All the restorations I have posted lately have begun with a bit of background or history about the gun about to be restored. Unfortunately that wont be the case with this 100 year old single shot 12 ga because I don�t know what it is beyond the fact that it�s a Stevens and it was made between 1900 and 1916. Based on the low number I suggest its on the earlier end of that range. I asked for help identifying this gun on a variety of boards and so far I have only been able to rule out guns that it is not.

Its not a Stevens 125, 115 or 105 or 107 or a 94 and a long list of others that it is not. This is proving to be a problem since locating a replacement stock for a 100 year old gun you don�t know the model number of is tough. I picked up the shotgun at an estate sale because it looked like a challenge. (I love those) and the price was right.

Like other restorations it�s a mess but I like to take what are essentially $10 guns and put 30 or 40 hours and $100 into them and turn them into $15 guns. (it�s a sickness, I know) It doesn�t have to make sense it only has to be enjoyable.

So here it is in all its broken glory.

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Thats a brass screw above the firing pin even though the years have given it a black petina.

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[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens7_zpsd1bf5726.jpg[/img]

The thing about identifying this make is the joint were the stock meets the receiver. Most of the advertising (that can be found) shows a crescent shape in the stock/receiver joint like this. As well as a screw head for a removable screw at the front of the receiver where the barrel pivots.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens9999_zpsd5daabfc.jpg[/img]

But this make has a straight joint and no removable pin for the barrel pivot.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens8_zpsc4b41237.jpg[/img]

It also has a checkered stock and only certain Stevens of this vintage had that. But as you can see, both the butt and fore arm stock need replacing. For this gun I would rather buy a replacement than make one since spring his here and I have lots of outdoor tasks to take on.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens9998_zpsbe9527c4.jpg[/img]

If you are a Steven authority and can shed some light on this gun, please do so. I don�t know if it helps but there are no internal coil springs in the receiver. All the springs are flat stock.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens993_zps2756d0ec.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens99991_zps932740f5.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens994_zps1c3da645.jpg[/img]

And this is how the fore stock mounts.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens995_zps4d4ece9c.jpg[/img]

The barrel lug

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens9992_zps727704b1.jpg[/img]

Normally I start with the wood due to dry times of the finish but for this one I have no wood so it may remain an incomplete restoration until I learn more about which make this gun is so as to locate a stock.

At any rate, Ziploc bags of naval jelly have their work cut out for them.

[img]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c239/212007154/stevens996_zps7e1f0dd9.jpg[/img]

To be continued�..