Stevens Model 1915 Favorite Serial Number
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and Closely Associated Versions
This type of rifle action is known as a pivoting block type,
or swinging block, since the breech block is pivoted on a pivot screw in the mid section of the
receiver. Upon activating the lever, the breech block pivots, or swings
These firearms evolved basically with many internal running
changes happening over the time span that the guns were in production.
This article is not meant to be the BIBLE, in that many times if something is
printed, there may later be some gun show up to prove us wrong. So, you
will see words like appears, may, could, possibly, assumed, etc. used frequently
There appear to be basically 4 main different versions of the Favorite, the 1889, 1894,
1915, and the 418 with other sub variations made at the productions start, then again at the
older Favorite series had a total of 4 different versions of extractors. Most guns were made in either 22RF, while 25RF or 32RF calibers were offered.
There is no real way to tell anything by a
number or combination of numbers and a letter that appears to possibly be a serial
number. It is suspected that the factory used a series of letters and
numbers to some preset upper number like say 1,000 or 10,000 or even 100,000 and
assigned a letter to that block of numbers, like A, F, or W. When
that upper number was reached for that letter, they picked another letter and
started over. Now this is not to say that these letters were in
alphabetical order either. They could even have been spelling out a word. Some manufacturers would assign higher
numbers at the start of a model to fool the competition into thinking they were
making a lot of guns. What I am saying is that no one really knows how
many of these guns were made or even a numbering sequence.
We won t cover barrel configuration in detail here at this time, as we are more interested
here in identifying the actions and the internal parts used in them. However they could have been had in round, round/part octagon, or octagon in different lengths. The early guns that had a part octagon barrel only had it on the top of the barrel, stopping at the front of the forearm, while the barrel under the forearm wood was round. The later guns bore different model designation, as say 17, 20, 27. The barrel
and or sights were what determined the different models. This model designation was never stamped on the gun however
mentioned in the sales catalog.
Standard sights on the 1889 and 1894 were fixed with the rear being just a triangular metal section, not adjustable for elevation.
All versions utilized a wood screw on each of the top and bottom of each tang to secure the buttstock in place. These wood screws are 1.050 in length with a body dia. of
.214 and a head size smaller in relationship to the body of. 270 dia.
Buttplates appear to have been made of black hard rubber.
In Frank de Haas s book, Single
Shot Rifles and Actions in chapter 17, he covers a 1889 Sideplate version.Since there are so few of them out there, I had about given up hope of
ever seeing one. However recently a customer sent an action in for
us to examine. The following are my observations.
The sideplate is on the RH side of receiver, held on by 5 screws, 3 of which are the trigger, hammer
and finger lever pivot screws.
The lower part of the frame under the barrel extends forward enough in front of barrel shank
abutment to accommodate the barrel takedown screw. The breechblock is longer than any of the subsequent models.
The mainspring appears to be the same as the 1889 and has the cast in lug on the bottom tang as
a rear abutment for the spring.
The extractor is a 7 o clock style different than any others. It has a recessed screw head that acts as a pivot point. The extractor hook is at a 35 degree angle. Apparently it is screwed into the inside LH side of the
receiver activated by the breechbolt s link pin that is slightly extended
The sideplate style would make sense from the manufacturing standpoint, in that when getting a new
model into production, it would have been easier to make it this way to
get a prototype up and going faster.
The mainspring for this version is a thin lazy S shaped spring that the rear just
in front of a abutment lug on the lower tang. Some abutments were cast into the inside of
the lower tang, presumably the earlier versions while others used a thick headed screw. The mainspring
goes in backwards from what you may imagine, in that the flat short bend end goes
forward. This flat is what is needed to clear the rear of the hammer when
cocked. On the later type, many times the rear of the mainspring may
have a slight convex radius where it abuts the abutment screw to keep it from
Stevens Favorite 1889 early 1894 Hammer and Mainspring,
The version which used the screw as a stud could be later
versions, as it appears that the 1894 s utilized this same hole and spacing for
attaching it s mainspring. You can tell if the screw is just an
abutment type screw if when the screw is tightened all the way in against the
lower tang with no mainspring under it, the radiused threaded end will be just even with the bottom of
If you install the 1894 mainspring on this version, the
hammer will not cock as the hammer is totally different. The screw in this
instance was not designed to hold the mainspring by going in the mainspring hole
the 1894 mainspring could possibly be used if BOTH
1894 hammer and mainspring were used.
You can also help identify this type, if the buttstock is
original, in that this thin mainspring is arched enough that it many times will
touch the underside of the top tang. To accommodate this, the wood has to
be relieved back about 1 1/2 from where it abuts the rear of the receiver.
The barrel-takedown screw had a bow loop into the head of the screw. The trigger
and spring appears to be the same on all models.
1889 and early 1984 with side style extractor -- had a 2 dia. stepped barrel shank . 630
and. 695 with 1.526 overall shank length.
used the side style extractor, sometimes called the 7 o clock style. The center of the breechblock under the barrel s rear had a small screw with the head bearing against the bottom of the barrel.
This could be adjusted against the bottom of the barrel to allow take up for worn linkage that allowed the lever to droop.
Forearms for both the 1889 and the early 1894 s had a slight schnabbel on the front.
Forearm length varied with the version the barrel configuration.
The 1894 s were probably the most proliferate as to the many varied different type of parts improvements in relationship to barrels, extractors, breechblocks, forends
You could see many different internal configurations on this variation. This was also in an era that the factories would offer special options when ordering firearms. By the time the 1915 came out the options had dwindled.
Stevens Favorite 1894 intermediate Hammer Mainspring,
The early 1894 s had the same side style extractor as the 1889 guns. The top side rear of the receiver at the top flat at the rear of the barrel at the hammer area had a more square corner on the early guns. The next version in succession had a short threaded section on the barrel in front of the receiver
and utilized a thin knurled ring that threaded onto the barrel at the juncture against the receiver front.
This ring could be adjusted to position the barrel rearward enough to put more pressure against the breechblock, putting enough tension to keep the lever from drooping if the linkage became worn.
Later guns used a spring loaded plunger inside the lever that put tension on the link.
Then still later the whole adjustment system was dropped.
The above illustration taken from Frank de Haas book,
with part numbers changed to reflect actual factory numbers
One observation is that the 1894 center style extractors had
the. 240 wide top at the case rim, and a. 200 wide bottom with a. 193 dia hole for the pivot screw.
This wide tops appear to be the early center type. It would seem that in
the initial engineering, thoughts would be the wider extractor would give better
support. However, if you examine these chambers at the rear where the
extractor fits, this wide top version has to be fit quite precisely, as it
extends upward around, nearing the center of the case with a thin sharp top
section. Whereas if you look at the narrower extractor, the fit can be not
as critical, as it only fits the lower part of the chamber, thereby making a
stronger juncture on the corners at the rear of the chamber, at the same
time final fitting less costly. The thought here is, that the narrower
extractor followed the wide top version.
This then substantiates that the later guns had the. 200 wide extractor full length
and the same. 193 dia hole. This. 193 dia hole was somewhat sloppy fit over the 3/16 . 187 dia screw.
I have seen the mid version center style extractor stamped 25 so it may be assumed that any caliber other than 22 could have the actual caliber stamped on the side of it.
Apparently late 1894 guns possibly a few years prior to the 1915 came with
what is now commonly considered the 1915 type extractor/ejector described below.
The breech block for this late version would have had a wider slot in the front
to accept this wider 1/4 extractor.
The section of the lever that exerts pressure on the extractor on the final extraction has been changed.
As the levers of the first center type extractors did not have enough metal at the contact point to stand up for extended usage,
it s contact with the extractor would not give as full a extraction movement as designed.
It was not possible to allow them to machine the proper recess for the bottom
part of the extractor below the pivot screw hole. Later they simply milled
the left side hole of the lever out enough to accept the extractor better,
them pressed a bushing in the hole to reduce it down to the screw dia.
The barrel-takedown screw on the bottom front of the receiver had a bow loop into the head of the screw. All the receiver screws were made to the dimensions of the width of the receiver.
The barrels had pat. APR.17.94 stamped on them. The assumedly later center style extractor versions
used a single dia barrel shank . 665 dia and 1.500 overall shank length.
The receiver was. 870 thick. There appear to be 2 different screw head thicknesses.
It appears the early guns receiver casting wall thickness at the screw holes varied
with the counterbored hole in the receiver for the screw heads could have left a very thin section when using the regular headed screws.
It has been observed that other receivers have a shallower counterbore, utilizing a same overall length but a thinner headed screw. This thinner headed screw is thought to be a later version than the thicker headed ones.
The takedown screw head recesses into receiver and has a wire loop in the head of the screw.
The forward lower section of the receiver from the lever pivot screw to the front where it mates to the forearm was a short radius.
Breechblock and lever screw are the same size, . 187 dia. The
breechblock and lever are both 1/2 wide. The link connecting the breech block to lever is. 150 dia.
It appears that the early firing pin tip was chisel point. It also appears
that the late firing pins had a radiused tip.
And they could, in all probability be used interchangeably. Firing pin length is
1.035. The flat arched mainspring . 094 thick is held in with a screw in the lower tang from the inside. The center of this screw hole is 1.960 from the rear of receiver on lower tang.
The mainspring has a turned UP front with a small ball pivot end that bears on the hammer.
Some have been observed without the ball, but still slightly turned upward.
The hammer is completely different from the other versions, in that the sear notches are closer to the pivot point, the mainspring pressure point is smaller, in a different location, lower.
It is not interchangeable with the 1889 or the 1915.
Lower tang length on early guns with side style extractor is 2.860.
Later guns with center extractor has a lower tang length of 2.200 - same as 1915 s.
These later tangs are the same, and use the same buttstock as the Visible Loaders.
All of the receivers for all variations were drilled and tapped for a tang peep sight, using small screws.
The top of the breechblock was radiused lower at the rear.
A Ladies Gun in my possession has a pistol grip, 1/2 octagon barrel, checkered
fancy wood, and evidence of a once there being a metal target type buttplate.
Stevens Favorite 1894 late type Hammer Mainspring,
The 1915 version, introduced in that year, was made until 1935. No patent date has been observed on the 1915 barrels. The receiver is. 950 thick, had 2 tang peep holes drilled
and tapped on the upper tang, along with model 1915 stamped on this top tang.
The top of the receiver had TRADE MARK on the top line, with FAVORITE on the center line,
and REG US PAT OFF FRN on the bottom line, all stamped on the top receiver flat. The forward lower section of the receiver from the lever pivot screw to the front where it mates to the forearm was a larger sloping radius.
Stevens Favorite 1915 Hammer Mainspring
The extractor was changed to the same ejector type used on the late 1894s which
employed a captivated spring loaded plunger that snapped over the breechblock screw.
This captivated plunger utilized a radiused end that protruded
forward, when the lever moved the extractor in the appropriate location on extraction,
this plunger snapped over center of the screw, causing rapid movement, ejecting the fired case.
The above illustration taken from Frank de Haas book Single
The problem encountered with the 1894 thin counterbored screw holes was eliminated on the 1915 as the receiver was made wider
and a internal boss was cast at the screw holes allowing the standard
thickness headed screw to be used.
The takedown screw head was not recessed into the receiver, the head of the screw is knurled
and with a coin slot. The barrel shank dimensions were the same as the 1894. The breechblock pivot screw was. 216 dia. Lever pivot screw was. 187 dia. Breechblock
and lever. 550 wide. The link connecting the breechblock to lever is. 250 thick. All these screws are longer than the 1894 to accommodate the wider receiver.
The firing pin tip is radiused, but not a true ball nose. This could be
so that the tip of the firing pin will slide off the extractor when the breech
block is rotated downward when the lever is activated. If the tip was a
chisel point it could bind against the rear edge of the extractor, since these
models do not utilize firing pin return springs.
A mainspring assembly unit used a plunger system straddling the hammer and coil type mainspring was over a rod that had a tubular. 312 dia. hollow base that had a bevel on one side of the rear, that abutted into the notch of a double headed type screw in the inside of lower tang. The center of this screw hole is 1.960 same as the 1894 from the rear of receiver on lower tang. The threads appear to be the same, and it may be possible to use a 1894 mainspring
IF you also use a 1894 hammer. The plunger crossbar was about. 110 in dia that put pressure into a mating section that was above center of the hammer s pivot point.
The slot between the side of the front of the breechblock where the extractor goes in between is wider to accept the wider extractor/ejector.
The breechblock s top section was straight from the front to the rear.
All of the receivers had the 2 small peep mounting holes on the upper tang.
Calibers appear to be 22RF with a few 25RF and 32RF.
The 1915 used the standard dovetailed with the notched adjustment elevator rear sight.
Shown in the illustration below are the hammer and
mainsprings associated with each. You will note that each has to have the
proper combination to function. Over the years, your gun may have had the
wrong mainspring installed. It is critical that you have the proper hammer
One thing to remember, there are 6
different extractors for the Favorite models AND each extractor has to
match a corresponding finger lever, which has the cut-out slot to accommodate
the extractor and to accept the extractor at it s pivot point screw.
This cut-out is shaped at the pivot screw area to apply pressure which activates
the extractor on it s extraction cycle. This is not a mix-or-match
situation as each version has to be compatible with each other.
This gun was one of the Walnut Hill Models and
was made from 1932 to 1940. It appears to be a sporter target version of the 1915 in 22 Short
or 22LR only. The gun had a pistol grip receiver that was cast that way as you can see
the machining marks on the lower tang. This version used a heavier barrel.
The early, or Old Style versions used the same hammer, MS
plunger and link as the 1915, which used a plunger system straddling the hammer
and coil type mainspring was over a rod that had a tubular. 312
The later or New Style used a slightly different hammer that
utilized a 1/2 cock pad but a different link to pull the hammer to 1/2 cock
when the lever was moved forward to open the action. The mainspring
plunger was longer and coil mainspring was longer about. 200 than the
1915. The hollow tubular base tube was longer, did not have a bevel like the 1915, that abutted into the notch of a double headed type screw in the inside of lower tang.
The link for this version is critical, in that the tab that
protrudes, is what moves the hammer to 1/2 cock on opening. It is critical
in that if it is not fit right, the firearm will not cock or be able to fire.
The firing pin was set at an angle inside the breech block
which was offset to the LH side of the breech block.
The tip dia. was smaller ____.
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From examining the above information, most of the internal parts can not be interchanged between the various Favorite models.
To confuse the issue, Stevens parts lists from year to year may have different part numbers for the same part.
As the 1915 extractor/ejector in one catalog is part 3, while in another it is 6-9. The 6-9 are indicative of each of the individual components, when combined in an assembly,
To order parts back then, many catalogs simply say send the old part in, plus
this would give positive identification of the version of the firearm.
There apparently has not been any factory records available for these old guns. It appears that serial numbers may not mean that much.
This gun seems to be basically a larger version of the Favorite.
Calibers it was chambered in appear to have been 44-40, 38-55, 32-40, 32-20,
25-20 Single Shot, 25 RF 22 LR. There is some mention of a 44
Shot caliber, this would have been a smoothbore 44-40. The rifles tended
to shoot loose in the larger calibers if used in hunting load
pressures, but survived in reduced target load loadings. Therefore
it appears that the larger calibers were discontinued early on.
extractors and other improvements followed
basically the same pattern as the Favorites, only larger to accommodate the
larger frame gun. They are illustrated below.
To identify this frame, the factory usually stamped the
number 44 on the front of the frame, but covered up by the forearm. There
was also a 0 usually stamped here, but apart from the 44 stamping number.
The take down screw on the front lower section of the receiver is a screw that
does not protrude much below the receiver itself. The barrel is threaded
into the receiver as compared to the Favorite sliding in.
The model 45 was essentially the a deluxe model 44, which
could have had PG. set triggers, special levers, stocks etc.
main cross screws used a slotted head pin that had a smaller tapped hole on the
off side that a smaller screw was threaded into. The thing to identify it
is, does the cross screws have slots on both sides of the receiver.
The mainspring on the early guns used the 1889 no hole mainspring at least to 32,28X, while the later guns example at 70,5XX used the 1894 with hole version.
So somewhere in between these numbers the change was made. However it has
been observed that a early side style extractor, pistol grip, double set trigger
version at 3,97X, has the with hole version. As with most
grip versions use different mainsprings than the same corresponding straight
grip version, this probably follows along that line also. It also
could have been that they ran a separate serial number lot for the PG
versions. It has been noted by a well-known writer/gunsmith that this model s late version
also used a coil type mainspring similar to the 1915 favorite.
If the caliber is engraved 25-20 on the barrel, it would have been the 25-20 SINGLE SHOT, not 25-20
Stevens 44 intermediate 12-2-CW
Stevens 44 angled intermediate 12-3-CW
Stevens 44 late type extractor assembly 8
Some original part numbers for these extractors are hazy, as it appears there
were never any real numbers assigned to the early guns. So we have taken
what part numbers we can find and add suffixes to them to identify our
parts. We have found the part number for the earlier plain extractors was 12. For
this early side extractor 12, we have added -1-S. This indicates the type
1, side style. The next is the 12-2-CW. This refers to part 12,
type 2, center / wide style. The type 3 also follows this pattern.
The late extractor assembly uses the original part number.
This gun was the last version made on the 44 frame was one of the 2 versions known as Walnut Hill Model,
it was made from 1932 to 1947. It was made in 22 Short, 22 LR or 22
Hornet. It was more of a target rifle with a heavy barrel with full
pistol grip, with a beavertail forearm. This version used a totally different hammer
unit. The front of the plunger went inside a slot in the rear of the
hammer with the plunger s rounded front end bore against a round hole that was
drilled crosswise, very similar to the Ruger single action revolvers.
This gun was basically the same as the 417 except it was
Late Savage/Stevens Favorite s made in the 1971 to 1989 carried a model of 71,
72 or 74 depending on the barrel. These were a look alike only, with no parts interchanging with the earlier guns.
The latest Favorite brought out in 1999 is named the 30G. It
again appears to be a Favorite again only in visual appearances. This gun is made in Canada for Savage.
I do not list the 44 1/2 model here as it is a look
Alike, but internally totally different, being a lot stronger design.
The above are actual close observations of existing guns over MANY years and cross-references to actual Stevens parts catalogs.
The above CAD drawings are actual size, off our computer that we use to make many of these
LeeRoy Wisner All Rights Reserved
- I own a Stevens Favorite model 1915, I have a Stevens Model 1915 Favorite 22 Serial 758 lever I have a Stevens Favorite. Model 1915, serial number 649.
- Can you tell me if the Model 1915 Serial number D 59 is made in 1915. If not what year would it have been made and what documentation is available on the rifle.
Model 1915 Stevens Favorite All For Sale. Narrow Your Search. Has Pictures No Reserve Has QuickLook Stevens Favorite Model 1915 Rifle 32 Long. 1: 0: 375.00.
I have a j Stevens model 1915 Favorite Long Rifle Lever Action Rifle, Serial Number 115. If my memory serves me correctly my father told me he received it for his.
