"Maybe I ought to give this Show a rest for a while," I groused to myself.  "Like maybe a year or so."

It was mostly New Stuff.  Everywhere was the soft patina of plastic and the warm glow of anodized aluminum, in weird colors.

Many tables held nothing  but magazines, sight rails, laser mounts and other aluminum or plastic accessories for the above mentioned tactical arms.  Occasional rows of Henry lever actions or Ruger autoloaders.  Here and there, some battered WWII and earlier milsurps, at current prices that brought to mind the Weimar Republic.  The only vintage stuff in quantity was Colt and S&W handguns and replicas thereof.

"Guess the Antique Trade is about finished," I thought, not for the first time.  Certainly most I see at the range now have black rifles, and seem to be concerned with unloading them as rapidly as possible.  It's rare to see anything but auto cases on the ground any more.

"Well, one more turn around the place and then it's time for lunch," I concluded.  "Same everything on the same tables; go around the outside again; dip into this side room--"

On the table at the entrance, among a bunch of modern stuff was a familiar outline. (Not familiar at this show, but familiar nonetheless.) I hovered over it, unbelievingly.

"Can I see this?" I asked the guy behind the table.  He nodded.  I picked it up and made a show of looking at the tag again, which said "Stevens 44."  Underneath had been written in ballpoint but overlaid with a Magic Marker, "$400".

It's actually a Stevens 44-1/2," the table holder said, authoritatively.  “That ‘25-20’ on the barrel isn't for the normal shell, though."  "How's the bore?" I asked.  Pretty good," he said, cutting the tie so I could open the action.

It was better than "pretty good;" it was really, really good.  The barrel had a few tapped holes, the lever pin had been replaced and the gun rust blued; a good job. To the collector of shooter rifles, ie, me, a tapped barrel means that the previous owner was excited enough about the accuracy to pay to mount a scope on it.

"Can you go any lower?" I asked, marveling at my own mendacity.  "No, sorry," he said, "If I can't sell it, I'll send it to CPA to get it set back for the modern ammo."

I didn't require the need to spare the collector of the future anguish to give him the money.  We said thanks, and I left.

It wasn't a 44, or a 44-1/2. It was a 044-1/2, in great shape with a pristine bore.  Why can't Life be like this all the time?

Wanna double your money?

If you don’t have brass, Bertram has it available right now.

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Bob

Nice rifle and a great buy. At that price I would have purchased it too.

What show in southern Arizona did you discover this pearl? My most recent experiences in the Tucson shows have been far from positive.

I lived in Gilbert for over 15 years and the Mesa show was always a Mecca or Bust. I bought a Fields Action 450 3 1/4 BPE Rifle there many years ago. This "Gomer" was walking around with Fields over his shoulder and several Colts stuck in his belt. I got the Fields but several guys beat me to the Colts.
Gentleman in Montana now hunts Elk with the Fields.

Second 50-yard group with barrel sights and a load I had around: Nelsdale thin-rim cases, Remington BR Small Rifle Primers, 7 gr SR-4759, Ideal 257420 sized 0.258," Lyman gas checks, Alox/Beeswax.

At 100 yards, I could get most of them into 2-1/2" or under.  That German silver front sight is not for old eyes.