Old Stevens 28.30 rifle
Greetings, I have a rifle that I can't find any information about. It is a old J.Stevens A & T blah blah blah....The only other thing it says is 28.30 on the barrel right under the name of the rifle. I can't see all of the patent date because it's been drilled for a scope. The rear sight on this gun is a flip up small peep hole and the front sight is a small flip up sight. The butt of the gun is metal and slightly curved inward. It looks like a cross between the Stevens 15 and 44 models. I have seen where I can buy bullets for this gauge on the internet, but noone will say what model the rifle is or it's value. It does have the same type of loader where you pull down the handle under the trigger to insert the cartridge. That is all I can tell about it...so what is it?
thanks!!
thanks!!
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Seems like your description fits the "Stevens Ideal Rifle No. 44-1/2".
It appears to be chambered for the Stevens 28-30-120 Cartridge
They were made for the last 13 years that Stevens was in business ( 1903 - 1916 ).
There were many options available for this rifle similar to those available to the No. 44, perhaps thats why the sights don't appear to be standard?0 -
thanks for the response!!! I had heard of this model as well but I haven't found a picture anywhere to see what it looks like. Mine is really in good shape. can anyone else confirm this model? Since there is no more writing on it anything else to look for? Also, does anyone have a clue of the value..the serial number is 36,XXX I would like to know how many were made and if this is really rare or not... I guess the value will tell me that...Thanks again for the responses 0 -
I think that the Snow Man has hit it on the head. The rear sight could be almost any type of Vernier tang sight while the front sight sounds like a Beech combination sight. The fact that the barrel has been drilled will hurt the value, however, value will depend on condition and the exact model that you have. While these rifles are not terribly rare, they were made in a great number of variations some of which are rare. From your limited discription it is impossible to say which one you have. Values range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. In the case of Stevens rifles pictures are absolutely imperative as well as a complete discription. 0 -
Thanks for your input...I fully understand that's really hard to tell without all the details..however, the pain of it is I have described everything possible...The rear sight is a small peep hole that has a small knob at the bottom that raises and lowers the peep hole...really a great idea for almost 100 years ago. Since it is a gauge which I can't find much one (28.30) does this mean that they made this gauge in more then one model? I have found 2 value books neither one list this gauge I have seen like 25.22 and others but never 28.30..If you do a search on the net you can't even find it except for a few brass sellers. Anymore ideas or helpful information will be greatful!! thanks again all. If anyone can help me better by me sending you a picture please let me know and I will. I am really interested in getting the correct specs on this piece. 0 -
There's little available information regarding the 28-30-120 Stevens cartridge.
It was a obscure, little used round, that had a very brief life, ( 1900 - 1918 )? primarily in the Stevens single shot target rifles.
There are only (2) things really notable about it. Although known as the 28-30-120 it was in fact a nominal 7mm in diameter, the first 7mm used in the US. Also it was highly regarded by the famous barrel maker Harry Pope, although that didn't help it's sales or longevity.0 -
Hello budman007...
Short of you posting some pictures of your rifle, the easiest thing for you to do, is go to your local library (or book store) and find a copy of "Flayderman's Guide To Antique American Firearms... and their values". Chapter V-H contains a decent listing of the various falling block rifles made by the Stevens Arms Company. Your rifle is undoubtedly one of the "Ideal" series, and my guess is that it is a No. 45. I agree with Iroquois Scout... it is a special order No. 44 Ideal, but based on the current condition, it will be much closer to the $300 mark. Nice job on the pictures[^]
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
Thanks guys for all your help...I read on another post that Flaydermans book was a good one, the only problem is I live in a small town that only carries one book and it don't list much. However, I will somehow get this book, but for now I used some webspace and uploaded 4 pics of this gun to hopefully help us out. Here's the link.
http://home.earthlink.net/~razorbacktail/images/
Let me know what you all see....0 -
Just a thought--make sure that you aren't confusing a model 44-actioned Ideal rifle(valuable in good condition) with a model 44 1/2-actioned Ideal rifle (extremely valuable in good condition). I can't tell which it is for you without a picture, but both were made in this caliber and it's worth distinguishing between them.
Basic difference is that a 44 Ideal uses a lever-operated rolling block-like action (block rolls to the rear and down) and the 44 1/2 uses a falling block action that works in a mortise in the reciever and the block falls almost straight down in the mortise grooves, like a Ruger #1 or a Winchester Hiwall. Look in any good Single Shot (Frank de Haas' Single Shot Rifles and Actions?) book to see the difference.
The difference in value is considerable. There are a lot more 44s out there than 44 1/2s, so yours is probably the former, in case it isn't, you wouldn't want to sell or insure a 44 1/2 for a 44 price! Either way, I envy you your Stevens! Some Scheutzen shooters still favor this caliber. Mike Armstrong0 -
Budman007,
Thank you for posting some very good pictures. Having looked at them I think that it is clear that your rifle is a Stevens Ideal Rife No.44. These rifles were made from 1894-1933 and were the most common of the Stevens line with about 100,000 being made. The 28-30-120 was a special order cartridge in this model and was discontinued around 1904, however, the cartridge was loaded until 1918 when it was droped from production.
The rear sight on your rifle is a Lyman No.1 and may or may not be factory original as they could be ordered from the factory, but, many were added after market. The center fire No.44's had 26 inch barrels. Your barrel has had the Rocky Mountain rear sight removed and the dovetail filled with a blank. The barrel has been drilled and tapped for target scope bases and will detract from value. The original finish on your rifle is gone and that will also affect value.
These rifles run from a low of around $300 to a high of about $1000. I would think that your rifle would fall in about the middle of this range, if the bore is good, if not the price would be downgraded even more.
Hope that has been of some help to you.0 -
Thanks again to all. This information is really nice to have. I have searched for several months without finding much of anything until now. Merry Christmas to all!! [8D]
If practice makes perfect and noone is perfect, why practice?0
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