[Al Thompson]

Just found one of these in a local GS. It's .22LR, long heavy target barrel, crummy sights and (apparently) drilled and tapped for a scope or a peep sight. Anyone have any experiance with these? No idea on what they'll want for the rifle, price wise..

[Mike Irwin]

Stephens, or J. Stevens?

Walnut Hill was a shooting range in, I believe, New York.

Back in the 1870s, when target shooting was a fairly big sport in the United States, some manufacturers began naming both rifles and cartridges after some of the famous ranges....

That's a trend that has continued. Every once in awhile a manufacturer will bring out a rifle, usually a retro rifle, that's named for an old range.

Walnut Hill is recognized as the oldest shooting range in the United States, at something better than 125-years.

Everyone should be familiar with the Creedmore range in Long Island, now under a housing development...

Other famous ranges of the era included Sea Girt, in New Jersey, What Cheer in Rhode Island, and one that unfortunately escapes me right now...


Anyway, the rifle itself is probably from the 1920s to the 1930s. Other than that, I'd suggest checking out the J. Stevens Arms history.

[Old Fuff]

Before World War Two Stevens made single-shot, lever action rifles. These ranged from simple "boy's rifles" to top-of-the-line target rifles, the best of which were the Walnut Hill line named after a famous target range of that day. There were at least two grades of target rifles plus a sporting rifle configuration. Today, collectors that know what they are don't walk - they run when one shows up. If it's in good shape, and the bore isn't eroded out (which is common) it's a very classy rifle. If the price was right it would be worth rebarreling.

[Al Thompson]

Oops - Stevens is correct. I glanced down the bore, looked OK in that glimpse. They just got it in, so no price. I wouldn't mnd getting it, but what the heck would I use it for? Too heavy to hunt with.

[Mike Irwin]

"I wouldn't mnd getting it, but what the heck would I use it for?"


BBBBBBBBBWWWWWWWWWWWWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

When in the hell has that EVER been a consideration against the purchase of a firearm??!!

Or are you going soft on us, Mr. Thompson? :scrutiny:

[Al Thompson]

Well, guess it depends on price... :) But a 12 pound .22 sort of exceeds even my tenous grasp on reality.

[Gordon]

I have a Steven's Favorite in .32s&W long (YES its been converted from .32 rimfire) and a Stevens 44 1/2 in .22wrf . These guns are very cool American artforms and great small game getters of a quiet nature!:cool: :cool: :cool:

[Al Thompson]

Well, it followed me home. The rifling is in good shape and the blueing is thin in spots. The case hardening is 95% on the left side of te receiver, 20% at best on the right side. The barrel is marked Stevens X barrel - 22-long rifle. The X is in a circle.

The forend is fine, needs some wax. The stock has a large area on the right side with the wood bare. Looks like I have some staining and oiling to do.

Someone had attached a ladder style rear sight, but it does not appear original. There is a block marked stevens attached to the left side of the receiver with two screws and a third tapped hole above that. There are also 4 holes drilled and tapped in the barrel. Two about 11 inches down from the receiver, two over the chamber.

I'd love to find a set of period sighhts for the rifle. Any one have a source?

[Mike Irwin]

Probably a Lyman sight of some type, Al.

And probably FEROCIOUSLY expensive these days.

Your best bet is to find a copy of the Stevens history, it may have some information on the sights on this gun.

[gun-fucious]

seen this?
http://www.rediscovered-shooting-treasures.com/stevenswh.htm
http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?ItemNum=5043528

Stevens Walnut Hill Models 417, 417 ½ , 418 and 418 ½ rifle brochure and factory correspondence reproductions. Great information covering safety, function, sights, ballistics and features of this great rifle plus 1933 factory correspondence detailing bore dimensions. Made with quality scans of original. Great addition to your rifle. No reserve. Buyer pays $1.00 shipping. Have fun. For more information contact me at pete@rediscovered-shooting- treasures.com

http://www.savageparts.com/reproduction.htm

[Old Fuff]

There might be someone at the American Single Shot Rifle Association (ASSRA) that offer some imput. Go to: www.assra.com

I have a copy of "PJ O'Hare's Shooting Accessories for Riflemen" that dates from the middle-later 1930's. It list the Stevens Walnut Hill rifles and various accessories for them.

It origanally came with a Lyman 17A front sight and 48L receiver sights. The holes in the barrel are for scope blocks. A Lyman 52L Extension Receiver Sight was Optional. By the way, the rifle (Model 417) cost 50 bucks or less, depending on what sights were mounted.

You could check with Lyman, but I think the Lyman 48 sights were pretty much the same. What was different was the base - made to fit a particular rifle. If the one you bought still has the base ( on the left side of the receiver) getting the rest of the sight might not be that hard. Last I knew the 17A front sight was still being cataloged.

[Al Thompson]

Gosh, thanks guys! Looks like I'll have some "fun" (:D) looking for a good rear sight.