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LOT 3052
Desirable Factory Engraved J. Stevens A&T Co. Ideal No. 52 “Schuetzen Junior”
Falling Block Single Shot Target Rifle - Serial no. 875, 25 RF cal., 30 inch octagon bbl., blue/
gold finish, checkered walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1897-1916. This example has a gold finished
No. 44 1/2 type frame featuring factory scroll pattern and border engraving, marked “52 0” on the front
surface of the frame, with an octagon barrel marked with the J. Stevens A&T Co. address on top, “25. R.F.” on
the upper left, dovetail mounted globe front sight, tang mounted ladder peep sight, double set triggers, nickel plated lever
and schuetzen buttplate, checkered walnut forearm, walnut pistol grip stock with a checkered wrist, and matching serial number
“875” marked on the bottom of the barrel, rear surface of the forearm, and on the lower tang.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine as period refurbished, retains 97% blue finish on the barrel with some minor finish wear around the muzzle, 85% gold finish on the frame with some
areas of flaking on the balance, and 95% plus nickel finish on the lever and buttplate. Wood is very fine as re-oiled, with defined edges, a few light handling marks, and a few nicks in the
otherwise crisp checkering. The front sight is loosely seated in its dovetail slot. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 3,500 - 5,500
LOT 3053
Desirable Stevens-Pope Ideal No. 47 “Modern Range” Single Shot Rifle - Serial no. 11343,
32-40 WCF cal., 30 inch heavy octagon bbl., blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Manufactured c. 1901-1903, this rifle is an exceptionally
fine example of a small number of rifles built during a short lived partnership between J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. and the legendary riflesmith Harry M.
Pope. Pope was one of the most highly respected American gunsmiths of the late 19th and early 20th century, however, due to personality clashes between him and
Stevens company officials, the partnership was only destined to last a few years, making these Stevens-Pope rifles very scarce. This rifle is built on the Ideal No. 47 “Modern Range”
rifle frame, a very capable target rifle offered by Stevens. It is fitted with a .32 caliber muzzleloading barrel with muzzle machined for interfacing with a false muzzle and starter, both of which
are included, (bullet loaded at the muzzle, cartridge at the breech) for serious accuracy when target shooting. The top flat on the barrel has the standard two-line Stevens-Pope address, and there are
Stevens-Pope proofs on the barrel and receiver ring. The bottom of the barrel is marked with an import mark and “1953”. The model marking is on the lower tang just behind the trigger. The serial number is also
marked on the lower tang, with the last three digits of the serial number, “343”, marked on the rear face of the forearm, the butt of the stock, and inside the buttplate. The barrel is fitted with a globe front sight and there is
a peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a nicely figured Schnabel tip forearm with multi-point checkering and a pistol grip stock with a Schuetzen pattern buttplate. Includes reloading tools, false muzzle, short
starter, and ramrod.
CONDITION: Fine, retains 40% of the original blue finish and 60% of the original case colors with the balance mostly a smooth grey-brown
patina and some scattered speckled spotting. The buttstock is fine with some scattered minor handling marks. The forearm shows a long,
horizontal, recheckered/re-glued splice of wood on the top right side. Mechanically excellent.
Estimate: 2,750 - 4,250
LOT 3051
Desirable Factory Engraved Stevens-Pope Ideal No. 49 “Walnut
Hill” Heavy Barrel Falling Block Single Shot Target Rifle with
Scope - Serial no. 10165, 32-40 WCF cal., 29 1/2 inch heavy octagon bbl.,
blue/casehardened finish, walnut stock. Offered here is an exceptional
No. 49 “Walnut Hill” rifle, with the highly desirable “Stevens-Pope” barrel
which was offered in Stevens catalogs for a short time at the beginning
of the 1900s. Manufactured c. 1896 into the 1930s, Stevens No. 49
“Walnut Hill” rifles were one of the more premium target rifles in their extensive lineup. Competitive
shooting was an extremely popular pastime around the turn of the century, especially in America, and these “Walnut Hill”
rifles would have been highly prized by competitive shooters. No. 44 1/2 type frame featuring factory floral scroll pattern
engraving, marked “49 0” on the front surface of the frame. The top barrel flat has the “STEVENS-POPE” marking above the J.
Stevens A&T Co. address, and the caliber marking “32.40” is on the upper left ahead of the number “321” which is also on the face
of the muzzle. The same number is repeated on the included false muzzle piece which is marked “3/S/POPE/32.40/321” on the
side. The barrel is marked with the matching serial number to the rifle “10165” on bottom ahead of the forearm, with “1” ahead of
“1927” and “25/141” on bottom of the barrel concealed beneath the forearm. The serial number “10165” is marked on the lower tang with partial matching serial
number also on the rear surface of the forearm, underside of the buttplate, and partly visible as handwritten on the rear surface of the buttstock. It is fitted with a
windgauge front sight, a J. Stevens Arms Company scope numbered “368” mounted on the barrel, and an adjustable Pope
patent peep sight mounted on the upper tang. It is mounted with a walnut checkered Schnabel tip forearm with a palm rest,
and a fancy walnut pistol grip stock with checkered wrist a nickeled schuetzen buttplate.
CONDITION: Exceptionally fine, retains 90% original blue finish on the barrel with a few small patches of very minor surface
pitting, 85% original case colors, and 95% refinished nickel on the palm rest base, lever and buttplate. Wood is very fine as
refinished, with highly attractive grain patterns, a few light handling marks, a small replacement circular section of wood on
bottom of the buttstock where a sling swivel may have once resided, and crisp recut checkering. Mechanically excellent. Scope is fine, retains 80% original blue finish on the tube, with slightly hazy
but viewable optics.
Estimate: 8,000 - 12,000