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Make: J. Stevens A & T Co.
Model: 44 Ideal Range
Serial#: 31251
Year of Manufacture: 1896 - 1916, C&R
Gauge: .25 Stevens Rimfire
Action Type: Single-Shot, Pivoting Block Rifle with Extractor
Markings: The top of the barrel is marked “STEVENS A.&T. CO. CHICOPEE FALLS MASS U.S.A. PAT. APR.17.94 / 25.R.F.”. The underside of the barrel is serial matched to the receiver.
Barrel Length: 26” 60-40 Octagon
Sights/ Optics: The front sight is a dovetailed globe style with a floating bead insert. The rear sight is a adjustable V-notch dovetailed to the barrel. adjustable folding peep with a diopter.
Stock Configuration & Condition/Grip: The stock is a two piece checkered wood set with a semi-pistol grip, raised comb, and a Swiss style buttplate. There are scratches, pressure dents, and small chips throughout. The stock has been cut and reattached. There are small cracks forming at the forend. The checkering is worn in spots. The LOP is approximately 13.25” from the trigger to the back of the butt-plate. Overall, the stock is in Good condition as refinished. The buttstock is not original to this model.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is gray and the rifling is worn. There is heavy erosion and moderate pitting in the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 3.5/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 15% of its finish. There is heavy patina and moderate thinning throughout. There are scratches and wear marks throughout. The action has moderate wear. The screwheads have some deep tool marks but they remain serviceable. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all previously owned firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance standards.
Box Paperwork and Accessories: None.
Our Assessment: The Stevens Model 44 Ideal Range rifle was one of the more refined offerings from J. Stevens A & T Co., designed for accuracy and elegance in the golden age of American single-shot sporting rifles. Introduced in the late 19th century, the Model 44 action quickly earned a reputation for smooth operation and reliability, becoming a popular choice for small game hunting, informal target shooting, and competition in its lighter calibers. Chambered here in .25 Stevens Rimfire, this rifle hails from a time when rimfire cartridges came in a variety of specialized calibers, tailored for accuracy and small game performance. Today, surviving examples in shootable condition are increasingly rare due to the obsolescence of .25 Stevens ammunition. This example features a 26-inch barrel with a fine dovetailed globe front sight and a rear adjustable peep sight with a diopter—highlighting the rifle’s intended use as a precision shooter. The rifle has seen heavy use and bears the marks of time: only about 15% of the finish remains, and the bore shows heavy erosion and worn rifling, rating 3.5/10. The buttstock is a Swiss-style replacement, married to the rifle with a visible joint where it was reattached to the original cut-down stock. Despite the cosmetic and mechanical wear, the action still functions correctly, and the gun retains much of its period charm, including checkered wood and its early Chicopee Falls barrel address.
This Stevens Ideal Range rifle is a classic piece of American firearms history, representing the precision and style that defined target rifles of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. While the bore and stock modifications affect its collector-grade appeal, it remains a desirable project or display piece for collectors of antique rimfire rifles or single-shot enthusiasts. With its period sights, Swiss-style buttplate, and strong foundational action, this rifle offers historical interest and the potential for restoration—or simply a dignified retirement as a relic of America’s target shooting past. -R.E.