Mechanics operate very well. The 6 O’clock extractor pushes the spent casing out however although it should catch the tiny rim of the brass it is worn just enough to believe it won't engage the brass which is a coomon problem of tip up rifles. it is corrected by putting a small tip on the moving extractor for proper 100% ejection of the brass. The manual cock with lever tilts smoothly. The picture looking inside the reciever end of the tilted barrel shows the insert. The bore looks good with a right hand twist. The wood is in very good shape, not hardly any dings common for rifles handled a lot by boys of the early 1900’s. On the butt-stock there is a fancy dotted scroll work of the name probably of one of or the only other owner. I can make out the first name Mike but not the last name. He did a nice job making the name nice, fancy, not too deep but yet identifiable. Most attribute 1896 as the last date of manufacture for the “Tip-Ups” but since Stevens retained the machines and tooling for some time in the early 1900’s custom building surely was available. There could have been parts laying around after 1896 which could easily have been used for a customer. However in Grants Book of Single shot rifles he states that the Stevens Number 12 Marksman was made from 1912 until 1930. There seems to be some difference in Authors dating Stevens models. Personally I lean towards Grant but Perkins seems to have a good amount of knowledge as well. While the number 12 was made for different size bullets this one is for .22 longs. If I did not collect Boys single shot rifles It would be harder to identify this from the other “tip-ups” as the lettering on the sides of the receiver is rather faint in some spots. There is a screw lost right behind the trigger which does not seem to impede on the mechanics or loosen anything for the rifle.

Hide Pictures   If you've got a slow modem, give this a try (must have cookies enabled) ...