Another

Pretty sure that’s a Model 55 Favorite. Ladies model 

Nice rifle, not too many around, plus condition

Any ideas from catalogs when adjusting nut was being made? Thanks

I hate being a contrarian but something looks off, on the top tang.  It appears to hump up from the rear of the frame and bent down from there.  I have a couple pictures of favorite ladies rifles, one is Tom Rowe’s that is suppose to be a model 21. The other gun, I have no idea what model it is, but is very nice. Both have straight top tangs.  I would never claim expert status on a Favorite, these are just my observations and maybe it’s just the way the picture was taken.
Bob

Just looking again at my 1903 reprint cattledog, the Model 55 text says a shotgun buttplate was optional.  OTOH the cut does not show the ringed takedown screw typical of Favorites in that timeframe, which this one has.  I took that "hump" to be just a trick of the light.....better photos needed.   

I was kinda hoping to hear that it was chambered for the .22 centerfire - the only instance I know of where the factory did anything but the traditional rimfires on a Favorite frame.  That would have made it REALLY rare.

For the British market Stevens did center fire in the 1894 in some rook cartage. I have the but stock and action but no barrel and forearm.

Sure shot wrote on Oct 31^st, 2023 at 9:45am:


Agreed!

frnkeore wrote on Oct 31^st, 2023 at 2:15am:


I have nothing but intuition to go on, but it seems to me that by the time the 6 o'clock extractor appeared, the frames were blued.  I don't recall that the catalogs say anything about it. But I could believe that a Model 55 might have been CCH, it being a premium model.  The angle of the stripes looks different from Model 44s, but that might just be a difference in how the frame was oriented when it went into the tank.   

At least some 44 1/2 404's have this buttplate.

Another clue: the forearm wood on a Model 55 is longer than a Favorite's, going by catalog illustrations.  This one does look like a Favorite forearm.   

So then I want to ask: Where did that buttstock come from?  It's a lot like a Model 47, but the Favorite frame has shorter tangs, so a 47 stock would have had to be shortened at the front by about 1/2 inch, throwing the lower contour out of whack.  It would also be too wide.  Ditto anything from an 044-1/2.

How long is the barrel?
The elk head buttplate on the 044 1/2 is flat not curved, the buttplate on this rifle looks like an original plate rather than the reproduction. The reproduction ones do not have as fine detail as the original ones. The buttstock on a ladies favorite should have a perch belly and the bottom of the pistol grip should have an "S" curve.  The checkering on this rifle to me looks like factory Stevens. 

Couple things, 
I also believe the buttplate is original, just not sure on this gun.  I showed the reproduction picture to bring attention to the possibility the plate could be from an English version gun.  I have heated plates to change the curve.  And, the wrist still has me wondering what’s going on.

As far as the case hardening goes, I think I see more color on the most recent picture from the front of the action.  Might just be lighting in the original pictures.
Bob

If I remember correctly, the head-space-adjusting nut was a short-lived early-post-1900 feature that I'd be surprised to see on a factory Model 56.  Also, while there are plausible excuses for the non-characteristic case hardening pattern, the "bulged" upper tang makes no sense as factory work.  On the other hand, if the buttstock is new, perhaps reworking the upper tang was necessary to make the pistol grip (especially since its checkered) look right.

Bill Lawrence

I'm pretty sure that's someone's project gun.  The stock lines are all wrong for a Stevens.  Hump on top of the tang, dished out nose of comb, shape of the pistol grip, checkering...
The butt plate is from an 044 1/2 but notice the screws don't match.
But, my opinion is probably worth what you're paying for it.
Happy New Year 🎊