Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Rimfires Model 1915 Stevens Favorite

Anyone know about the old Stevens rimfires? I've got one, a Stevens Favorite, Model 1915 stamped on it, also it looks like B349 stamp on it, it's a t/d model but maybe they all were. It is in pretty good cond. wood, bore, bluing, seems real tight, and operates crisp. Any info. and background on it is appreciated. If I shoot it should I stay away from the hi-velocity .22 cal. ammo they make nowdays?
Thanks, ....joken2

joken2, I have the same rifle in my collection of 22's. This rifle was my fathers first gun and it is well used. i had the firing pin replaced a few years back and found that it still shoots pretty darn good. I did a bit of research on the Stevens Favorite and found out some interesting facts. The one that comes to mind is how the rifle is chambered. If you look on the barrel near the breach you should find a single digit between 1 and 5. The number indicates how many times that the reamer used to chamber that particular barrel had been used, mine is a #5 the last time the reamer was used before it was sent back to be rebuilt. i am guessing that the higher the number the tighter the chamber even though there should really be minimal difference.

I have a friend who is my gunsmith that has a passion for these little rifles, he takes them and rebuilds them all new screws, relines the barrels, reblues and restocks in very attractive maple. You have to see them to believe it. I have had one on order for the past two years. My friend is 80 years young and just recently bought himself an airplane so he spends a lot of time out of the shop now. I shoot 22lr standard velocity with out a problem. Win T-22 works real good.



Bullwnkl.

Bullwnkl, the marks on mine are not numbers, they are stamped designs or symbols. The barrel has semi-circle w/ short "sunray" like lines, looks like might be an incomplete stamp. The reciever has a small square w/ 1 short line going out from the center of 3 of the 4 sides of the square. Both stamps are on left side of rifle, in line with each other. Could it be the barrel has been replaced?
Sounds like your friend is a unique individual, lucky man to have the mental and physical health to be flying a plane at 80 yrs. and gunsmithing also <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> maybe he'll finish your rifle while the weather is too bad to fly, so pray for bad flying weather. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
Glad to hear modern ammo. will be alright to use. I'll try it out when the weather here fairs up some. Thanks again for the reply and info. Bullwnkl, ....joken2

As long as she is tight, enjoy the heck out of it. They are fun and accurate little rifles. also a passion of mine. I shoot at least one of mine every tme I go to the range, it just would not be a complete day without it!

Joken2, some place in my mountain of gun litrature I think there was an article about the markings on the the old Stevens. i sort of remember the markings you describe. Next trip to see my friend I will ask him. Mine has a distinct 5 stamped on the bottom of the barrel. Also look at the muzzle i seem to remember that on some rifle they marked the barrel with punch marks to indicate the chamber reamer, this could have been the 03 Springfield just not certain at the moment.
Some time back I found a good article on the Stevens Co. Just uncertain where it is if I happen accross it I'll foreward it on. i would be carefull with the ammo use standard velocity.

Bullwnkl.

Hello all, I just joined this forum and I picked up a Stevens Favorite Model 1915 (SN ? D 663 on the bottom tang) the Barrel is stamped with:
J STEVENS ARMS & TOOL CO. CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS USA. I have been trying to find out when this rifle was made. The one thing I noted was there is not the big screw on the bottom. the screw goes up into the receiver it is a takedown model, the barrel is stamped 22-LONG RIFLE and all bluing is gone. Any and all info would be appreciated thanks.

There is NO serial number/dating information available anywhere for Stevens rifles & shotguns.

The reason is that in 1922, when the US Congress subpoenaed Stevens to appear before them in a War Profiteering Hearing (aka crimes during WWI), Steven's reportedly had an "accidental" office fire, in which all their production records were destroyed......................

The only way an apporximate DOM can be figured is to submit a few pics, along with pics of the sights & a full description of things like bbl type/length, etc - which changed from time to time & model to model - so a collector familiar with them can make an experienced approximation.


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