STEVENS Model 22-410 Over/Under Tenite Stock...great little gun

[1938Roy]

I just joined after a search on Google about Tenite.

The above title gun was my first gun. I went to the Western Auto Store with my Dad and he bought the gun use, looked brand new. I was 10 or 11 years old. He took me squirrel hunting and that was the gun used. It became my gun later. I cannot tell you how many squirrels, rabbits, quail and even ducks I have bagged with this little gun. I still have the gun and only last week had it reblued. Looks like new except for a few scratches ont he tenite stock.

I read some comments that folks didn't like the tenite. I liked it, still do. It makes the gun lighter. Tenite was an early plastic of sorts used during the second world war because of shortage of walnut for gun stocks. I am now 73 years old and so have had this little gun for 62 years. Wouldn't sell it for any money.

The comment of someone asking $1200 for a gun like this or similar does sound a bit high to me but then when Dad bought the gun we sold milk for 15 cents a quart. Even it 1956 we still sold fresh bottle whole milk for 17 cents. Times have changed huh?

Seems to me anyone that owns one of these little O/U .22/.410's has a collectors item. Funny thing was I stopped in the gun shop a couple weeks later after I dropped my gun off to get blued and the owner had taken in a trade, guess what a Stevens single shot 16 gauge and it had the tenite stock and forearm which caught my eye. Gun is in perfect shape, no rust and the bore looks shiny new. He had a price tag of $125., I looked at the gun and said: sold! Now after 62 years I have a matching set of Stevens/Tenite. The 16 gauge single shot with tenite stock is light weight, heck even a one arm man could hunt with this sweet 16 and walk all day.

It is my understanding the Stevens O/U was manufactured from 1938 to 1950.

Personally $1200 for the 22/410 would be rich for my blood, but then I am Scottish heritage. SMILES

I would like to see a gun maker start making the 22/410 over and under again.

I enjoy your website..

Take care.

 

[kenhwind]

The 22-410 is originally a stevens design as you have. The Army Air Corps used them in WWII as a survival gun in the bombers, or so I've read.
Savage owned Stevens and continued to make the gun under the Savage brand, expanding the line to include 22 mag over 20 gauge, centerfire rifle over 12 gauge, etc.

Savage just might be making a derivative of this gun. Yes they are neat, my niece's boy friend has one with the Tenite stocks.

 

[wgp]

I have one, my uncle moved away and gave it to me years ago. The stock was cracked so we put it in a wood stock and I did a home re-blue on the metal parts. Hard to believe someone would pay 1200 for it.

 

[Armored farmer]

I boughtmy .22/410 after returning from a Canadian moose hunt. The only game we got all week was grouse with my friend's Savage shooting .22shorts. We took 17 grouse with it that week, at least one on the wing with the .410. I knew I had to have one. My 9yo son has laid claim to mine since he has taken several squirrels with it.

 

[Bud Tugly]

I've always thought those guns would be ideal for squirrel and rabbits. I've got a Rossi matched pair in .410 and .22, It's a single shot with interchangeable barrels, and even though you have to take a few seconds to switch barrels it works well for those purposes, too.

 

[PapaG]

I've whittled my savage collection down to four...one, a tenite stocked Stevens 22/410, next a Camper's Companion 22/20, then a 24DL (which has not had a nice life but I rescued it) and a 24V, 222/20.
None have what I would call a good trigger but all are capable of good accuracy out of the rifle barrel. I've found that the ones that are full length brazed group tightest, at least for me.
Great guns, would be more expensive to manufacture today than people would probably be willing to pay....but, they're paying more than I would think necessary for the old ones.

 

[Milkmaster]

Here's mine...My Dad died last year, but his Tenite stocked model 22/410 is still in his gun cabinet. I haven't had the heart to ask my mom for it yet.

 

[Mtnohioan]

My dad and his brother each bought 1 of these with the Tenite stock. The difference was they had both .410 barrels. My kid brother let our dad's gun get away from the family. I have looked many times and never saw another without the .22 barrel. Was this model rare?

 

[eastbank]

here,s my 22-410 with tenite stock with us air force markings. eastbank.

 

[gp911]

I have a wood stocked Savage 24 in 22WMR/.410 bore, love that little gun. Surprisingly accurate and patterns well! It's no long range sniper rifle, but up to 75 yards or so it does very well!

 

[Fred Fuller]

Tenite sometimes doesn't age well and can become brittle, which is why it has fallen out of favor with some former owners.

The Savage O/U combo guns are wonderfully useful utility guns, I have four of them that followed me home over the years - a takedown 24C camper's special in .22LR/20 gauge that goes in a tan vinyl case, a regular length 24 in .22LR/20 gauge, a .30-30 over 20 gauge and a .223 over 12 gauge (which is getting heavier as I get older).