J Stevens 22cal. tip-up

[justajoe]

Does anyone have any idea about this;
My friend has what appears to be a very, very old target pistol.
It is stamped J. Stevens and bears the serial # 3400 followed by an (I) in a circle. It sort of looks like a "luger", but with a very long barrel (9 1/2").
The gun is very primative appearing and the hammer is a pull-pin on the back above the grip.
If anyone has any information or knowledge about this weapon it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You
Joe

 

[mnrivrat]

Sounds like it is the Model 10 Target pistol. They are fairly scarce .

 

[justajoe]

Thanks for the feedback. Any idea what it might be worth?

Thank You
Joe

 

[mnrivrat]

Condition is a major factor so it is hard to say without seeing the gun, the last one I seen for sale was in the $400 range in decent condition. (far from minty)

You might want to cruise the internet gun auctions and sales for more price information. Places like Gunbroker, AuctionArms . and GunsAmerica for a start would give up to date values assuming there are some for sale.

PS: A quick check of Gunbroker shows one in average condition for a $375 buy-it-now price .

 

[earlthegoat2]

Werent the J Stevens tip ups break open with a normal hammer?

 

[krs]

Werent the J Stevens tip ups break open with a normal hammer?

Yes they were. I guess someone could put a little handle on the firing pin , spring load it and fire by pulling back and releasing it. Like a zipgun deluxe because it uses a spring instead of a rubber band.

It's useless to try to answer this without a photo.

The model is one of the easiest to modify or "Bubbafix", so what you have is anyone's guess at this point.

The Stevens tipup "target" model was not all that rare, values seen in gunbroker are not values, they're asking prices. Sort of like dreams.

 

[Jim Watson]

Double knit
See pictures at
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5454304#post5454304

mnrivrat is right.

 

[krs]

Ah, well that's a whole different pistol. Was it also called a 'Tip-up'?

The ones I've had were older than that, with nickel frames and buttcaps on a curved grip sort of reminiscent of a Tower pistol.

 

[dagger dog]

2008 Standard Catalog of Firearms bolsters mnrivat's findings by listing the Model10 Target Pistol as

EXC $400
V.G. $300
Good $200
Fair $150
Poor $100

Approx 7000 manufactured between 1919 and 1933. This version had a knurled cocking piece that extended through the rear of the frame instead of a hammer,8" barrel that tipped, checkered rubber grips, blued steel frame

 

[Jim K]

The No. 10 Stevens does have a hammer. What looks like the cocking piece of a firing pin is in fact linked to the internal hammer. It is an interesting design and its main drawback, as far as I can see, is excessive weight; it is quite heavy even for a target pistol.

Jim