ASSRA Forum - Makeover for a Stevens Model 44

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Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 (Read 1052 times)

rnnhntr Participating Member Offline Posts: 38 Joined: May 18^th, 2014	Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Mar 27^th, 2025 at 6:35pm	Print Post
	The pictured Stevens Model 44 in .22 LR was a basket case when I got it. The stock was in three pieces, the bore was so rusted that you could not see through it, and the outside of the barrel and butt plate were badly pitted. Amazingly, the inside of the action was in good shape and the outside of the action had minimal pitting. I cleaned it up, glued the stock back together, and lined and cold-blued the barrel. It now shoots decently, but is still a bit homely. I have started shooting .22 BPCR and want a rifle for it, so this old girl is getting a major makeover. The middle picture shows most of the parts and pieces for the change, a 27" Green Mountain barrel, a ball and spur lever, and a Model 51-style stock. The third picture is a composite that shows the general look I am going for. The action work including fitting the new lever will come first, then the barrel, and lastly the stock. I plan to send the action and lever out for color-case hardening, and will rust blue the barrel, hammer, breech block, etc.


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jimmy Senior Forum Member Offline Now available in Oklahoma. Posts: 337 Location: Skiatook Joined: May 12^th, 2009	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #1 - Mar 27^th, 2025 at 7:18pm	Print Post
	Does CPA recaseharden in the Stevens pattern? That would look better. (to me) Awesome project. The 51 is a great looking rifle.


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Sure shot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 978 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #2 - Mar 27^th, 2025 at 7:47pm	Print Post
	jimmy wrote on Mar 27^th, 2025 at 7:18pm: Does CPA recaseharden in the Stevens pattern? That would look better. (to me) Awesome project. The 51 is a great looking rifle. It would look better to me also,if the color case were done in the Stevens ripple pattern. CPA does this,there may be others that do the Stevens pattern.


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TomKlinger Full Member Offline Posts: 120 Location: Central Florida Joined: Feb 17^th, 2019	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #3 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 8:12am	Print Post
	I think it will look great! Tom Klinger P.S. Stevens didn’t always use the ugly stripes, they also did some in standard bone pack.


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bobw Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1718 Location: NW, Iowa Joined: Mar 19^th, 2013	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #4 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 9:34am	Print Post
	TomKlinger wrote on Mar 28^th, 2025 at 8:12am: I think it will look great! Tom Klinger P.S. Stevens didn’t always use the ugly stripes, they also did some in standard bone pack. Lol, glad I’m not the only one! I’ve caught some heat for not doing the strips. Bob

	Robert Warren
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GT Frequent Elocutionist Online Posts: 2115 Location: Northeast Wyoming Joined: Jun 28^th, 2015	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #5 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 9:45am	Print Post
	I like to see resurrections like this, it's looking good. Thanks for sharing and keep us posted. Greg

	"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk" T. A. Edison "The trouble ain't that there is too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right" M.T.
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marlinguy Frequent Elocutionist Offline Ballards may be weaker, but they sure are neater! Posts: 16730 Location: Oregon Joined: Feb 2^nd, 2009	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #6 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 11:30am	Print Post
	Although we see far more Stevens tiger stripes, I also prefer the standard bone charcoal colors personally. This is looking like a great job, and very well done!

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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Online Posts: 3677 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #7 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 11:31am	Print Post
	On a pristine rifle the stripes would be worth having. They are unsightly- gaudy at least, ugly in most cases- and I'd never seek a replacement. I'd head for a traditional color case or even a good bluing instead. The sample rifle you pictured is a nice looking piece. Just my two cents.


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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Online Posts: 3677 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #8 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 11:35am	Print Post
	btt I double posted a message and then the whole thread disappeared when I went to delete the second one. So, I posted this from my sent file and it returned. perhaps this is how so many threads vanish. Instead of simply removing one's own unwanted stuff it removes the whole thread? I don't know enough about computers to understand, but blind chickens sometimes get tossed into the pot too.
	« Last Edit: Mar 28^th, 2025 at 11:40am by calledflyer »

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Sure shot Oldtimer Offline Posts: 978 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #9 - Mar 28^th, 2025 at 12:54pm	Print Post
	TomKlinger wrote on Mar 28^th, 2025 at 8:12am: I think it will look great! Tom Klinger P.S. Stevens didn’t always use the ugly stripes, they also did some in standard bone pack. The very early Stevens rifles did use color case with a different Marcel pattern, then they switched to the familiar ripple pattern. Savage owned Stevens used a different Marcel pattern also. However, the OP's rifle would have the ripple pattern case hardening to be period correct. His rifle his choice.


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Deadeye Bly Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1088 Location: Stephens City Joined: Feb 25^th, 2011	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #10 - Mar 29^th, 2025 at 8:45am	Print Post
	If you plan to shoot 22BPCR with it, those curved butt plates aren't the best for prone shooting, great for offhand though.


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rnnhntr Participating Member Offline Posts: 38 Joined: May 18^th, 2014	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #11 - Apr 1^st, 2025 at 11:47am	Print Post
	I prefer a "standard" case pattern to the stripped Stevens pattern, so that is what it will get. I agree that the crescent buttplates are not great for .22BPCR, I have a shotgun-style buttplate that is going on it. I hope to start the actual work on the action this week and hopefully do the barrel next week.


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40-65rl Participating Member Offline Posts: 14 Joined: Apr 4^th, 2015	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #12 - Apr 5^th, 2025 at 4:05pm	Print Post
	Beautiful rifle. love that Stevens 44.


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RJ-35-40 Full Member Offline Posts: 155 Joined: Dec 7^th, 2016	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #13 - Apr 6^th, 2025 at 4:53pm	Print Post
	Nice..! So please tell me, what is that finish in the grip area? Fine checkering or something else?


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oneatatime Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4004 Location: Rocky Mountains Joined: Oct 30^th, 2011	Re: Makeover for a Stevens Model 44 Reply #14 - Apr 6^th, 2025 at 7:20pm	Print Post
	" The third picture is a composite that shows the general look I am going for."


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