Stevens 4253 scope...I think... - 10/04/15
I am reasonably sure this is a Stevens 4253 scope that was introduced for use on the 425 Hi-Power, the rear mount looks correct but has the wrong hole spacing and the front mount is of a type introduced a few years after the scope & 425 were discontinued. Specification for the mounts were not provided in the description but I had asked about them before purchasing it, the rear hole spacing was odd and the front mount was for a 3/8" dovetail, the Stevens 425 takes a smaller dovetail. I think this is a really rare scope so I took a chance on being able to modify the mounts some way to fit it on a 425. The scope has the standard Stevens markings for a scope with the exception that it's left blank where the model number is supposed to be stamped.
There still were a couple things that surprised me when I got the scope - the rear mount was machined for a dovetail and there was no horizontal adjustment! (the right side had not been pictured)
Here are all the catalogs I have that list the scope, the pocket catalog just has a written description with the lengths of both the 4253 & 5255 stated as 12½" and just vertical adjustment mentioned. The catalog No 53 dated 1911 still lists the 4253 as 12½" with just vertical adjustment and adds mention it could be fitted to a Marlin 1894. I have not been able to date the later No 53 catalogs, the second one has a updated price list glued in and the last has the prices changed, all have the same page for the scope with it now listed as 14" and with horizontal adjustment but the last one has it stamped 'DISCONTINUED'. There also are several other uses listed.
You can see that the scope is pictured set quite far forward. It has very good optics and has a full field view with eye relief any where between about 2½" to 3¾", I find that impressive for this old of a scope. It has cross hairs and not the post as mentioned in the early catalogs.
This shows the hole spacing in the rear mount does not match a 425 or a Marlin 1894 drilled & tapped for a Hepburn sight.
For the Marlin the rear mount would have to be milled to set lower -
It looks like it would line up on a 425 if the front mount had the dovetail milled down to fit a 425 (the picture was taken at a slight angle which is why it does not appear to line up).
There still were a couple things that surprised me when I got the scope - the rear mount was machined for a dovetail and there was no horizontal adjustment! (the right side had not been pictured)
Here are all the catalogs I have that list the scope, the pocket catalog just has a written description with the lengths of both the 4253 & 5255 stated as 12½" and just vertical adjustment mentioned. The catalog No 53 dated 1911 still lists the 4253 as 12½" with just vertical adjustment and adds mention it could be fitted to a Marlin 1894. I have not been able to date the later No 53 catalogs, the second one has a updated price list glued in and the last has the prices changed, all have the same page for the scope with it now listed as 14" and with horizontal adjustment but the last one has it stamped 'DISCONTINUED'. There also are several other uses listed.
You can see that the scope is pictured set quite far forward. It has very good optics and has a full field view with eye relief any where between about 2½" to 3¾", I find that impressive for this old of a scope. It has cross hairs and not the post as mentioned in the early catalogs.
This shows the hole spacing in the rear mount does not match a 425 or a Marlin 1894 drilled & tapped for a Hepburn sight.
For the Marlin the rear mount would have to be milled to set lower -
It looks like it would line up on a 425 if the front mount had the dovetail milled down to fit a 425 (the picture was taken at a slight angle which is why it does not appear to line up).