The transaction started pretty typical, browsing online adds and stumbled across a promising ad. Pretty basic:
J Stevens Tip-up rifle, 25 caliber centerfire, 28” barrel. Very generic description by someone who really didn’t know what they had. Lots of photos and I decided to take a chance.

With rifle in hand the first “problem” is obvious, it’s not a 25.
Open the action look at the firing pin, at least it’s a centerfire.

Grab the calipers, check the grooves, .309”. Oh perfect another 32 whatthehell. My first Tip-up has a .306” groove and a chamber that is .350” diameter. I make brass from 32-20 cutting it down to .600”. Still haven’t figured out what that one is.

Measure the chamber end and it’s .380”, run the depth gauge end into the lands and it’s 3.7 something. Things just got interesting, maybe a 30-30 Wesson since with a flashlight I can’t see a shoulder of any kind.

That’s [simple enough, I have some Wesson dies and 357 max brass. Size a case. It drops right in.

Primer in the case, 10 grains of N120 and a 90 grain bullet for the 32whatsit sized to 309 and what do you know the damn thing shoots!

Here comes the next surprise. Brass that came out of the chamber is below. Still haven’t figured out how to insert a photo where I want it.

So what ordered was a 25 centerfire with a 28” barrel.

What I got is a 30 or 32 something, with a 26” barrel and a 12 1/2” length of pull.

Beach front, open rear and graduated peep tans sight. Not sure of the grade of wood, but does not seem “plain” and is varnished.

Fired case is a bit short for the chamber at 1.630”, neck .325” long and .332” diameter. Shoulder 358” diameter.

Photos below and will add any that people might want to see.

What did I end up with?

Is it a .32-35?

.32-30 Remington is a bottleneck cartridge I believe.
Dimensions for .32-30 I found online.
.332 neck
.357 shoulder 
.378 base
1.88 length

The ladies model tip up rifles have a lighter frame and a metal piece at the rear of the forearm. The model 7 thru 10 tip ups could be ordered with a 24” to 30” barrel according to the old catalogs. Since your rifle has fancy wood my guess is that it is a number 8, it’s interesting with the over stamped 7&8.  Perhaps it was special ordered with a 12 1/2” length of pull. I saw the listing and was tempted to bid on it, but I guessed that it was a .25 rimfire. Congratulations on your purchase, imo it’s an attractive rifle.

The only other things I have found per 1888 catalog is weight, that pretty well rules out being an actual Ladies Model. This weighs in about 7 1/4 pound, the ladies was about 2 pounds lighter.

In the 7/8 models it’s noted that centerfire models were “chambered to order only”. I think that probably applies to all models, but is specific and in bold print on the 7/8 model page.

Need to try and find an earlier catalog. Pre 1885/6 

Sure shot wrote on Jun 4^th, 2023 at 6:27am:

You just don’t want me to feel special!

At least less like a lady shooting it.

Dellet wrote on Jun 4^th, 2023 at 10:38pm:


No you should feel special, there isn’t very many Stevens #8 tip ups around. You probably own the only #8 tip up made in .32-30 Remington ever made.

I had one of those tip-ups but sold it this spring. It was a #8 also and like yours, had the plainer trigger guard. It had that 12-1/2" LOP. It was a 32/40. I must say that I really like the short LOP. About 20 years ago I was working for an outfit where we made re-pops of several old time single shots and restored originals. I was suprised to find an original Win. 1885 schuetzen with a Helm butt-plate also had a 12-1/2 LOP. It fit me so nice I made a re-pop for myself and used that LOP. They seem to balance better even tho I am 6'. 

My tip-up: