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Questions About Early Stevens Model 66

TomjohnTomjohn Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
edited July 2013 in Ask the Experts
I'm working on a bit of a mutt. I'm "pretty sure" everything but the barrel is a .22 cal. Stevens model 66. It is a bolt-action and the tubular magazine moves forward and back when the bolt is cycled. The 66 barrel has obviously been replaced with a Stevens "Visible" barrel. It was re-dovetailed (a long time ago) to accept the 66 mounts. I thought about parting it out, but something about the care that was taken to re-fit the barrel made me want to bring it back to life. It does feed, extract, and eject well.

I actually have three questions. The first is about the name and function of a small piece of steel that is screwed down to the top of the receiver edge just in front of where the bolt handle closes. The broken piece is 5/8 of an inch long and the same width as the edge of the receiver (about 1/8"). It's maybe 1/32" thick. The back end (next to the closed bolt handle) of the piece is broken off, so it's hard to tell what its complete shape or length was. I suspect its function is to hold the bolt handle down when it is closed (the bolt handle is free-floating). I haven't been able to identify the piece in online schematics and would like to know its name and perhaps a source for a replacement.

The second question is whether anyone knows a source for a cocking piece for the gun. I tried Numrich, Jack First, and Bob's Gun Parts.

The third question is about the meaning of the number 20 in a small circle stamped into both the barrel and receiver (left side). Is this a proof mark? Does the '20' represent anything?

Any help is really appreciated.

Tom

Comments

  • cranky2cranky2 Member Posts: 3,236 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Pictures would be a big help. I have a pre 66 stevens but can't figure out what your talking about.
  • TomjohnTomjohn Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've got it in pieces and soaking in oil right now. As soon as I get it back together I'll post some pics.
  • thorhammerthorhammer Member Posts: 977 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    The small part your referring to is called the bumper or cartridge guide. When a shell is cycled up to the bolt the cartridge guide or bumper keeps the shell aligned so it'll enter the chamber. Without it the shells can still be cycled, but some might jam.

    This cartridge guide fits on top of the barrel inside the receiver, to install a new one the barrel would have to be removed from the receiver. That would require punching out pins and knocking the barrel loose.

    The guide is bent so the bolt can fully close, usually there's a slot in the bolt, but over time their prone to breakage.

    I hope this is what you referring to.
  • FatstratFatstrat Member Posts: 9,147
    edited November -1
    Be careful firing your M-66. They have a rep for firing upon closing of bolt.
  • TomjohnTomjohn Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    thorhammer - thanks for responding. I don't think this part is a cartridge guide - it's not near the barrel chamber and it can easily be removed from the top of the receiver. It may have been added for some reason. The two tapped holes that the screws go in go all the way through the right side of the receiver and come out of the bottom of the small strip of steel just in front of the area where the bolt handle closes. Since the bolt handle is free-floating, it can easily come up at any time, including when the gun is cocked. I'm thinking this piece is designed to keep the bolt handle in place when it is down.
  • TomjohnTomjohn Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Fatstrat - thanks, I've read about this happening. Since the action of closing the bolt also serves to cock the rifle, I can see where this could be an issue.
  • FatstratFatstrat Member Posts: 9,147
    edited November -1
    This is the kind of question where a pic is worth 1K words. The 66 I had, had a mickey mouse STEVENS rear peep sight. Don't recall the model number of the sight. But it was mounted on rear of receiver.
  • TomjohnTomjohn Member Posts: 6 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Well, I'm still trying to figure out how to post pics here. I don't see a way to post them as an attachment, and I don't seem to be able to copy and paste...
  • charliemeyer007charliemeyer007 Member Posts: 6,572 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    See the sticky above for posting pic's.
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