I've already got Two Rolling Block Projects Underway (click link for older posts) and the case-color and sight work on those are just about done, so I should be getting a large box from my gunsmith (Lee Shaver) any day now.
But I couldn't pass this one up...
Honestly, I went into a LGS only looking for a nipple wrench with a small nose to fit an 1862 Colt Pocket Police replica. But I looked behind the counter where they keep the nicer old rifles like real Marlin's, Savage 99's, High Walls, Low Walls and various other older leverguns or single shots. I could tell right away it was an old Stevens by the profile, but I couldn't see any other details until the clerk handed it over to me -- and he didn't get it back either!
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What I held in my hand was an unmolested, finish-worn, but otherwise pretty decent old Stevens Model 44 in 22 LR that has a heavy 24.25" half-round/octagon barrel (stamped with a "2" under the forearm), with fairly tight lockup and a really decent bore! I almost dislocated my shoulder trying to get my ID and C/Card out fast enough... But luckily, knowing there was some necessary paperwork to do slowed me down just enough to avoid a serious injury.
Here she is...
Turns out the lever droops just a tiny amount, easily less than 1/32" and if I insert one sheet of paper (what's that, .003" or .005"?) between the block and the barrel, it tightens right up.
The good news is, I found this image of a "Lever Droop Adjusting Screw" (or at least that's what I am calling it) on another forum, and mine has the same screw added by the Stevens factory. I haven't adjusted it yet, but it's reportedly supposed to be very easy and effective to adjust the lockup by tweaking the screw that's marked by the red arrow.
The great news and lucky part was... My price was only $375 plus tax, and I remembering seeing others in similar condition and the same caliber listing (but not necessarily selling...) on GunBroker for $500 to $600, or even more. I think I did really good on the price, and as she's chambered for 22 Long Rifle, if she proves to be a shooter, she just might be a candidate to have the receiver and lever re-casecolored by Lee Shaver's shop, who is doing my rolling blocks for me. The barrel and stocks are in really good shape for their age. Plus, my twin just told me he has an old set of Lyman globe front sight and a #1 tang sight that I can trade for (as he is out of small pistol primers, and I have plenty). This just might turn out to be a successful project after all!
Just in case the twist is too slow to stabilize the Long Rifle ammo (I've not had a chance to check the twist yet...) I also picked up two boxes of CCI "22 Longs" that the shop also had in stock. Those were "not cheap" for sure, but I haven't seen them for sale for a couple of years, and they're handy to have in the ammo cabinet for older 22 rifles like this one.
Oh well, back to all the projects! Too many to do, and just as the fishing & boating season has hit too... Dang!
Tight groups!
Old No7
Edit to add: I just checked, and 1/2 a turn on the Lever Droop Adjustment Screw worked slick! Now it's nice and "snug", but not too tight... Yippee!!
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