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modle 325 stevens 12ga dobble

2 gun
First let me tell you the details.I bought a old looking stevens 12 ga from a guy for 20 bucks {:)}.The gun was in a old shed and the guts where in a zip lock bag .All the parts where there but the right hammer was broke.the gun was rusted shut and the ejector was froze up.the wood had two chips at the rear of the reciver.
The firt thing I did was dissassemble the hole thing and clean it with fine steel wool and solvent .then I worked the ejector free and put everything back together broken hammer and all. that took three days .then I took the left hammer a pice of a cresent wrench,a dremmel and some mini files and bilt a new right hammer .Then I put it all together took a box of # 7, two and 3/4 12 ga shells and shot the gun . it worked perfectly! the steel is in good condition about 50% of the orginal blue is still there the wood has black stains at the back of the reciver and two chips about 1/4 to3/4 long.
The bottom plate reads ( model 325)
The side plate reads ( J.Stevens A.&T.Co
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Chieopee Falls.Mass,U.S.A.
x xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ---Pats.Appl'd For.---)
It reads exactly like that. on the inside of the forearm wood is written 6535.
My questions are 1. should I reblue it?
2. how old is it and when was it made?
3. what's it worth? I know stevens are a dime a dozen and not a L.C. Smith .
4.Is it safe to shoot ?I was told it might have Dismascas barrels.
I put the gun back in working order just for fun .It was well worth 20 bucks for all the enjoyment I got from figureing out how to put it back together,bild the hammer ,clean it and bring it back to life.then to see it actuly work .It was grate !

I would be verry grateful for any info you could give me .

thanks 2 gun

A gun in the hand will keep a knee off the ground.

Edited by - 2 gun on 12/10/2002 14:49:02
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Comments

8 comments

Date Votes
  • Der Gebirgsjager
    I really enjoyed reading your post, and was glad to find out that there is someone else out there that enjoys taking basket case guns and making them functional again. I agree whole-heartedly that it was worth the 20 bucks.

    Quite honestly, although I have a lot of books, I haven't been able to find a picture or description of your Stevens 325. It must be old indeed, and I'll dig a little deeper later when I have more time. Perhaps someone else will come up with some information before I get back to it. Actually, Capt. Kirk (Forum Moderator) would be a good source for possible further information.

    I will offer the following advise based on the information you've given: I'd hang it on the wall as a curiosity to show friends and brag about how I fixed it. The barrels may very well be Damascus steel as they were the rule of the day in the day of the side hammer shotgun, and the ones that weren't were usually proudly so-marked as a selling point with such logos as, "fluid steel" or "proof steel". You should be able to tell by examining the steel for a pattern in the metal, as the main method of making Damascus barrels was to alternately wrap steel and iron wire around a mandrel, heat it white hot, and hammer the wire until they blended together into a solid tube. There were many beautiful patterns created depending on the width of the wire and amount of hammering involved. Sometimes you can bring the pattern out with the application of a little cold blue; often it is not visible if the barrel has been scoured shiney. The problem here is that the iron often contained voids and impurities which over the many years (and especially under the conditions in which your gun was stored) rust internally where it can't be observed and have a nasty habit of letting go and removing a couple of your fingers and maybe an eye. If there is no pattern in the barrel steel, then perhaps it is more modern steel; but in any event, your gun was probably designed for black powder shells, and modern ammuntion is an additional chance you're taking. You can reblue the gun with a cold blue such as Oxphoblue, sold by Brownells, but the hot bluing process would probably cause the barrels to separate as the bluing salts will attack the solder that joins them together.

    I'd retire it and just enjoy looking at it. Congratulations on a job well done.
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  • 2 gun
    Thanks DER GEBIRGSJAGER I was beginning to think noone would respond.
    one more detail I forgot to metion the hammers are internal .

    A gun in the hand will keep a knee off the ground.
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  • jogn2
    the stevens no 52 catalog states the 325 had "high pressure" bbls for nitro powder, so if they're in good shape you should have no problem shooting it - still I wouldn't use the heavest loads.
    the no 52 calalog was 1906 I think, definetly after 1903 as the 44-1/2 is listed. So I'm not sure how old it is, I would expect early 1900s.
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  • jogn2
    quote:
    the stevens no 52 catalog states the 325 had "high pressure" bbls for nitro powder, so if they're in good shape you should have no problem shooting it - still I wouldn't use the heavest loads.
    the no 52 calalog was 1906 I think, definetly after 1903 as the 44-1/2 is listed. So I'm not sure how old it is, I would expect early 1900s.

    I'll also add I had stevens 335 that someone had replaced the hammer as you have, but when I got it that bbl would not fire. On inspection you could see that the hammer was soft and had deformed so that it wouldn't drive the fireing pin down. They should be hardened steel and are available
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  • dharsany
    My husband has a J Stevens Model 325 12 ga Double Barrel Shotgun that belonged to his grandfather. One of the arming pins has been broken off and he would like to have it fixed. In talking with a few gunsmiths, they indicate that all the pieces on the shotgun are handmade. That one pin cannot be welded. It would take someone to make the whole piece. I have not been able to find anyone that is willing to do this task. They say that it is not worth it. This shotgun has sentimental value to my husband and I would like to see if it can be restored. Does anyone have any suggestions? Please advise.

    Thanks, Darlene
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  • wfk
    I have a stevens 235 that belonged to my grandfather. I used it for ducks and geese until the lead shot ban. Still use it every year in the annual sxs shoot. Would never use steel shot or any magnum shells. It's a beautiful gun with nice case color and hope some day my grandchildren will use it.

    wfk
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  • Warpig883
    The Stevens model 325 SxS shotgun was made from 1904 to 1908. The only info you will find in books will be on the Stevens 325 bolt action rifle.

    I have a 325 shotgun and got the above dates from Mr. John McCallahan the official Stevens historian. You can get his name and address from Savage arms or let me know and I will dig it up for you. He does charge a fee to research a particular gun. I called him on the phone and had a pleasant conversation with him and he told me about the model 325 shotguns.

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  • Xracer
    Darlene.....any gunsmith should be able to make and fit a new pin, using the old one as a pattern.

    If you can't find a gunsmith, any machine shop should be able to do it.
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