16ga.com ~ View topic

Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Northeast Oklahoma

Hello all,

Just found this site what a world of info. Was hoping you all could help me out with my 16ga. it says J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. Underneath that I have a hard time making out where it was made I think it says chopper falls, Mass. The only other marking I can find is on top of the chamber. it says *ElectroSteel*ChokeBored* I was told that it was an 1893 model but I am not sure of that.

I was told by my grandfather who gave it to me years ago the it was the only shotgun my great grandfather ever bought when he first came over here to America. This has been passed down through the family and one day my son will get it.

Thank you all for any and all advice that will be forthcoming.

Joined: 18 Mar 2007 Posts: 280 Location: Southern Ohio

Okie: Your gun was made in Chicopee Falls MA.. Joshua Stevens started the Company in 1864, making tip-up pistols and rifles, for which he held a patent.. The Company reorganized in 1886 and became J Stevens Arms & Tool Company.... Reorganized again n 1915 as J Stevens Arms Company.. They were bought out by Savage Arms Company in 1920.. They are still owned by Savage, and they occassionally use the Stevens name on guns.. Your gun was made between 1886 and 1915.. Is it a single or double barrel?.. MDC

Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Northeast Oklahoma

Mine is a single barrel. Has a hammer. (not sure if that helps) Last time I used it about 23 yrs ago it was the easiest shooting shotgun I have shot. I guess you would call it a break open.

Are you going to shoot it?

WOW OkieCop...

Lucky event for you...falling heir to your great-grandfather's gun! I too, have a single-barrel hammer gun that was passed down in the same way. I was honored to get it, but I think my grandfather realized I'd take good care of it and pass it on. Looks like my niece will get it after I'm gone.

The gun is a Bay State model made in 1903. This was a trade name for the Harrington and Richardson Company which still makes single barrel models in Massachussets (sp?) to this day. Not wothe a lot to collectors, but I would not take 50 K for it, because I watched my grandfather shoot it when I was a boy.

One good point...I bet I am within a couple hours at most from you, as I live in Northwest Arkansas and very near the border. I am very cagey with passing out info on my gunsmith over here because if he gets way too busy, my stuff will have to be in line with everyone else's. But if you PM me, I'll give you info if you need it.

I had taken my gun to some very reputable smiths over the last few years, and all told me to make the old gun a "wallhanger". I took it to my current smith who lives within a couple miles of my house and he got it into shape for a very fair price and I can turkey hunt with this gun now. Way cool!! Sometimes it just pays to look around for some help on a special project! This smith is brilliant!

Good luck with the family gun!

OSL

Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Northeast Oklahoma

Delco, I haven't shot the gun in over 20 years. I didn't even know they still made shells for a 16ga. So I was hanging on tight to the only box I have. Also I don't know many people around here that have land that will let a person hunt. I have just found a couple of public hunting area about an hours drive from me. I am going to have to check them out and see what they offer.

Lawyer. Thanks for the info. Great story and I am sure your neice will love the gun. I'll shoot you a PM also. I am right in the corner of the 4 states.

I also have some old guns, not very pretty, and don't have the gold swirls on the sides or anything but I do have a single shot sixteen gauge that my father had when I was a child. I found a shooting range near me and after working with it a while I finally got it to be dependable. The range I shoot at isn't very busy so I can take it to the line and fiddle with it, see what's wrong then take it home and work on it. Then take it back and fiddle with it some more.

I would recommend looking for a range. When I was a kid on the farm we went out hunting whenever we felt like it. Now I work in town and I can't do that any more. But now I can go to the range and shoot a bunch of clay pigeons whenever I want. My range charges me $30 a year and $3.00 a round so the prices vary allot. Go to www.wheretoshoot.org and type in your zip code and how far you are willing to drive then call every range on the list. And visit them to see how they work. Some are more formal than others. One other thing. Many of them will say members only but that doesn't mean you can't shoot as a guest, most of the time anyway.

Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Northeast Oklahoma

delco,

Of course I plan on shooting the gun. Like you I grew up in the country and never had a problem with shooting. I moved and now live in town and there are not that many areas to shoot unless you know people real well.

As far as I know all the skeet places that are close are down around tulsa. I'll take a look at the site that you put in the post and may be suprised at what I find.

I really want to know when my gun was made. It has no serial or model number on it at all. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Okie,

Those old Stevens guns are almost impossible to date; in 1949 or so they started putting date codes on them; before that, nada. Cool gun, though, and great legacy. Sorry I couldn't help...

Fin

Joined: 31 Jul 2007 Posts: 10 Location: Northeast Oklahoma

Fin,

Thanks for the help. I see your a flat lander. I was born and raised in Kansas. In thre northcentral part of the state. Maybe I can get back up there and do some pheasant hunting sometime.