Stevens Tip Up Rifle

[BigBoomD]

Hi all, I have my grandfathers gun that he had from when he was a child living in a Sod house on the prairie a LONG TIME AGO. He was born right around 1900 (I can't recall exactly).

I have had this rifle for almost 40 years and not done anything with it. I always thought it was a 32 short rimfire due to the markings on the barrel, but I finally measured the thing and its a .25! Not that it makes it any easier to find ammo, though I do have a box of Canuk .25 Stevens Short Rimfire on the way that's only 50 or so years old I should have slugged the chamber to actually determine if it is the Short though perhaps... I only measured the diameter of the chamber and bore.

Anyone familiar with these rifles and can help me with the barrel markings? Specifically the numbers and marks on the underside of the barrel. Or where to go to find more info?

The maker mark which is very faint now reads "J. STEVENS & CO. CHICOPEE, MASS. PAT. SEPT 8. 1864" which means it was manufactured between 1864 and 1886. After 1886 they used J.Stevens A & T co. So, I know it is pre 1886.

And help appreciated, thanks!

 

[Mauser fan]

I'm not familiar with them at all. But I am intrigued by your rifle. It does appear to be a .32 short and the letter stamped on the barrel designates it as a model P which was offered in .22 rimfire, .25 short and long and .32 short. But what puzzles me is the stamped designation of 32 short on the barrel and you say that you slugged the barrel and it is in fact .25. Maybe the barrel was sleeved at one time? That is a very distinct possibility. Take a close look at the peep sight to see if it was made by Lyman it could have been added later on as an upgrade as a target rifle. I don't think they were offered for that particular rifle model at the time because they were marketed as a boys rifle when originally sold.

Still it is a very nice rifle. Thanks for sharing. Lets see what some other members have to say.

Jeremy

 

[BigBoomD]

Thanks for your reply Jeremy, do you have any more information on the “P” model or even how you determined what calibers it was offered in? I agree that the peep is a later addition, and probably not quite the right model as it’s so tall it doesn’t fold down flat with the tang, it hits the front of the comb. It is possible it was sleeved down from .32 to .25 though if they did it’s a good job as I cannot see a sleeve at all, there’s a lot of surface rust though that might disguise it. The “short” could have then been only pertinent to the previous .32 chambering and it could now be a .25 short or long. With the peep, how could I determine if it’s Lyman or some other maker? That also would be nice to identify. I have not seen any marks on it at all.

my plan is to clean the bore and chamber really well, determine if it’s chambered for .25 long or short then do an overall clean and lubricate and attempt to remove some of the play in the lockup. Functionally that is the only issue I have found. I will then use it, though the first shot will probably be by string even with the puny cartridge. If it shoots okay and proves to be fun within those 50 shells I have coming, I will buy some of the PrimeAll from 22lrreloader and find suitable bullets or more likely a mold for them and some kind of reloading dies and then reload the rimfires. Have to figure out what powder and how much of course as well.

 

[Mauser fan]

I ran a search on the internet and found the information looking through the history portions of some of the links that I visited. Just type Stevens Tip Up rifle and a whole bunch of links pop up. There are even photos you can look through that closely resemble your rifle right down to the octagon barrel and trigger guard. In one of the links it explains the letter designation for the different models and goes into great detail for dates of manufacture including chambering offered for each model.

To determine if the rear sight is a Lyman I'm almost positive that you would have to remove it and look at the base to find that information by the part # stamped in it. Which might lead to another mystery that needs to be solved.

Good luck I hope this helps. Stay tuned I'm sure someone else will chime in soon.

 

[hawg]

Have to figure out what powder and how much of course as well.

Powder will be black. Fill the case until you can seat the bullet with a little compression. Don't try to use smokeless in it.

 

[BigBoomD]

Hawg, I like this answer, and it is certainly a safe one to just use black as that is what the cartridge was originally designed for. That being said, they made .25 Stevens long and short cartridges with smokeless into the early ‘40’s it looks like and then Canuck did a run in the 70’s as well, so there should be a safe smokeless load out there. But…. I also shoot black, so I have some of that at hand and it would add to the historical experience. Thanks for the obvious but on my part overlooked suggestion as I do think that is where I will start!

 

[hawg]

The .22 short has been in constant production since 1857. I personally have see an antique revolver, I believe it was an Allen & Wheelock blown into three major pieces and a lot of little ones with one. Just sayin.

 

[BigBoomD]

Good point. This rifle was definitely manufactured prior to 1886, so would not have been designed with smokeless even remotely considered. Any idea if the Canuck rim fire that they did runs of in the 70’s were meant to mimic black powder pressures and such? I should have looked into the history of the .25 Stevens cartridges (either long or short), they didn’t come about until 1900 or 1902 or so…. While the .32 rim fire WAS around at the time this rifle was manufactured. The barrel marking must be indicating it was originally a .32, and therefore must have been later sleeved to .25

 

[BigBoomD]

Jeremy, I pulled off the peep sight and there are NO markings on it at all anywhere, I will try sending off some pictures to Lyman and perhaps they can help me. Definitely added later as the hole pattern is not exactly centered on the tang.

 

[Jim Watson]

There was likely an elevation scale, making it a "graduated tang sight" instead of the more expensive vernier sight.

 

[Mauser fan]

It was worth a try. That just indicates that it is a very old peep sight. To be honest I rather doubt that Lyman will be able to tell you exactly which model it is because back then they really didn't have to worry about fakes or facsimile of their products. They had the corner on the market.

Plus what Jim just posted.

Jeremy

 

[Johnm1]

Here is a good resource on Steven’s firearms. A bit of trivia. At one time Steven’s promoted that they were the largest manufacturer of sporting arms.

https://americansocietyofarmscollectors.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/2002-B86-Stevens-Tip-Ups.pdf

 

[BigBoomD]

That is a great resource!! Thank you John!!

 

[WestKentucky]

Neat old gun. Very curious that it’s marked as a 32 but actually measures as a quarterbore. I would be inclined to polish the crown and use a dye penetrant to see if it’s been sleeved. If I recall correctly, there are a number of nail setters that use 25 caliber blanks. Soft lead round balls are easily acquired as #3 buckshot. Put that old rifle back into very limited action as an honor and remembrance of the man who passed it along.

 

[jdsingleshot]

If that receiver is even the most mild of steels, that gun is stronger than most folks think. A tip up has very little force applied to the lock and pivot. I recently built a .25-20 WCF from scratch and test fired it with only one turn of duct tape holding it shut.

Your grandfather being born about 1900, it's very likely he shot whatever commercial ammunition was available at the time up through the last time it was fired.