Stevens #44 - loose lever?

1fisher

I recently looked at a Stevens No. 44 rifle in 25-20. When the hammer is down, the lever stays tight up against the lower tang -- but when the hammer is cocked, the lever will drop down about an inch or so and you have to hold it against the tang with your trigger hand.

I am assuming that this is not normal. How easy (or expensive) is this for a gunsmith to fix?

TRAP55

They're pretty simple to work on. The weak point on the Stevens single shots were the screws that the hammer, block, etc. pivot on. Sometimes it's as simple as swapping the screws around.
Problem you describe sounds like it's the link pins, they wear faster than the link. New ones are easy to make from drill rod.

charliemeyer007

Making parts is usually never cheap. I'd want solid bid for the job or you could end up with more in repairs than the rifle is worth. Does it have a good bore? Reasonable wood i.e. shooting condition.

Bubba would tighten it up with a ball peen hammer - maybe he already has.

cranky2

It should be a 25-20SS. Not the same as a 25-20 WCF If you reload bras is available.

1fisher

Thanks for the diagram Trap!

The bore on the gun still has good rifling, and it looks to be shootable - condition is nice for a gun that is 100+ years old, and looks to be all original.

I already reload 25-20 Single Shot for a Winchester low-wall that I have, so brass and bullets are not a problem.

I may have to take a little drive and see if I can make a deal on it!