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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial # (Read 3881 times)
bpjack
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Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
May 30th, 2024 at 5:53pm
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The Stevens scope that Marlinguy recently bought shows 3125 after the 'No' .  I have one marked 'No 368'  I have assumed mine is a model 368.  Is that correct or is that the serial number or is Vall's a model 3125?  I am confused!

Jack
  

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Smoke
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #1 - May 31st, 2024 at 1:23am
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Here are photos of the 20" scope I got on a Stevens 44 1/2 #45 gallery rifle.  THe barrel was never cut for a front sight and the barrel address is on the flat clockwise from the top.

The rifle serial number is in the 59xx range.

How does this compare with your scope in terms of the length and the mounts?

Note: I suspect the flat spring on the rear mount is a replacement - it's soldered in place.  I don't know if the front spring is original or not.  It's pinned to the base.


« Last Edit: May 31st, 2024 at 1:53am by Smoke »  
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #2 - May 31st, 2024 at 4:17am
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J. Stevens Rifle Scopes
« Last Edit: May 31st, 2024 at 10:49am by Schutzenbob »  
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #3 - May 31st, 2024 at 9:20am
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A Stevens 368 is a 6X, a 388 is an 8X. Both made in the 1920's. The 388 is much less common. These are model numbers. I've never seen serial numbers on any Stevens scopes, I am not saying that it didn't happen.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #4 - May 31st, 2024 at 9:54am
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bpjack wrote on May 30th, 2024 at 5:53pm:
The Stevens scope that Marlinguy recently bought shows 3125 after the 'No' .  I have one marked 'No 368'  I have assumed mine is a model 368.  Is that correct or is that the serial number or is Vall's a model 3125?  I am confused!

Jack


The Stevens scope I bought from Smoke was built before WWI and is before catalogs listed them as specific model numbers. So that's a serial number on it, not a model number. 

The chart SchuetzenBob posted is not quite complete as a lot of scopes listed by model numbers came in much longer lengths than that chart shows. I have a 28" and 30" Stevens scopes that are both #368.
  

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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #5 - May 31st, 2024 at 10:00am
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Sure shot wrote on May 31st, 2024 at 9:20am:
A Stevens 368 is a 6X, a 388 is an 8X. Both made in the 1920's. The 388 is much less common. These are model numbers. I've never seen serial numbers on any Stevens scopes, I am not saying that it didn't happen.


Agreed, these are "generally" the model number of the scope. But with all things Stevens, "generally, usually, most often" are the key words. I have a 24 inch marked "NO 781"...so who knows.
  
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bpjack
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #6 - May 31st, 2024 at 10:18am
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All this is starting to make sense now. maybe.  BTW my scope has clickless Winchester A5 mounts and a post reticle.  I my first post on the forum was an inquiry about my scope. 

Jack
  

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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #7 - May 31st, 2024 at 10:19am
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In Tom Rowe’s American Rifles Sights book, there are a couple of scopes listed with similar numbers. Both in the 1400’s.

I would be interested to no if the scope referenced above that Marlinguy now owns, if the front mount would fit a Standard Stevens dove tail.
  
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marlinguy
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #8 - May 31st, 2024 at 11:26am
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Dellet wrote on May 31st, 2024 at 10:19am:
In Tom Rowe’s American Rifles Sights book, there are a couple of scopes listed with similar numbers. Both in the 1400’s.

I would be interested to no if the scope referenced above that Marlinguy now owns, if the front mount would fit a Standard Stevens dove tail.


Both mounts appear to be for target bases, not dovetail mounts. So to use this on a Stevens dovetail would require a base adapter.
One of my Stevens scopes uses dovetail mounts at both ends and they are both 3/8" for my Ballard #3. The other is 3/8" front, but 5/16" rear. I have it on another Ballard and had to use an adapter 5/16" to 3/8" for the rear.
  

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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #9 - May 31st, 2024 at 11:39am
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Schutzenbob wrote on May 31st, 2024 at 4:17am:
J. Stevens Rifle Scopes


Bob,  do you have any idea which year(s) those ads were published?
  
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Schutzenbob
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #10 - May 31st, 2024 at 12:13pm
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Bruce,

The top page is from 1914, the lower page is from 1920.
  
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #11 - May 31st, 2024 at 12:46pm
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marlinguy wrote on May 31st, 2024 at 9:54am:
bpjack wrote on May 30th, 2024 at 5:53pm:
The Stevens scope that Marlinguy recently bought shows 3125 after the 'No' .  I have one marked 'No 368'  I have assumed mine is a model 368.  Is that correct or is that the serial number or is Vall's a model 3125?  I am confused!

Jack


The Stevens scope I bought from Smoke was built before WWI and is before catalogs listed them as specific model numbers. So that's a serial number on it, not a model number. 

The chart SchuetzenBob posted is not quite complete as a lot of scopes listed by model numbers came in much longer lengths than that chart shows. I have a 28" and 30" Stevens scopes that are both #368.


I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure that I have a Scope marked Stevens Arms and Tool, that has model numbers. Maybe more than one.

If scopes were marked like rifles, 1916 was the change from Stevens arm and Tool, to Stevens Arms. Not sure I’ve paid enough attention to the scope markings to catch one marked “Stevens Arms”.

Keep in mind Stevens also sold Malcolm scopes before selling  Catarac scopes that I think were marked Stevens before buying the company. Is it looks me the serialized scopes were actually made before Stevens bought the company?

  
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #12 - May 31st, 2024 at 1:40pm
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Dellet wrote on May 31st, 2024 at 12:46pm:

If scopes were marked like rifles, 1916 was the change from Stevens arm and Tool, to Stevens Arms. Not sure I’ve paid enough attention to the scope markings to catch one marked “Stevens Arms”.

It's kind of hard to see in the scope I show above from my gallery rifle, but it says "Stevens Arms Company"

If anyone is curious, let me know and I will pull it out and take clear pics of the markings.
  
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #13 - May 31st, 2024 at 1:49pm
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Scopes made by Stevens when owned by Savage after 1920 would be marked Stevens Arms Co. Also any scopes made after 1916 would be marked Stevens Arms Company, unless they were using up old in stock tubes with the Stevens A&T marking.
« Last Edit: May 31st, 2024 at 2:01pm by Sure shot »  
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Re: Stevens Scope Model# vs Serial #
Reply #14 - May 31st, 2024 at 2:12pm
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Smoke wrote on May 31st, 2024 at 1:40pm:
Dellet wrote on May 31st, 2024 at 12:46pm:

If scopes were marked like rifles, 1916 was the change from Stevens arm and Tool, to Stevens Arms. Not sure I’ve paid enough attention to the scope markings to catch one marked “Stevens Arms”.

It's kind of hard to see in the scope I show above from my gallery rifle, but it says "Stevens Arms Company"

If anyone is curious, let me know and I will pull it out and take clear pics of the markings.


In bpjacks original post. Both scopes are marked J Stevens Arms & Tool. One with model number, one serialized. I would have considered both of those to be Pre1916 based on the roll mark change on the rifles is supposed to have changed then.

Can’t remember but I think the first dedicated scope catalog was 1901 or 03, so it’s kind of a small window. 
  
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