Looking for info on J Stevens Ideal 44 and 44 1/2

Frontiersman101

I am looking general and detailed info about these rifles. When they were made, how many were made, all the calibers and different configurations they came in....

Anyone know of a book about them?

Thanks

Steven

perry shooter

Single Shot Rifles by James J Grant Printed by WILLIAM Morrow & Company 1947 Is IMHO a great book on most single shot rifles Loong outof print but might find a used book store with one

44 action not as strong as 44&1/2 the 44& 1/2 has three screws & one smooth pin when viewing the left side. The 44 has 5 screws viewed from left side .
MANY MANY different cartridges

11b6r

You can find that book- and 3 more by same author, over on Alibris.com. I have better luck there than Amazon for unusual books.

charliemeyer007

The 44.5 was a nice rifle. Could be had in about any cartridge of the time.

http://library.bbhc.org/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/1152

google found this
http://www.gundigeststore.com/2013-stevens-arms-pricing-reference-digital-download-u7337

rufe-snow

"Flayderman's Guide to Antique American Firearms", has a chapter on Stevens Firearms. It's the standard bible, for U.S. gun collectors. Has been in print for 25 years. And up to edition #9, now. Although Norm Flayderman passed, a year ago.

slumlord44

Single Shot Rifles and Actions by Frank de Haas is a paperback that is fairly reasonable and a decent basic reference. The 44 !/2 was made from 1904-1916. As stated it is he heavier and best of the two. About 10,000 made. Not big enough for the .45-70 but great for smaller cartridges. The 44 was made from 1890-1947 in a multitude of rimfire and centerfire cartridges. You have to be careful with how you load the larger centerfires because the action was made for black powder centerfires. They dropped all centerfires in the 44 after the 44 1/2 came out. The 44 makes a great .22 rimfire and is suitable for the .25-20 SS, .25-21, .25-25, and .32-20 if loaded to black powder equivalents. They were made in larger centerfires but you have to be careful loading these because of the black powder action. Great guns and they are still available at reasonable prices unless you get into the rare and deluxe models.

Frontiersman101

quote:Originally posted by charliemeyer007
The 44.5 was a nice rifle. Could be had in about any cartridge of the time.

http://library.bbhc.org/cdm/ref/collection/CFM/id/1152

google found this
http://www.gundigeststore.com/2013-stevens-arms-pricing-reference-digital-download-u7337


Thanks everyone!

Thanks charliemeyer007, There is some good info in that Gun Digest download.

Hawk Carse

If you want a new one, they can be had from CPA Corp.
They are beefed up so you can have a .45-70 Stevens if you want one; I have seen a good number at BPCR matches.

Frontiersman101

quote:Originally posted by Hawk Carse
If you want a new one, they can be had from CPA Corp.
They are beefed up so you can have a .45-70 Stevens if you want one; I have seen a good number at BPCR matches.


Yeah, I know about CPA. Nice rifles as far as I can tell, but a bit out of my price range.

slumlord44

Actually I think you may find their prices cheaper than some of the originals.

Frontiersman101

quote:Originally posted by slumlord44
Actually I think you may find their prices cheaper than some of the originals.


The Schuetzen rifles from CPA are cheaper than originals, but their rifles aren't cheaper than most of the original 44's.

I have my eye on this one right now. Though I don't have the funds just yet.

http://www.GunBroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=441502279