Stevens Tip-Up Rifle
J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company · Rifle · Discontinued · 1872
Also known as: Stevens Tip Up, J. Stevens Tip-Up Sporting Rifle, Stevens Pocket Rifle (tip-up)
Overview
The Stevens Tip-Up Rifle is an American single-shot rifle built on J. Stevens & Co.'s hinged tip-up action, in which the barrel pivots upward at the breech for loading. Chambered most commonly in .22 Long Rifle and other rimfire and small centerfire cartridges, it was a popular and affordable sporting and small-game arm in the late 19th century. The exposed-hammer design, octagonal barrel and two-piece walnut stock made it a defining product of the early Stevens line that grew out of the company's original tip-up pocket pistol.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2500 g (88.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1029 mm (40.51") |
| Barrel Length | 654 mm (25.75") |
| Action Type | Break Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 1 rounds |
| Muzzle Velocity | 330 m/s (1083 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 141 J (104 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 100 m (109 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1200 m (1312 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Walnut |
| Finish | Blued Barrel With Nickel-Plated Frame |
Calibers
- .22 Long Rifle · primary — also known as .22 LR, 22 LR, 5.6x15mmR
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Single-Shot, Manually Loaded
- Safety mechanisms: Half-Cock Hammer Notch
- Features: Tip-Up (Break-Open) Barrel For Loading, Exposed Hammer, Octagonal Barrel Options, Two-Piece Walnut Stock, Open Iron Sights
Production
Production years: 1872-1896
Produced by J. Stevens & Co. / J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. of Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts before the tip-up line was superseded by lever-action falling-block designs such as the Favorite.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Joshua Stevens
Discontinued: 1896
Notes
Stevens offered the tip-up rifles with barrels of roughly 24 to 30 inches in a range of rimfire and light centerfire chamberings from .22 up to .44. The action descended directly from Joshua Stevens' first product, a tip-up single-shot pistol.
Background
J. Stevens & Co. was founded in 1864 by Joshua Stevens, whose very first product was a tip-up single-shot pistol. The tip-up rifle adapted that hinged action into a long arm and helped establish Stevens as one of America's leading makers of inexpensive sporting and boys' rifles before the company was eventually absorbed by Savage Arms in 1920.