Stevens No. 44½ Ideal
J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1903
Also known as: Stevens 44½, Stevens Model 44 1/2 Ideal, Stevens Ideal No. 44½
Overview
The Stevens No. 44½ Ideal is an American single-shot falling-block target and sporting rifle introduced in 1903 by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts. Conceived as a stronger successor to the earlier No. 44, it replaced that model's pivoting tilting-block with a true falling-block breech operated by an underlever, giving the action far greater strength to handle higher-pressure smokeless cartridges such as the .38-55 Winchester. Prized by Schuetzen and offhand target shooters for its crisp set trigger and heavy part-octagon barrel, roughly 13,000 were built before production ended in 1916, and surviving examples remain coveted by collectors and single-shot rifle enthusiasts.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3289 g (116.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1080 mm (42.52") |
| Barrel Length | 660 mm (25.98") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Set Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 396 m/s (1299 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1270 J (937 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued |
Calibers
- .38-55 Winchester · primary — also known as .38-55 Win, .38-55 WCF
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Hammer
- Features: Single Shot, Octagonal Barrel, Underlever, Interchangeable Barrel, Tang Sight Option, Schuetzen Target Rifle
Production
Estimated total produced: 13,000 · Production years: 1903-1916
Approximately 13,000 rifles produced; offered in numerous rimfire and centrefire chamberings including .22 LR, .25-20, .32-40, .38-55 and .45-70.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company
Discontinued: 1916
Notes
Distinct from and not parts-interchangeable with the earlier Stevens No. 44; the 44½ frame is thicker and the breech block falls vertically rather than pivoting on a central pin.
Background
The 44½ is widely regarded as the finest single-shot action Stevens ever built and a high point of the American Schuetzen target-rifle tradition. Many were fitted with premium barrels, including those bored by famed barrelmaker Harry Pope, making documented Stevens-Pope rifles among the most sought-after of all American single-shots.