After thinking a little more about this, there’s a good chance that the favorite and model 44 levers are made of cast steel. This would make welding them a bit problematic. I am sure that it still could be done. Perhaps the 044 1/2 lever could have the brazed repair cut out and be repaired with extra steel? I don’t know of anyone that does this kind of work, but I believe that there are companies that do restorative welding work on guns.

Sure shot wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2023 at 4:48pm:


I'm morally certain that the 44 and Favorite levers are malleable iron, and thus not suited to fusion welding.  Probably also 44-1/2 levers.   CPA would know.  I'd like to be wrong, but......

Seems to me that the original Lever is one way or another going to be modified.  Can you have someone, or if you can weld, try running a weld on the end of the lever? You're going to find out real quick if it can be done.  My little Wire Feed needs a good Pre-Heat.  I've welded the Bottom Tang of a 44 Stevens.  Good luck!  David

Dellet wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2023 at 7:04pm:


Yes it is a 25 SS and yes your story does sound coincindental.  Altough this was a straight up auction with no BIN as I recollect.  I monitor GB on a fairly frequent basis for Stevens and I don't remember seeing this 044 1/2 last summer.  But again it does sound coincidental and it could have escaped me.  This purchase has just about put me off buying anything from GB ever again because I paid for the rifle on October 20 and I will just be picking it up today from my FFL.  In part, some of that had to do with the holidays and some had to do with inefficiency on the part of my FFL.  But it did take a solid two months for the seller to connect with my FFL for shipping.  There was always some excuse to be heard and I was on the brink of calling the sale a fraud.  However the seller did remain polite and did come through, and who the hell really knows what goes on in situations like these.   As a result of all this I do find myself more than a bit fatigued with GB purchases these days.  Buyer beware

I remember seeing the 044 1/2 on gunbroker last fall and thought about bidding on it but didn’t due to the lever. I’ve bought a fair amount of guns and other items from gunbroker sellers, was only burned once by a seller not taking a picture of the over size hardware screw used in the breech block in a favorite. This favorite wasn’t really much use to me other than a parts gun. Another seller claimed that he was sick and it took about a month for him to ship some ammo, but I did finally get it. 

Here’s a couple of pictures of a customized 44 1/2 lever. It was customized by cutting and welding, and was color hardened.