Stevens 235 Coach Gun Project

[FloriDave]

This is a new project I'm just starting. It's a Stevens 235 SxS 12 gauge, they were made from 1912 to 1932 I think. I got it from my father in law several years ago, not sure where he got it. It's basically a junker, has a VERY bad fitting homemade stock, but it does shoot.

I've decided to refinish it, and make a 'coach gun' out of it. I certainly will never use it as it is, and it has no special sentimental or historical significance to me.

As you see, it's has 32 inch barrels, a very badly fittiing stock. It's in pretty bad condition, and I'll be stripping it completely down to bare metal and rebluing.

When I started taking it apart, I found out the recoil pad is held on with NAILS. No wonder I couldn't find a screwdriver slot!

This top picture actually looks pretty cool, but it doens't look so nice in person.

I've got a replacement stock, and cut the barrels to 19.5 inches. That's all I've done at this point.

I still have to actually fit the stock and remove a good bit of wood, right now it's just semi-inletted and I wanted to see what it will be like.

Next I will be doing the fitting of the stock, and refinishing the stock and forearm. Then stripping the metal and reblueing that. Installing a buttplate, and installing a gold bead sight.

I think it's going to be pretty cool when complete.

Browning A-bolt for sale
http://flaguns.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=2081

 

[Dave McCracken]

Good idea, but.....

Chances are this has short chambers, as do many older shotguns made before 1940. The changeover started in the Teens, but took a while to complete.

As with all older shotguns, a checkover by a competent smith is mandatory.

Shotguns and grenades have similar working pressures.

 

[FloriDave]

Thanks for the advice. You know, I've heard that about short chambers, and believe me, I did not trust this gun when I got it.

When I first got it, I shot it several times, from both barrels, with it sitting in an empty car tire, and me behind a tree with a string pulling the trigger! I really believed it might blow up. If fact, at the time, I'd probably have bet that it WOULD blow up. I went from #8 birdshot, up to buckshot and it seems to be fine.

This gun chambers regular 2 3/4 plastic shells with no problems.

And honestly, I'm just doing this for the fun of it, I'll likely not actually use the gun for much, just occasional fun shooting. Will probably hang it in my home office beside my homebuilt Hawken rifle.