I was talking with my grandfather about his rifle and...

[Q-Lock]

Last night I was chatting with my wife's grandfather about firearms and knives. He started talking about this old 30'06 bolt action rifle that he has. He says it has Winchester on the receiver and Stevens on the barrel. He also states that he bought it from a guy that said he had gotten it brand new and that the rifle wasn't pieced together.

I mention this rifle because I'd never heard of Winchester and Stevens building a rifle together. This may be common knowledge...but I don't know it. I figured I'd post about it on here and I'd be sure to get a knowledgeable answer.

Toby(my grandfather in-law) said he had a $50 bet with one of his friends about whether or not the rifle was manufactured with both names on it or if it was put together after being purchased. Apparently his friend came back the next day and gave him $50 and told Toby that 85 of those rifles had been made.

Does this sound like an accurate story? Could my grandfather be mistaken? Does everyone know about this and am I just an idiot for not knowing it?

Keep in mind I am only going from what Toby told me...I have not seen this rifle.

Thank you in advance for any information!

 

[Ol` Joe]

I am no expert but kind of doubt him if it`s a sporter. That would be like finding a Chevy with a Ford engine from the factory.
The rifle may be military though and put together at a amory with various parts. everyone and their brother made rifles dureing the war, IBM made M1 carbines, singer made 1911s, and AC spark plug made 50 cals.
Sorry..................can`t help

 

[Q-Lock]

I asked him if he thought it was some sort of military rifle. From his description, I gather that it is not.

The whole thing seemed a bit odd to me and I was immediately skeptical (of course I didn't say that to my grandfather in-law)...he loves the rifle and says a lot of people give him offers for it, which seems odd if it were in fact just pieced together...but who knows.

Thanks for your input joe, and perhaps someone else can throw in their opinion as well!

 

[Schleprok62]

See if you can get a look at the rifle, and get pics if possible... my curiosity is peaked by this...

 

[Q-Lock]

Problem being that he lives down in the "hills" of Kentucky....it's going to be a few weeks at the least until we can get down there to visit. He's just up here for a few days. Hopefully I can get some decent pictures when I get down there.

 

[NevadaPistolero]

Possibility...companies bought firearms from brokers...ward used to use all makers guns. It could be a factory gun but not the original factory. Ive read in the past of rifles getting different mix and match parts on guns that were made for Sears, Wards and a host of others. Stevens was a pretty popular gun in its day. Never say never.

 

[Thefabulousfink]

Could it have been a post-war sporterization by a professional gunsmith that was then sold to a dealer? Some of those jobs were very well done and would be hard to tell (as far as quality goes) from a factory sporter.

 

[thatguy]

I would never call anyone less than truthful, but I seriously doubt that Winchester ever made any rifles with Stevens stamped on the barrel. Is he an elderly man with a fading memory, by any chance?

 

[burrhead]

oops

 

[rangerruck]

savage has a good research dept. call them and ask.

 

[Q-Lock]

good idea ranger...I'll try and call them today.

thanks for everyone's input.

 

[phoglund]

I was intrigued enough by this to do a little searching online. Although I didn't find a bolt action Winchester with a Stevens barrel I did find an auction listing for a Winchester with a Stevens barrel:

"Winchester 25; Low Wall Single Shot Rifle; Stevens Barrel; Octagon Barrel;"

http://www.proxibid.com/asp/LotDetail.asp?ahid=357&aid=734&lid=205476

Perhaps this is not as unheard of as one might think.

 

[Big_R]

I've seen rifles stamped Savage/Stevens and personally own a shotgun stamped Stevens/Browning. I've never researched any of these, but my guess with my shotgun is it was built by Stevens on a Browning patent or something like that. Another possibility is at one time (possibly during a war?) Stevens contracted to do assembly for firearms manufacturers otherwise occupied? Just thinking outloud.

Ryan

 

[kentucky_smith]

Probably going to be something like a Springfield 670 or 670a, which would fit the Winchester bolt-action 30/06 description.