J. Stevens Single Shot pistol

[mattk]

Hey I need a little identifying an old Stevens gun. Its a Single shot break action pistol. Single action with a spur hammer. The barrel release is a large button with a slot in it like a flat head screw. It appears to be a centerfire caliber but it isnt marked. What the heck is this thing?

Thanks

[Steven Mace]

mattk, are you able to post a picture of this pistol in question? During the late 1800's into the early 1900's Stevens made a small variety of pistols like you've described.

Steve Mace

[Jagermeister]

Either of these look like what you have?

JM

[Jagermeister]

maybe one of these

JM

[mattk]

Looks like a model 35. Thanks Jagermister. Know anything about them?
I cant post a pic. The gun belongs to a friend of mine.

[Jagermeister]

From the Gun traders guide

Chambered for 410 shot shell 6, 8,10 or 12" half octagon bbl. Iron or brass frame w/nickle plaed or casehardened. BATF Class 3 license required to purchase or subject to seizure Made 1923-1942

jm

[Gordon]

I have a model 35 in .22lr, I had one in .25 stevens with a stock, but sold it for $800 (and bought a cherry 1916 DWM Luger!). I have seen them in .32 rim fire also. My .22lr is scarry accurate, like 1.5" at 25 yards with Ely Target ammo.Stay away from Stingers and the like.

[Jim Keenan]

Hi, Jaegermeister and Mattk,

While the No. 35 was made in .410, most were in .22 LR, and it was a fairly popular target gun in the 1920's. The shotgun calibers were dropped with the passage of the NFA in 1934, but production of the .22 continued until WWII.

I do not think the No. 35 itself was made in CF pistol calibers or with a stock, but similar pistols were; the Lord Model (No. 36), for example, was made in .32 Short Colt, 38 Long Colt and .44 Russian as well as in .22 LR, .25 Stevens and .22 WRF. The .44 Russian was a very popular target round in the 1890-1910 time period. The models with shoulder stocks were called "pocket rifles" or "pocket shotguns". While originally under the NFA, they have been removed from the NFA and reclassified as curios and relics. Many, of course, were made prior to 1899 and so are antiques, as well.

Stevens made several models with features preferred by a prominent shooter, and named the gun for that shooter; there were the aforementioned Stevens-Lord, the Stevens-Conlin (No. 38), and Stevens-Gould (No. 37). Some had trigger guards, some had spur triggers.

There is a fair amount of collector interest, with some models in good condtion bringing in the neighborhood of $1000 or more.

Jim

[tacberry]

I just found this thread while googling.

Here's a picture of my stevens pistol:







I think its a Stevens Lourds pistol (based on the trigger guard). A gunsmith that I showed it to told me it's a .22lr, but I really doubt it. The .22lr does not eject properly. Isn't there a .22 rimfire with a much wider rim?

[bfoster]

tacberry,

Your pistol is probably a Stevens Conlin model, a later production example without the side covered trigger gaurd. While the trigger gaurd is similar to the Lord model, the rear sight pictured is the one shared with the Gould model.

I've never seen a Conlin chambered for any cartridge other than the .22 LR, unlike many of the other tip Stevens target pistols.

While this pistol was in production almost all available target grade 22 LR cartridges were loaded with either black powder or semi-smokeless powder. Assuming that this pistol is in good mechanical condition, you're probably having extraction problems because almost all of the 22 LR ammunition available today produces far higher pressure than did the black powder cartridges that this pistol was designed to use. This causes symptoms such as you describe. You may well have much better luck using either Standard velocity or the so called Subsonic ammunition. Too, many of these old pistols show an ammunition preference for soft greased bullets. I've had good luck with several of the mid-priced ammunition varieties available from Eley.

Bob

[Skofnung]

Man, that is one cool gun tacberry.

[Jim Keenan]

In case the names are confusing, those models were named for prominent target shooters of the day, some of whom used the guns and/or made suggestions about the design.

Jim

[alexarose]

I need to find a price on a stevens .22 pistol breakdown, single shot with rifle sights...why can i look?

[altschafl@earthlink.net]

DSC00762.JPGCan anyone give me an idea of the worth of this particular pistol or direct me to a collector site that may have more info? I belive this is a 22LR 8". The serial number is 47070. I don't know if that would help determine is value.

[molasses.slim]

You have a Model No. 35 and from the pix a nice example. Worth $300 to $500. Check a Fleyderman for more info.

[tacberry]

Jim,

I haven't checked for replies to this post in a long time. Thank you for the info. I'll definately take the Stevens out next range session and try some subsonic ammo.

Tac

[dfaugh]

I don't know if this is relevant or not....

When I was young, my buddy had a rather odd, older, .22 rifle, that used a rimfire cartriidge, but NOT .22LR.

Seems to me it was called a Winchester .22 Rimfire (WRF)... was a bit bigger in all dimensions than a .22LR. He used to have a hard time finding ammo for it(gun datyed to early 1900s). Maybe this is what this gun is chambered for?

[Tbu61]

J. Stevens company made all sorts of stuff, just for fun Google up: Stevens-Duryea

The first Automobile (commercially) made in the USA....

I just inherited a .22 Tip-up from a dear friend, have it on display with a Duryea stock certificate and radiator crest.

[USMC GAU-21]

Hello Everyone new to the forum. I also have a J. Stevens single shot pistol in nickel. However it does not have any of the indentifying marks on the side of the barrell.

On the bottom of the barrell it appears to have 'proof' marks of some sort.

They read:

Ser # 527
0,2 grn G.P./71.
1,8 grRI

No other marks just a *H right by the button to open the breech. I have seen pictures on the site and web of this J. Stevens gun but mine has no such markings as all the others I have seen. Any help on this old firearm would be great!

[tacberry]

That's a great looking pistol. To those who know: Is that a Steven's Lourds?

[smokenguns]

Any one have some info on a Stevens Mod 10 22 cal? value and rarity. Cant seem to fins any info on the net.

[gilmore220]

I am looking for some valuation advice on a Stevens Lord Model pistol owned by Chevalier Ira Paine of MA.

I have posted some pictures of the pistol and associated artifacts including glass balls, letters from Ira Paine, and Ira's scrapbooks of newspaper clippings at the following link:

http://picasaweb.google.com/irapaine...factCollection

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Here's 1 pic of the pistol and additional barrells.

Thanks.

[Jim Watson]

Very nice, but valuation for what?

Asking/offering price for sale or purchase?
It is a unique piece, there can be no market value assigned except by sale, probably at auction or maybe by exchange of lowball offer and extortionate counteroffer converging on a deal.

Insurance?
Maybe somebody would be willing to look at a spot on the wall and make up a number.

You might ought to look into the process for getting an individual item listed under Curio & Relic, I suspect the barrel without sights is smoothbore to be loaded with shot for breaking the glass balls, and shot pistols are generally frowned upon by the authorities.

[gilmore220]

Thanks.

I am looking into selling and having difficulty finding anything similar to give me an idea on the value.

[lionel400e]

I COLLECT THE STEVENS LORDS AND WOULD LIKE BUY YOURS YOU CAN CONTACT ME AT LIONEL400E@AOL.COM OR 619 644-1247
KEN