Need help to identify .22 rifle

[DARKSHADOW]

Ok, first off, I have not yet seen this rifle, nor do I have any pictures.

A friend of mine has a .22 cal. rifle that fires 22short, 22long, and 22longrifle.
It is tube fed, and he says it is not bolt, pump, lever, semi, or even break away.

What he did say is that it uses a charging handle/lever that you pull back to extract the chambered round, and it springs back into place chambering the next round. (kind of like a AR15).

I can't remember, but I think he said he thinks its from the 1930's, but he's not sure.

He has never shot it, and said he can't find any name on the rifle anywhare.


He said he would bring it by and show me, so I may be able to identify it when I see it.


He also has a 1917 remington 30-06, and a 16 guage shotgun along with this .22 rifle, and may sell them to me at a really good price.
He just wants to get rid of them, so I said I would buy them from him.


Do any of you know what this .22 is?

I will post pic's once I get my hands on it.

Darkshadow. :dunno:

[Indy_Guy_77]

free bump because I'm clueless. :-)

-J-

[eddief4]

i don't think i've ever heard of a gun like that. Sweet...i'm in. :wavey:


tagged

[Clem Eastwood]

watch it be a marlin 60

[Guyver]

It's probably something like this winchester model 1903 semi automatic, that has the gas tube blocked/broken, so it doesn't cycle. Thereby making you manually use the charging handle on every shot.
http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/images/255.jpg

[DARKSHADOW]

It's probably something like this winchester model 1903 semi automatic, that has the gas tube blocked/broken, so it doesn't cycle. Thereby making you manually use the charging handle on every shot.
http://psmilitaria.50megs.com/images/255.jpg

As I said, Ihave not seen it yet, but that winchester is exactly how I imagined it looked when he described it to me.

Hopefuly he will bring it tomorow, and I will get some pic's.


Thanks, Guyver. :wavey:

[bamarammin87]

thats wat i thought clem

[DARKSHADOW]

Also, it may not be broken. He has never fired it, so he wasn't sure of the action.

[JimBianchi]

I have a winchester 190 that has full length tube, semi auto.

It's a good little gun that shoots everythong really well.

I paid $100 for it three years ago. The guns got to be 40 years old at least, but in good condition.

Sounds similar to yours.

[eddief4]

WELL......did you buy it?!!? :wavey:

[USMCsilver]

What is that indention for on the stock? Is that where the screw is housed that holds the stock onto the receiver?

Saw one at the gunshow similar to that and wondered what the "slot" was for but didn't inspect closely enough.

[AJ Dual]

What is that indention for on the stock? Is that where the screw is housed that holds the stock onto the receiver?

Saw one at the gunshow similar to that and wondered what the "slot" was for but didn't inspect closely enough.

It's a drop-in port for the tubular magazine. Some designs have the magazine in the buttstock themselves, and others just slide all the way through the action into the tubular magazine under the barrel.

My 1970's Browning .22 take-down rifle (http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?value=022B&cat_id=021&type_id=001) has the same arrangement.

[USMCsilver]

Interesting. Thanks! :wavey:

[Jim Watson]

Short - Long - Long Rifle, odds are it is a Stevens. Common and inexpensive. Decent guns if in good shape, but if it is worn to where it won't function, it is worn out and there is not much to do for it. Testfire before you buy.

[DARKSHADOW]

Ok, totaly not what I was expecting. :wedgie:

It turned out to be a "Stevens model 87A", wich has seen better day's for sure.
I don't know how he couldn't tell what it was, it has the model name right on top of the barrel.
Not only is the stock well worn, but it has a bit of mild to moderate rust up and down the entire rifle.

He also brought in a single shot shotgun that also had some mild rust from head to toe, I can't remember the name but it was made in Massachusetts.


On a brighter note, He also brought in his 1917 Remington 30-06.
Now that rifle was in great shape.
The wood looked to be in good-very good condition, and the metal was in excelent condition. (I think I could tell wich guns were in the garage and wich one was in the house.

I've seen the remington on gun broker going for around $400-$500 for some rifles that were in half the condition this one is in.

He also said all three guns belonged to his grandfather, and my friend is either 49 or 50.

That being said, he decided to keep the shotgun, and I offered him $350 for the Stevens and the remington, and he said yes. :supergrin:

I will bring them home tomorow, and post pic's then.



Thank you for all the replies.

Darkshadow / James.

[eddief4]

cool not to bad. :wavey:

[Jesse024ca]

Sounds like maybe a Taurus .22 pump or some sort of old Browning design.. get pics if you can man.

[DARKSHADOW]

Ok, got some pic's.

First couple are pics of the Stevens 87A.

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/7476/stevrem014og4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8445/stevrem018hi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/7493/stevrem020nk3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[DARKSHADOW]

And some pic's of the Remington 1917.

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1911/stevrem022ek2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/6995/stevrem023ox5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/8642/stevrem025ew1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Jim Watson]

Not bad. The 1917 may be an arsenal refurb, I think they were blued when made, but otherwise it looks clean and straight. They are getting to be worth a bit to people who never saw the oceans of cheap military surplus of 40 -50 years ago, so resist the temptation to Bubba it into a cheap hunting rifle.

I'd clean up and test the Stevens. If it works, it would be worth going over with fine steel wool and oil to get off the rust and maybe a Walmart refinishing kit for the stock.

[ElevatedThreat]

Don't underestimate that old Stevens 87A .22.

These guns are solid, rugged, all-steel, and are usually very accurate, with decent open sights. (Is the left side of the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope mount?)

Clean it up a bit, oil it, check the condition of the inside of the barrel, and if all looks OK, test-fire it with standard velocity 40 grain lead ammo.

You may find you like it more than you think you will....

-ET

[Rohniss]

I kick myself for not getting a 1917 when I had the chance, But I was holding out for the 1903A3 that has never materialized, very good price on the 1917, would pay that out in a heartbeat, the stevens is just a bonus.

[DARKSHADOW]

Don't underestimate that old Stevens 87A .22.

These guns are solid, rugged, all-steel, and are usually very accurate, with decent open sights. (Is the left side of the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope mount?)

Clean it up a bit, oil it, check the condition of the inside of the barrel, and if all looks OK, test-fire it with standard velocity 40 grain lead ammo.

You may find you like it more than you think you will....

-ET


Are these the holes you are talking about?

Also, does anyone know what the knob on the rear end of the barrel is for?
Im pretty sure it is for removing the bolt, I can see threads on it through the two holes in the rear, but I don't want to mess with it unless I'm sure.

I did try to turn it by hand, but it didn't budge.

I have removed the stock once, and it looks easy enough to clean, but it would be easier to get inside if I could remove the bolt.

And I am aware there is a spring in there somewhere.


http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/4294/dsc00792le9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[eddief4]

Sweet project gun and the remington looks Awesome. i would have paid that too...great buy. :wavey:

[RugerFan58]

That Stevens 87A is a sweet gun. I have one that says J.C. Higgins and Sears and Robucks on it. I've got a 5 and 10 round magazine with it and when I was growing up I shot many a rabbit with it. If I was you I'd clean it up because with the right ammo you can drive tacks with that thing.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Squaw Man Wolfer]

That 1917 should be be worth something, but is that rust OR grease inside the reciever?

How is the bore?

[brickboy240]

The 22 rifle COULD be a Remington Model 550. If so, they are FANTASTIC shooters...I own one and it is a tackhammer and well worth owning. It is tube-fed, has a charging knob on the bolt and was made frm about 1949 to 1970. Very nice rifles, if you ask me. Old styled quality and workmanship.

It could also be a Winchester Model 74. Another high quality old school 22 semi-auto but I don't remember if the 74 shot longs, shorts and long rifles like the Remmy 550.

I doubt it is a Winchester Model 03, that was chambered for the proprietary 22 Winchester Automatic round. The Model 63, which came out later and was very similar to the Winny 1903 shot only 22 long rifles. Dad has one and I have shot it several times. Another high quality early 22 semiauto rifle and highly collectable right now. Taurus made a so-so copy of this great rifle.

If you can't tell...I LOVE early Ameircan 22 rifles and own several. Autos, pumps, levers and boltguns. The early 22 semiauto rifles will scare you with their accuracy and most will put any new 10-22 or Marlin 60 to shame at the 50yd bench.

If you can pick up the M1917 30-06..I would NOT let htat pass by. Those too are very good shooters. Even if it is sporterized it would make a great deer/pig gun.

- brickboy240