A lot of the original Favorites, and similar rifles of the day, are worn around extractor. This can cause case blow out even with standard
velocity ammo. I put together a Rem Rolling Block when I was a kid. This was a tight gun, that had been a 25rf. I was going to have
it chambered for 22 mag, gunsmith said no, not strong enough. Stevens did make falling blocks heavy enough for this, but they
weren't the basic Favorite. Although I have seen a few in Hornet, my gunsmith wouldn't do anything potentially dangerous, and he
was nationally rated. Savage made a Favorite in the 1980s for HV ammo, if you are not set on a original, look up one of those.

 

I have a Stevens Model 35 single shot handgun that was built between 1920 & 1929. Here's a pic of it close up. I must have deleted the one with the grip & barrel.

This little gun has shot regular 22 ammo with no problems at all. It locks up tight and is as accurate as can be expected for the heavy trigger pull. Now, it has zero, nada, none, not one safety feature on it. No rebound spring on the hammer. So, once fired the hammer stays down and the pin stays protruded. So...if the shooter would get "excited" and load another round and forget to bring the hammer to half-cock, and "slam" the barrel closed, there's a chance the round could be set off by the protruded firing pin. Actually....a pretty good chance since the hammer is still resting against the firing pin.

In any event, perhaps you may consider using only sub-sonic 22 ammo in your older rifle. Just a thought.

 

I bought an original Stevens Favorite about a year and a half ago. I've fired a couple of boxes of standard 22LR through it with no issues--other than the fact that the ejector doesn't work. Extractor still pulls the case loose, making it easy to remove spent case by hand. I didn't notice any unusual swelling/bulging on the cases either, but then again, I wasn't looking too close.

 

Bill Ward wrote a book called "Walnut and Steel: Vintage .22 Rifles." He has a lengthy discussion about his Favorite (which very well may be his favorite vintage .22). As far as I recall from the book, he shoots his. I'd just stay away from really high velocity ammo.

 

I remember new ones on the racks in the early 70s.

 

I think Savage still lists the Favorite and if I remember correctly it's available in .22 W.M.R. and .17 also.

 

I wish they were still available! Years ago I bought two Stevens/Savage rifles, a 22LR Model 30 and a 22 Magnum Model 30M. I still have the model 30, a friend whined until I sold him the 30 M. They shoot well and have an authentic looking octagon barrel. I never saw one in 17HMR, not from the lack of searching.

FM

 

Stevens had a Walnut Hill, target version of Favorite, I think it was available up into the 1950s. Haven't seen one in awhile. There is
a guy in my area that specializes in sleeving them with barrel liners.

 

I found two "new" Favorites on BunBroker. One is a 30 and the other is a 30M. Both $400 each.
A little over my budget, but worth considering.
M

 

Wow! That is almost twice what I paid for my model 30s. They are accurate and fun, I would seriously consider paying the price if I didn't have the one that lives here. They are a perfect short range squirrel rifle, I put a tang sight on the 30 22LR, works great!
FM

 

The Favorite is also my favorite vintage single shot .22.
I have been collecting Favorites for quite awhile. I use only standard velocity ammo in my .22's. I have some with a bore that looks like a sewer pipe but still shoot well.
I also have a very rare 22 7 1/2. Which is the Winchester 22 WRF.

 

I have a Stevens-Maynard Jr. in 22 rim fire. I don't shoot it, but the last owner, a great-uncle, kept Remington 22 shot in it to kill pigeons in his barn. The extractor is worn off and rifling is either gone or leaded smooth from that #12 shot.

 

my son has bought two of them, but they are the precursor with another brand on them, the company stevens bought to get the pattent. he shots them regularly.

 

When I was a kid the local Druggist gave me a Stevens Maynard Jr. NIB. His family had been from the city, he had gotten it as a kid
as a present and never shot it. I don't know how old gun was, but druggist was born 1892.
A few years back at farm sale I bought a Favorite & a Wire Twist Mule ear. Favorite turned out to be a 25rf.

 

IIRC a Conversion from .32 Rimfire Can be Done Fairly Easily.
Only Requires a Barrel Sleeve & Firing Pin.
Often thought of Doing One Myself.
Seems that I See Steven's Favorites that Cal. Quite Often & Sometimes Reasonably Priced.
UncleSarge58

 

Here's a original Stevens Favorite, Model 1915; it is a little beat up but still functional. It was owned by my Grandfather.

 

Got an auction notice last night. There is a Stevens Marksman in an upcoming auction. It looks a lot like the Favorite, but seems to be smaller in overall length. And they seem to be "Tip-Up" style barrel. As you swing the lever down the barrel tips forward (like a shotgun) to load. Retracting the lever closes that action. Any comments?

I understand that some of them are take-down models - loosen the set screw under the barrel and the entire barrel slips out.

Michael

 

Spotted a .22lr Favourite in the LGS the other day. Although I didn't pay it any attention at the time, It's been in the back of my mind ever since.

Got a feeling it's a 1915, as it had a slotted takedown screw from memory, and an octagon barrel too.

Guess what I'm doing tomorrow....... :flute:

 

Well, went back for a play. It is a 1915, cosmetically good-very good. Round takedown barrel (don't know where I saw octagonal). Rifling ok, ejector good..........no half-cock, and no tension on the lever. It just drops on cocking.
Decided $160AUD might be a bit steep at the moment, till I can evaluate a fix.

 

Anyone that has*more than a mild interest in old single shot rifles should get a copy of Frank DeHaas book SINGLE SHOT RIFLES AND ACTIONS. The Favorite was a "swinging block" action. Stevens chambered one in .22 Hornet for a while but they soon developed headspace problems. The action is ok for rimfire rounds and it's bigger brother the Stevens 44 was to be had in 32-40 but only safe with low pressure or black powder loads.

 

I have been looking for a Stevens Favorite for awhile, but they
are pretty high down here, even for one that's worn out.
My step grandfather used one during the depression to
hunt small game.

 

My son Dan also has a soft spot for single shots. he has one stevens favorite which he shoots, and another that looks the same, it is from the company that came out with the rifle stevens bought the design for to make the favorite.