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Steamtractor
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Unusual Stevens tip up
Apr 4th, 2024 at 5:10pm
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I just stumbled on this one a few days ago- it's pretty rare according to Tom Rowe's new Stevens book. The auction house didn't know what they had, it was described as a lady's model, but I knew different when I saw the stock! 
It's in excellent shape, mechanical and otherwise and a bit unusual in that it was never nickel plated. Instead it sports the blued finish found on some late tip up rifles and shotguns.
Unfortunately, someone long ago installed a Bullard rifle butt plate on the stock. I have both the crescent and swiss style Stevens butt plates in my parts stash, I could put either on it to be correct. Of course I would have to reshape the stock and affect the old finish, which I am reluctant to do... What would you guys do, leave it alone or redo it?
It's very interesting to me, the way the bottom tang is inlet into the stock beneath the pistol grip.
I think my pistol grip Maynard is done that way (I haven't looked at it in several years).
I believe I read someplace that Stevens bought and absorbed Maynard along the way, I wonder if that's how they came to dabble in making a few tip ups like this?
  
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SBoomer
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #1 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 5:51pm
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Nice looking rifle. Leave it as is. The fact that it has a rear sight more than likely means it started as either a No.7 or No.8 Premier rifle. It could have very well been a No.13 or 14 Ladies model too. What is the caliber and width of the barrel at the frame flats?
  
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #2 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 5:57pm
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Very nice find! What caliber, .22LR? Is there a model # stamped on it? I would look under the forearm for anything stamped on it. Looking in the Stevens catalog reprints, you could special order a tip up with a pistol grip stock for an extra $10-$12, or possibly more depending on the grade of wood or checkering. In James Grant's Boy's Single Shot book, he discusses pistol grip Stevens tip ups a bit.
  
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #3 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 6:02pm
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That buttplate would bother me too. You might consider fitting a repro Stevens Elk head buttplate or a  Stevens "S" buttplate depending on what would fit better. You won't have to touch the finish on the stock this way.
  
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Steamtractor
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #4 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 7:21pm
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Thanks guys I dug out Grants book, found the info pg 403-408 very interesting. I would guess this is the high end checkering it’s done with two different size diamonds. The barrel is marked 22 short or long rifle, and is 0.885” wide.
I compared it to my “real” ladies rifles, they are much more slender frames and barrels are 0.767” wide.
  
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #5 - Apr 4th, 2024 at 8:13pm
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Hmm, my two tip up barrels measure around .985" at the breech, one is a .22LR the other a .25-21.
  
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Steamtractor
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #6 - Apr 5th, 2024 at 7:26am
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I'll check it again, maybe I mis-read the caliper. Seems like I am more prone to goofing up than I used to be.
Anyway, the frame and barrel are noticeably larger than the ladies rifles even by eyeball measure
  
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ADK22
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #7 - Apr 5th, 2024 at 9:34am
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Nice looking rifle
  
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #8 - Apr 5th, 2024 at 12:54pm
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Here's a picture of Annie Oakley with a pistol grip Stevens tip up with what appears to be a shotgun buttplate.
  
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Steamtractor
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Re: Unusual Stevens tip up
Reply #9 - Apr 5th, 2024 at 1:23pm
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REAL Cool- thanks for showing me that! I think I’ll leave mine like it is (like hers)…only difference is the nickel plate.
  
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