Stevens Favorite 1915

Check out this very cool old falling block 22 rifle!
Inspirational Gun #6
• Inspirational Guns #6
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[@catherder6]

Got one of these for my twelfth birthday. That was seventy one years ago. Still have it.

[@foxitfixit4450]

My Grandpa had his stolen from him in the 1990’s it was his grandfather’s.22 that was handed down to his father then handed down to him. I believe it was one from the 1880’s

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

Dang that sucks

[@dillonpew2408]

I just picked one up for $50. Serial number 840, in great shape and functions. Mine only has a partial octagon barrel though.

[@chuckaddison5134]

Technically it's a tilting block, not a true falling block.

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

Fair enough

[@mic982]

I've heard it referred to as a "swing block". I guess we'd have to ask Joshua Stevens what he called it.

[@christinamoneyhan5688]

Took a lot of Raccoons out of the tops of trees with one of those back in the 1960s . Mine had the round barrel.

[@wesleyorshoski-he8bm]

My butt plate looks different

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

It's a little beat up

[@scooterbob4432]

Mine is a Stevens Model 30 which was made in Canada. It has a half hexagonal, half round 22 long rifle barrel. I installed an Uncle Mike hammer extender yesterday for easier cocking. Wish they can make a 22 magnum version. Nice video.

[@wesleyorshoski-he8bm]

Man i got a rifle from my grandpa and cant get it to fire. Any place or someone who can help me get it fixed. Would love to restore it but don't know much about it

[@jerryalley3654]

Does it take long rifle?

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

It does

[@jerryalley3654]

@@rifleman17hmrshooter center fire or rim fire?Thank you

[@007twm]

Thanks for the memories.

[@joewilley7776]

I just bought one for $100.00 is that market value

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

You got a pretty decent deal

[@joewilley7776]

@@rifleman17hmrshooter safe to shoot long rifle shells ? And thanks for the reply and great video

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

@@joewilley7776 oh yes absolutely, I would use standard velocity. The sights seem calibrated for the mid velocity, which makes sense given when they were made, and the soft lead won't destroy the barrel. Gotta remember these are old rifles and old-er metallurgy. They don't stand up the exact same way modern production does.

[@jasonswiatkowski9127]

CCI Quiets work well in mine. Hits almost POA at 15 yards.

[@neanderson1692]

Actually you have a swinging block action. A falling block goes up and down. A swinging block is on a pivot. Enjoy your work.

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

Thanks!

[@rickhofsess84]

Had one given to me just like yours. Excellent condition and lots of fun. Have a new firing pin on order because the existing one catches on cocking, not smooth as it should be. Very nice video, thanks.

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

Thanks for watching!

[@charlesdemay4192]

NICE rifle, I just recently got one in pretty decent condition. I wish to let you know that the 1915 is more like a LOW WALL 1885 Winchester. You may ask how do I know. Well a couple of years ago I was able to pickup a Winchester 1885 with a 4 digit serial number at Cabela's used gun section for $200.00, I couldn't resist it. BUT it did have a few problems. I did some research on it and found out it was 2nd year production. I also found out that the HIGH WALL ones were produced first then the LOW WALLS started at around the 5000 range. My rifle's serial number was 5475 which would make it 1 of the first 500 LOW WALLS produced, which was PRETTY NEAT to know. It was ALMOST a BASKET CASE, but I thought I could resurrect it. The barrel was a HEAVY OCTAGON weight barrel that the bore was HORRIBLE, only GOD would know how many BLACK POWDER CARTRIDGES were fired though it over the time before 22 shorts had non-corrosive primers. You KNOW they must have shot it quite a lot because I'm sure it didn't just hang over the fireplace collecting dust, it was used to put FOOD ON THE TABLE or kill pest. The barrel had about 4" cut off for some reason plus they didn't square the end of it or crown it. I was able to get a original old 1885 barrel that had been relined for 22lr. I had to get replacement parts other than just the barrel. The trigger spring and the front sight. I got it back in working order, which I was PROUD OF. ALL THE SPRINGS WERE LEAF STYLE which are proned to break (NO COIL SPINGS back then). It also had a rare features (MILLED RECEIVER) most were not milled. It also had the mount for a tang sight. At a gun show a dealer offered me $100 just for that part, he said it was a EARLY Winchester tang sight mount. They are NEAT RIFLES if you can get one. They only made them till 1919, I can't remember the total number produced but it is pretty LOW. There are some collectors that that is the only rifle they collect because everyone of them was SPECIAL ORDERED and there were many options (caliber, barrel length, weight of barrel, round or hexagon, types of sights, type of wood, style of stock and forearm, milled side or not) I may be forgetting something.😯😁😉👍

[@Tunkkis]

How are the non milled ones made, cast?

[@vwmountainman9701]

I no longer purchase bulk ammo. Especially the ones u mentioned. They are way too inconsistent. If one is just wanting to fill paper with holes in an autoloader - they would be ok. Nice video - Thank you !!!

[@hawkeyeinthehouse2995]

Very NICE, enjoyed your video!! I've got one but UNFORTUNATELY it got a little bit toasted in a FIRE IN MY BEDROOM AT 3:00AM!! ! I hope I will be able to RESURRECT IT! 🤔😉😁👍 I'm actually LUCKY TO BE ALIVE, sorry I can't say that about my newly acquired pet a small kitten about 3 months old!!😲😳😵‍💫😮‍💨😢

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

Damn that sucks, glad you're ok

[@hawkeyeinthehouse2995]

@rifleman17hmrshooter I'm in the PROCESS of trying to RESSURAT it even though it's in pretty SAD SHAPE!!! I had a couple of POLYMER WEAPONS that OBVIOUSLY can't be FIXED, but STEEL barrels and WOOD stocks can be REFINISHED if they aren't TOO BAD CONDITION!!!

[@mic982]

Mine, alas, will not eject the spent round, requiring me to pull it out with my fingers. The ejector removes it about 1/4" only giving me something to grab, at least. Barrel is Octagon for 6" only, near the receiver, then round the rest. Smaller forearm, ends at the end of the octagon portion. Take down screw is not a knurled screw but sling-style. No half-cock feature, either. Gorgeous wood though. Not straight grained but figured a bit - with swirls, esp. on the underside of the rear stock and forearm. Would love to find a tang reap peep for this (?) and get the ejector reworked. Thanks for the nice video. These rifles are pretty accurate.

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

I'm a huge huge fan of this rifle for many reasons

[@mic982]

@@rifleman17hmrshooter I have 3 daughters and they all want this rifle over any others I have. I think the lines of this elegant little firearm appeal to the esthetic nature in people. The simplicity of it all appeals to the mechanical nature in people like myself. I learned in the Navy that 'sophistication' = 'simplicity', not complication. The simpler something can be made to function the more sophisticated it's design.

[@scenicdriveways6708]

Nice. I'd love to own one of those.

[@dalemoss4684]

What an awesome old gun! I really want one now

[@tannerstarr7938]

By chance could I have you measure the front sight height on this? I just bought one that is missing the front sight. There is a place that makes sights with a 7/16 dovetail like which is on the favorite and I’m hoping to get one that’s close to the original

[@jlyle51]

I have a 1915. The barrel was trash. I replaced it with a .224 and cut a new chamber in 22 MRF. Putting a Lyman old-school on it. Have ordered the scope ring dove tailed mounts. Will be testing for accuracy soon

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

I'm a very big fan, the original 1915 is way better than the favorite 30 that came later

[@jlyle51]

@@rifleman17hmrshooter I have 3 more stevens. One is now a 25 Hornet centerfire the other is rechambered to 32 Smith and Wesson long . Converted to centerfire. The other is still in the 32 rimfire long.

[@jlyle51]

@@rifleman17hmrshooter the 25 hornet case is a 22 Hornet run through a 25-20 loading die making a straight wall 25 calaber chamber. Had to order a reamer and change to centerfire. Using Black powder only . The 25 Hornet is way to hot for the stevens action. 25 Hornet is a custom wild cat load. Commercial amo not available.

[@johnconley9966]

I was on a motorcycle ride in east Texas and a country store had several of those rifles for sale. Good price but I couldn’t buy one. I should have gone back the next week to get one. 😀

[@leadhead7338]

The one i found is in near perfect condition, a couple dings in the side of the receiver, around the top pin over the trigger, its octagon out to the end of the fore end stock, then a round barrel, and the rear sight is dovetailed in the barrel, but it didnt have that take down knob at the bottom front of the receiver like yours, and on the bottom tang it only says Model 1915,must be the serial # is on top where it says Favorite

[@alanmahler277]

Great video. I have a Stevens favorite 1915 as well as a Stevens Junior. Just dropped them off earlier this week to a local gunsmith who checked them both out. Unfortunately the Stephen‘s favorite is in less than good condition. the barrel is pretty much trashed and the hammer will not cock back on its own even after the receiver has been opened. Now the good news is the Stevens Junior is in pristine condition as far as the barrel goes the gunsmith said he’s never seen a barrel as clean as this on the inside for as old as it is. He test fired it and did a little work on the firing pin so I’m going to pick it up today and try to head to our local gun range and take my sons shooting for the first time with it. This has also been in my family for quite some time and Im just getting around to getting it verified to make sure it was going to shoot safely. I don’t know what to do with the Stephen‘s favorite at this point I could part it out and try to sell the parts individually or just leave it for a conversation piece.

[@frankmajos4641]

⁰loo iui

[@leadhead7338]

I may not have read your comment correctly, but I dont think the hammer is supposed to cock back by it's self, i believe on the Favorite model 1915 it drops, you put the round in and close it, then cock the hammer back your self.

[@edwardmartin3069]

The hammer was never designed to cock on its own. You always had to manually cock it after loading....

[@sandramoskwa]

I like the Favorite rifle but it is not a true falling block.

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

True but close enough

[@andrewpachuau2217]

I have that gun

[@wesleyorshoski-he8bm]

Can anyone tell me how to tell how.old it is?

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

About 110 years old

[@leadhead7338]

I found one of these the other day for $200 it is in such great shape, not a spot of rust on it at all

[@vet6822]

Oh yes,It is nice to see this neat old piece has had a good home.

[@blindfredy6128]

Good video mate. Subscribed.

[@wesleyorshoski-he8bm]

My grandfather passed and didn't even know he had it. Would love to know the history about it.

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

These are fantastic rifles from a fantastic company

[@thefreese1]

They make new butt plates for them..

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

Yes, but given what it is to me, I'm going to keep it as is

[@foxitfixit4450]

They also reproduce them but the original ones are far better

[@martyhudson4510]

I have had one for 35 years

[@skyym3629]

I have that exact rifle and it still works great. It was handed down to me from my great-grandfather and it is a tack driver. The only thing I do differently is to cock the hammer before I pull the lever so it is less aggressive to the rifle. I don't shoot it that much, but when I do I absolutely love it. Thanks for the video and info. God bless brother.

[@mic982]

I've not heard about cocking the hammer first tho one can certainly do that. I suspect this rifle was made well enough to not require that - but perhaps it's not a bad idea. I also forgot to mention that my rifle has a different shaped swinging block, being curved on top to more conform with the graceful lines of the receiver. Not sure if this was a later or earlier design.

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

It might be a Savage favorite 30

[@mic982]

@@rifleman17hmrshooter No, pretty sure mine is a Stevens, it's stamped as such (on the octagon portion of the barrel ) "J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. Chicopee Falls Mass.USA" with "Trademark FAVORITE" stamped on the receiver above the chamber. There were so many variations made on this little rifle over the years. It's to Savage's credit that they made the 30 in response to its beautiful design.

[@rustyshackleford5157]

Good shooting, nice rifle.

[@tootsiedog23]

Nice shooting!

[@vet6822]

Love the tshirt.

[@dinsch]

Very nice rifle! I love these old ones.

[@woodenbeast9337]

do you have a winchester 72A 22 rifle?

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

Sure do! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmaxkmaLprymeZI

[@charlesdemay4192]

I just got one in pretty decent shape considering its age. I traded a actually pretty NICE condition Mossberg 46B-B, still has the case coloring on the bolt handle which I don't know they had. I looked it up on the internet to check on that because all the other Mossbergs I've seen were in the WHITE. I've wanted to have a decent example of a Stevens Favorite 1915 because I thought they were NEAT 22lr. I did have a ORIGINAL early 1885 low wall 22short Winchester. It was 2nd year production and first couple months of the low wall with milled side receiver which is rare. It had problems when I got it from Cabela's used gun section for $200. Someone cut about 4"-5" off the end of the barrel and it wasn't cut square either. The bore was HORRIBLE, shooting black powder cartridges for HOW many years 20-30 or so years takes its toll on the barrel. I replaced the barrel with another 1885 Winchester barrel sleeved to 22lr.😯😉😁

[@wesleyorshoski-he8bm]

How can you tell how old it is? I have one.

[@lanaholmes7098]

Just got this gun the other day. Looks just like yours but bore is too big for a 22 so what kind of ammo does this take???

[@MegaJGarrison]

Probably 32 rim fire which is a very old and now obscure caliber but you maybe could order some online

[@lanaholmes7098]

@@MegaJGarrison I've tried a 32 I'm thinking it's a .25 cause on the side it says Stevens 25.

[@MegaJGarrison]

@@lanaholmes7098 it may be 25 stevens

[@lanaholmes7098]

@@MegaJGarrison yea kinda what I was thinking but will it shoot regular .25 or does it take a like a hard to find .25?? What I mean is can it shoot a .25 or does it take a .25 Stevens?

[@Ruger44Redhawk]

Was thinking about getting my kids into gun safety and shooting this year and I knew I had a couple .22's in my collection and it looks like I have this and a 1979 Glenfield Marlin Model 60 with extended tube. Now I need to have them looked at and see if they are ok to shoot. Will this Stevens take a .22 Magnum?

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

I have heard of them in 22mag, but mine isn't changed for it

[@foxitfixit4450]

DONT CONVERT UNLESS ITS A REPRODUCTION!

[@Ruger44Redhawk]

@Foxit Fix it It's an original and no I won't mess with it. I'm just wondering if you can shoot a .22 Magnum out of it.

[@ericschulze5641]

​why it's a Steven's favorite, not some rare historical museum piece, unless it still has 95% original finish who cares,

[@Ruger44Redhawk]

@Eric Schulze Already had it looked at and no you cannot shoot .22 Magnum out of it.

[@redneckwookie]

I have one

[@redneckwookie]

My instructor is not working right on mine

[@rifleman17hmrshooter]

?