The Model 7's seem to be much harder to find than the Model 6's or the bolt actions from the series. They were the last to be introduced and one of the first to be discontinued. The Model 3 & Model 7 are last listed in the 1951 catalogs (the Stevens version of the Model 7, the 85, was still listed into the 60's).

I picked up one locally years ago and did not find a decent one again until recently and it had some surface rust and was missing a lot of internal parts.

This is from 1951, I would suggest not shooting the gun as a single shot with 22 Long Rifle, there have been quite a few on RimFireCentral who have had broken locking bolts, that may have been the cause, or they may just have bumped the exposed knob hard. Note the thin spot in the center for firing pin clearance that creates a weak spot.

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mad-dog - did you save that 'gunk'? If so could you sent it to me so I could put in my gun and give it a try?

Gene