GUN SPRING 2016
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/14/2016
SCARCE STEVENS IDEAL "SCHUETZEN JUNIOR" MODEL 52 SINGLE SHOT TARGET RIFLE. STEVENS 52 10097 .32-40 Cal. 32-40. Fine target rifle with 30" about #4 weight oct to rnd bbl, windgauge globe front sight & no provision for a rear sight. Top tang has an extra hole and is mounted with a Winchester Model '73 thin base vernier tang sight with 3" staff. Receiver has dbl-set triggers and top flat of the bbl has the Stevens 2-line address with Cal. marking on top left flat. Mounted with very nicely figured American walnut with checkered, semi-Schnable tip forearm and serpentine grip buttstock with cheekpiece and heavy Schuetzen buttplate with medium ball-tip prongs. Receiver is beautifully etch-engraved with the vignette of a bird dog on the left side and a leaping stag on the right side, all surrounded by intertwined foliate arabesque patterns. Matching patterns extend over the top 3 flats and top rear of the receiver. It also has full loop finger lever. SN was observed in the usual place on the lower tang, bottom of the bbl with last 3 digits of matching number on rear face of forearm, in white chalk or grease pencil on rear face of buttstock & inside the buttplate. Stevens Target rifles were extremely popular around the turn of the 20th Century, winning many awards & trophies for their owners. They rarely are found today in completely orig configuration as most of the shooters of that day altered their rifles to suit their shooting style and requirements. CONDITION: Fine to very fine, all matching. Bbl retains 97-98% fine rust blue that may be an old restoration. Receiver retains about 50% faded case colors, stronger in sheltered areas, bright on sides of the lever, faded on outer faces. Buttplate retains about 80% strong orig case colors. Breech block and hammer retain most of their orig blue. Stock has a fine hairline on left side at the buttplate, otherwise the wood is sound with the buttstock retaining about 98% bright orig varnish with a couple of small bruises in the checkering on the wrist. Forearm retains about 70% orig varnish showing moderate wear on the checkering. Mechanics are crisp, bright shiny bore. 50246-1 JR204 (5,500-8,500)