slumlord44
Member
Heavy Stevens .22 Target rifle on a Martini Henry action made by Stevens for the British market around 1912. 7 to 12 made?? Anyobody know anything about them? Anyone here have one?
Stevens Bisley Model
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murdoc rose
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Would love to see pics.
I did some Googling and to my astonishment there was such an animal. I have never seen one and didn't even know they existed.
The pictures available are not great, but the impression is of first class workmanship. With that few, though, I have to wonder if Stevens tooled up to make the actions for such a small order or if they bought the actions somewhere and finished them up.
Jim
The pictures available are not great, but the impression is of first class workmanship. With that few, though, I have to wonder if Stevens tooled up to make the actions for such a small order or if they bought the actions somewhere and finished them up.
Jim
JohnBT
Member
http://britishmilitariaforums.yuku.com/topic/9226
The pics in this thread are fairly good, and there's an old ad for the gun that says "Martini pattern"
The pics in this thread are fairly good, and there's an old ad for the gun that says "Martini pattern"
Quite an expensive gun at 5 pounds 5 shillings (five guineas), which would have been equivalent to about $1050 in today's dollars.
That is an interesting site, but the OP has seen it since he was the OP for that thread as well.
It would be interesting if someone much more familiar than I with Martini actions could do some comparisons. I still rather doubt Stevens tooled up to make those actions for such limited sales. Of course, they might have intended to make a serious breakthrough in the British market, but I would think they would have made more if that were the case.
Jim
That is an interesting site, but the OP has seen it since he was the OP for that thread as well.
It would be interesting if someone much more familiar than I with Martini actions could do some comparisons. I still rather doubt Stevens tooled up to make those actions for such limited sales. Of course, they might have intended to make a serious breakthrough in the British market, but I would think they would have made more if that were the case.
Jim
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JohnBT
Member
"I would think they would have made more"
I agree, yet if they used a genuine Martini action, would the ad have said "Martini pattern"? Beats me, but now I want one.
John
I agree, yet if they used a genuine Martini action, would the ad have said "Martini pattern"? Beats me, but now I want one.
John
Jim Watson
Member
Fascinating.
I recall that one H.M. Pope worked for Stevens for a while and they rode on the Stevens-Pope label even after he was gone. And used his knowhow even after that. I wonder if these were during that period.
I feel kind of sorry for the guy who probably paid a lot for one Parkerrifled.
I recall that one H.M. Pope worked for Stevens for a while and they rode on the Stevens-Pope label even after he was gone. And used his knowhow even after that. I wonder if these were during that period.
I feel kind of sorry for the guy who probably paid a lot for one Parkerrifled.
Considering the number of British firms - BSA, Villiers, Greener, Westley Richards, etc - that were making Martini type 22 target rifles at the time the idea of an American firm exporting Martinis into Britain has got to be one of the all time "coals to Newcastle" deals. No wonder they didn't make them for very long.
Very good thought, Natman.
Did they really think they could compete in England with a Martini action against English makers? Or did they have some idea of selling those rifles in the U.S.? A real puzzle.
I know the Martini action was not in favor here but I still wonder why they didn't make more. They almost had to be done in the model shop on a custom basis, even if they bought the actions.
Jim
Did they really think they could compete in England with a Martini action against English makers? Or did they have some idea of selling those rifles in the U.S.? A real puzzle.
I know the Martini action was not in favor here but I still wonder why they didn't make more. They almost had to be done in the model shop on a custom basis, even if they bought the actions.
Jim
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