The Accurate Reloading Forums
Custom Stevens Favorite
16 June 2013, 07:00
ab_bentleyCustom Stevens Favorite
I just picked up a Stevens Favorite and was curious if there were any amoung us that had custom ones? If so I'd like to see them to get a some ideas on mine.
I know Turnbull will be re-casing the reciever and I'll be building a new stock, new barrel and some TLC with the internals.
Please don't be shy.
Adam
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18 June 2013, 03:28
butchlambertAdam,
I'm doing a more or less stock build for my best friend as a surprise. His Grandfather bought it around 1900. My Bud gave it to me several years ago(25). I am secretly redoing it for him to give to his Grandson. I changed it from 25rf to 22rf. Jim Wisner supplied some parts and the new barrel came from an elderly gentleman in Irving or Grand Prairie, Texas. Joe Steele checked it out and did the assembly. The wood is real nice that I picked up from Steven Dodd Hughes. Stockmaker called and said stock was done and ready for finish. It will go to Tommy Kaye for some custom engraved lettering. Turnbull will do the color case on the receiver and lever. The rest will be rust blue, but Terry C said the screws need to be nitre blue. No photos yet. I think it will end up a $2000 rifle worth a couple hundred.
My friend is very important to me and has had my back for over 50yrs.
18 June 2013, 06:48
ab_bentleyButch, that's a mighty fine thing you've done, your friend is quite lucky.
Now along those same lines I was going to pattern mine. But I'm really thinking of trying to add Rigby flats to the barrel and chamber it in 17M2. I was also going to try and thread the barrel and action for a solid fit instead of a slip joint.I'm quite surprised that more people haven't gone full bore on these things.I find the little guys to be so gorgeous when done up.
Adam
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Ammo, you always need more.
18 June 2013, 17:40
Glen71quote:
Originally posted by ab_bentley:
Butch, that's a mighty fine thing you've done, your friend is quite lucky.
+1
18 June 2013, 20:09
butchlambertI am the lucky person! If you find somebody like him, he is a treasure.
19 June 2013, 01:51
srtrax
See if it downloads, have not posted pictures in a while...If it works this is a Stevens Favorite I done over 15 years ago. Way more money in it than its probbly worth but its fun to shoot. The kids enjoyed shooting it when they were young. xx Douglas air gauged barrel, Burl Claro stock...dont remember who the sights are from or the trigger guard and brass butt. Anyway there's one for ya!
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Steve Traxson
19 June 2013, 02:00
butchlambertA very nice looking Favorite!
19 June 2013, 20:44
BAOkiesrtrax - another one of your COOL rifles - I bet that is fun to shoot
20 June 2013, 03:29
Mark ClarkI have a custom Favorite I picked up at the gun show here in Phoenix. The guy I got it from said it belonged to his father and he used it for 22 Silhouettes.
The stock is the factory and it has a Van Horn half round half octagon barrel and an old 10x scope, a Palomar. No iron sights.
When I first picked it up I thought the price was good enough if I had to get it rebarreled I would be OK. But it shoots great; I punch a little paper and chase jack rabbits with it.
Mark
20 June 2013, 04:31
butchlambertMy stock guy called after a year. He will ship this week. It is on to Tommy Kaye. Getting different opinions on what to do with the screws. Nitre blue, charcoal blue, or rust blue. What do you think will look best with the color case hardening.
Sorry Adam, I forgot this was your thread.
20 June 2013, 06:10
srtraxThanks Butch and James. Started with just an action I took in on part of a trade....made it up as I went.
Butch, I'd bet Doug may have some pictures of others he's done...I thinks nitre blue? Pictures are a must when done!
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Steve Traxson
20 June 2013, 06:41
ab_bentleyButch, no issues with me, this is kinda what I was looking for.
I'm not going for the schutzen look, maybe small pancake cheek piece, small petit beaver forend, octagon barrel for sure though. I'll be picking it up this weekend so I'll take pics as our transpires.
Adam
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Ammo, you always need more.
20 June 2013, 06:54
butchlambertAdam, Please keep us in the loop. T.J.Kaye is playing with me. He said he wanted to do a big floral design on it. I told him only if he wanted to buy a very expensive Stevens Favorite. He is a great guy.
21 June 2013, 01:54
terry buffumHere is a link to a bunch of "Ladies Models" on the Favorite action. Although these are factory, they may give you some good ideas on style.
http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/y...BB.pl?num=137080561921 June 2013, 06:56
srtraxHave a Stevens 44 in 22lr unfinished and more factory looking. Played hell finding a lever for it but got one. One more project setting on the back burner

.
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Steve Traxson
23 June 2013, 08:52
Kiwishooter2Recently I came across a forum with a post of someone making a Stevens Favorite from lumps of metal.......he was doing a great job. Wish I had book marked it as I can't find it now, but I bet he's got more in that rifle than anyone who started with an original Stevens Favorite.
20+ years ago I used to see a few for sale.........I haven't seen one in a gunshop for a lot of years now......Kiwi
23 June 2013, 19:38
Dall85Thanks Butch, great website!
Jim
23 June 2013, 23:41
jimatcatim not trying to corrupt your thread here, but today I got a poster of 4 stevens and 1 maynard single shot rifles on it... the poster identifies the 'Adolph Coors company" as owning 25 of these antique target rifles... I'm trying to figure out a way to scan the poster and upload it... nice rifles.. tube sights and all...
go big or go home ........
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29 June 2013, 08:19
Kiwishooter2jimatcat the Coors Stevens collection was on display at The Cody Firearms Museum back in 2010 when I was there.
Here goes a pic of 5 in a display case
Hope the photo turns out, from top to bottom
Model 10 in 25-20 Single
Model 55-44 Ladies Rifle in 22lr
Model 51-44 Schutzen in 22lr with a 2 diameter Malcolm scope
Stevens-Pope Schutzen Model 54-44-1/2 in 22lr
Model 55-44 Range Rifle in 25-21 with a Malcolm scope...........Kiwi
29 June 2013, 08:21
Kiwishooter2quote:
Thanks Butch much appreciated.......Kiwi
04 July 2013, 08:18
ab_bentleyWell I picked up the 1915, she's seen better decades but I'll make her look nice again. Tomorrow I'll post some pics. She shoots but doesn't eject

so I'll be fixing that right off. Other than that she's in ok shape for $170.
Adam
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Ammo, you always need more.
20 July 2013, 06:27
ab_bentley
As you can see she got a little cleaned up. I am working on the fore end and have the first few coats of sealer/ mud on it. The butt will have a small checkpiece. The internal parts are getting cleaned and replaced as needed.
The pillars on the screws are to replace the wood screws and allow easy in and out operation.
I'll keep posting pics.
Adam
______________________
Ammo, you always need more.
20 July 2013, 09:28
2152hqNice little rifles to work on.
Good idea with the tang screw pillars. Those opposing wood screws seem to always loosen up over time.
On the 1915 model version, the frame shoulders rarely actually supports the breech block from the back when it's locked shut. Just the over center link doing the work.
The earlier model usually had some actual contact there but not always the best either.
I've got a Model 45 (Model 44 w/DST and 1/2 oct bbl, st-grip) in 22lr that I'm slowly converting & stocking into a pistol grip Scheutzen w/a Stevens loop style lever, #4 Swiss BP.
Following one of the standard Stevens rifle styles,,a #51 or 52 perhaps,,I can't remember now!
Too many projects to do.
what a fun project! i'd like to do the same some day!

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23 July 2013, 07:10
ab_bentley
Well, I'm fitting and finishing the stock, good looking wood but it's real hard wood.
I'll keep the pics coming.
Adam
______________________
Ammo, you always need more.
23 July 2013, 07:56
butchlambertLooking great Adam,be sure to keep us posted on your progress.
I just got a new set of screws for mine today from Wisners. Jim Kobe is finishing up on the stock. Then it will go to Tommy Kaye for a little of his scratching and then to Turnbulls.
24 July 2013, 07:13
srtraxquote:
Well, I'm fitting and finishing the stock, good looking wood but it's real hard wood.
That's going to be Purdy.
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Steve Traxson
25 July 2013, 02:43
ab_bentley
Preview of the finished product......
Adam
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Ammo, you always need more.
25 July 2013, 04:47
ab_bentley
First sealer coats. Let it drink until it won't absorb anymore. Next comes wet sanding to fill the pores with "mud".
Adam
______________________
Ammo, you always need more.