Inherited recently a 20" tip up pistol along with many cool Indian items All from my grandmother who resided near a Sioux Indian reservation in the early 1910's. It's stamped Stevens & CO Chicopee Falls, Mass PAT SRPT.E.1864. It has another stamp with the number 1673 on the barrel and the same number on the bottom of the wood/metal handle. The barrel is octagonal, with no color. The main metal housing is a probably nickel plated. There is no trigger guard. I know absolutely nothing about firearms, but saw a few items on the internet to get some basic info. Can anyone help in identifying this pistol as to its beginnings and value range. Thanks.
Need info on 20" pistol, Stevens & co
- Thread starter Beaves
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Speedo66
Member
A Stevens "Bicycle" gun, missing the stock?
Jim Watson
Member
Sounds like a Stevens "Hunter's Pet" without its shoulder stock. They made a wide range of "pocket rifles" but the Hunter's Pet is the only one Flayderman shows with a barrel as long as 20 inches. About 4000 made from 1872 - 1900.
Does it look like the one advertised at:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=131041144
It did not make the reserve bid or $750 buy it now price and it has the stock.
Does it look like the one advertised at:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=131041144
It did not make the reserve bid or $750 buy it now price and it has the stock.
JohnBT
Member
Having trouble with your reading comprehension? I don't believe there was a Sioux reservation in India.
I'll see what I can find when I get home to my books. John
I'll see what I can find when I get home to my books. John
Stevens made a lot of that type gun, essentially a tip up pistol with a shoulder stock. When the National Firearms Act was passed in 1934, many owners avoided registration by simply discarding the stock and/or welding up the attaching holes.
While a 20" barrel gun would have been outside the purview of the act (and still is), with or without a stock, some folks chose not to take chances.
Jim
While a 20" barrel gun would have been outside the purview of the act (and still is), with or without a stock, some folks chose not to take chances.
Jim
Yep. It's a "Hunter's Pet" for sure without the shoulder stock. Very impressed with the feed back, thanks everyone....but where did India come from? Grandma lived in White River, South Dakota next to the Sioux reservation. (However, I could embellish the story a little I suppose). So what source is used to find out this info that only 4000 were made, etc.
Beaves
Beaves
Jim Watson
Member
I looked it up in Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms. He set up a numbering system that was widely used, although I don't see it as much now that the Blue Book is taken as gospel. A Hunter's Pet without shoulder stock is a 5H-038, for example.
Jim Watson
Member
Yes, I need to get the new edition while Mr Flayderman is still around to collect royalties.
lionel400e
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RonE
Member
I can remember when I was a kid, we used to put on our cap pistols and play "Cowboys and Natives".
I once visited the Hoopa "Native" Reservation in Northern California (I think not!)
Has the BIA been changed to BNA?
I once visited the Hoopa "Native" Reservation in Northern California (I think not!)
Has the BIA been changed to BNA?
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