old .22:

Dear folks: Can anyone tell me the value of what I believe to be an old rolling block .22 rifle? It says .22 long rifle : J. Stevans A.&T. CO CHICAGO FALLS MASS : USA PAT. APR 1794 SN = 3 digits.

What you have is a Stevens 'Favorite' model. The patent date is actually APR 17, 1894. It is more of a 'Falling Block' rather than a 'Rolling Block'.

What you need to look at is the position of the extractor. Open the lever and look at the chamber. If the extractor is at the 6 o'clock position, it is the more common and later manufacture of this model. If the extractor is at the 7 o'clock position it is the earlier manufacture and more rare.

The value is of course dependant on the condition of the finish, the condition of the bore, and the wood, and being complete.

A model with a decent bore, wood, and being complete would start at $200 and go up.

If the bore is a disaster, you can have it relined for about $125 and then have a real good shooter. New wood is also available.

Savage also reproduces it. However, for the one I saw, I was not impressed with the wood-to-metal fit. The Stevens was also made in .25 and .32 rimfire, if I recall correctly.

These are known as 'Boy's Rifles,' because of the smaller stock size. I have a comparable one made by Hopkins and Allen, likewise in .22 rimfire. Very popular guns at the end of the 19th/early 20th century.

Mine came down to me from my grandmother in Kansas. Rumor has it that she shot rabbits in the front yard from her porch for dinner. I don't doubt it..