Stevens Crackshot ID(lots of pics)

[possom813]

About 3 years ago I picked up a J.H. Stevens Crackshot at a flea market for 40 dollars. It was a case of the lady not knowing what it was, and I didn't either. I was just looking for a cheap .22 to plink with.

I took it to my local gun shop to get some kind of info on it. The best we could come up with is it's a Model 26 Crackshot manufactured around 1900 or so. We couldn't find a lot of info about it. I'm not saying my local gunshop isn't educated, just limited on that particular firearm.

According to the Shooters Bible, it looks like the model 26 with a couple of noticeable differences. Such as the way it loads, the model 26 is missing a lever. The screw that holds in the barrel, the 26 is a grooved screw while on mine it's a swivel style. The serial number that I tried to get a good pic of on the back of the receiver under the stock is "S 0346" - On the trigger guard on the left side of it on the receiver is a "G" stamped into it. On top of the barrel is

*Crack-Shot* J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. *22 Long Rifle*
Chicopee Falls, Mass. U.S.A.

The *Crack_Shot* and *22 Long Rifle* is kind of lined up with the space between the other wording.


Here's a pic of a model 26 that I found on Gunbroker from this auction.




And here's mine







Any ideas on what model this is?

-John

 

[Steven Mace]

John, I believe what you have is a Stevens 'Crackshot' No.16 rifle. These were made from about 1900-1913 and chambered in either .22 or .32 rimfire calibers. These had a 20" blued round barrel with plain open sights and a casehardened frame. This used a rolling block action with a side-mounted thumb lever to open the action. The No.16 used two-piece oil finished walnut stocks with a hard rubber buttplate. Hope this helps!

Steve Mace

 

[possom813]

Right on, I took it to the local gunsmith today and his dad happened to be ther and identified it almost immediately. That led to about 2 hours of bs'ing with him about the one he had just like it. Anyways, it's in the shop getting repaired, the action isn't working proper. Thanks, John

 

[Jim K]

I wish you luck on that little gun. Parts are scarce and many of them are just plain worn out. A common problem is the home shop fix, with firing pins made from nails, springs taken from old clocks, and the like. That one looks to be in fair shape, and they are fun plinkers.

Jim

 

[alsaqr]

That is a nice Crackshot. Have owned a few like it in times past. Do not fire modern .22 long rifle ammo in that gun.

 

[possom813]

The only thing that I've fired through it have been cb's. That came from the advice of the first gun shop that I took it too.

The trigger has been extremely light since I bought it, just recently the hammer started not holding very well which led to an equipment malfunction that shot a round into the dirt. I took it down today and Jesse(the gunsmith) said he would probably have to build a new spring for it because parts for that model were so scarce.

Also, in his defense, when I originally took it to him, we both assumed it was a model 26 and relied on that misinformation until we saw one up close. Neither of us had any idea exactly what it was until today.

-John