Stevens No. 52 Schuetzen Junior
J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1897
Also known as: Stevens Ideal No. 52, Stevens Ideal Schuetzen Junior, Stevens No. 52 Ideal
Overview
The Stevens No. 52 Schuetzen Junior is an American single-shot falling-block target rifle built by the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company on its Ideal action. Introduced in 1897, it was a high-grade member of the Schuetzen line, fitted with a full-loop finger lever, an external hammer, double set triggers, a heavy octagon barrel and a deeply hooked Schuetzen buttplate. Chambered most commonly in .32-40, it was designed for the offhand Schuetzen target matches that were popular in the United States around the turn of the twentieth century.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4990 g (176.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1118 mm (44.02") |
| Barrel Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Action Type | Falling Block |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Set Trigger |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Internal |
| Muzzle Velocity | 435 m/s (1427 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1011 J (746 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 200 m (219 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Color Case Hardened |
Calibers
- .32-40 Winchester · primary — also known as .32-40 Ballard, .32-40 WCF, .32-40
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single Shot
- Safety mechanisms: Half Cock Hammer
- Features: Double Set Triggers, Full Loop Finger Lever, Schuetzen Buttplate, Checkered Pistol Grip Stock, Octagon Barrel, Target Sights, External Hammer
Service history
Operators
- American Schuetzen target shooters
Production
Production years: 1897-1916
Built in relatively small numbers as a high-grade target rifle; total production not precisely recorded
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Joshua Stevens
Discontinued: 1916
Notes
The No. 52 was a fancier, better-finished version of the No. 51, featuring the full-loop lever, finer receiver engraving, a checkered pistol-grip stock and a heavy Schuetzen buttplate. Barrels, calibers and sights were offered to order, so individual rifles vary considerably. Examples fitted with premium barrels by Harry M. Pope are known as Stevens-Pope rifles.
Background
Schuetzen shooting was a German-American offhand target tradition, and rifles like the Stevens Ideal Schuetzen Junior were the precision instruments of the sport. Many were paired with the famed barrels of Harry M. Pope, whose Stevens-Pope collaborations are among the most sought-after American target rifles of the black-powder cartridge era.