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Double Rifles, Single Shots & Combinations >> Single Shots & Combination Guns
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Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3592
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Diamond in the rough?
      #366646 - 12/06/22 09:59 AM

Call me crazy, but a rather tired little American single-shot rifle followed me home from our Arms Collector's meeting last Thursday. The previous owner was trying to give it away, but no-one was prepared to cough up the registration transfer cost!

So I grabbed it, intending to register it as an antique to dodge the transfer fee. Plenty were made pre-1900 by the looks, being pre- factory fire, but the model was resurrected after the factory rebuild and made until ~1914 if my research is correct.

Yes, its a Hopkins & Allen falling-block rimfire, probably a Model 922. I say probably, because a new barrel has been fitted in the distant past, the donor being a Remington Model 6 or similar. Sadly, its no longer a takedown. The trigger return spring is missing, and the breech-block retaining spring is faulty, but otherwise it functions correctly if the trigger is pushed forward and the lever held shut for firing.

If I get time to make a new trigger spring and fix the lock-up it will probably repay the effort of a clean-up, it is a genuine vertical falling-block action after all! Kinda like a mini high-wall.

Otherwise just another cheap learning experience...!

No photos: at the moment it looks pretty horrible, but there's a few youtube videos out there, including one of an owner having a bit of fun with his on steel plates, but I can't seem to find that one now to post the link. Accuracy seemed fine though. Hell, they even made a schuetzen version!

Anyone on the NE forums got one of these? I imagine they would have been marvelous little gems when brand new!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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lancaster
.470 member


Reged: 06/05/08
Posts: 9036
Loc: There's a lighthouse in the mi...
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: Marrakai]
      #366652 - 12/06/22 03:18 PM

such things happen when you leave the bed in the morning and go outside, nothing to worry about, you did right.
its a .22?

--------------------
Norwegian hunter misses moose, shoots man on toilet
.
bringing civilisation to the barbarians

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27000
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: lancaster]
      #366653 - 12/06/22 03:32 PM

Looks very much like a "Stevens Favorite" action. I have one I converted to CF and chambered in a piece of .308 barrel, for the .32 S&W using a drill. LOL - even shot a grouse with it.
COOL"buy".
My hunting buddy Brad, called it a zip gun!



--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3592
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: DarylS]
      #366662 - 12/06/22 06:36 PM

Nice example of the Stevens there, Daryl. Wish my H&A looked like that!

Certainly appears similar to my new acquisition externally, minus the "patina" (read smoothly-worn rust!)
I believe the Merwin & Hulbert version was the same rifle too, and Numrich list the parts,
so perhaps the acquisition of new springs might not involve so much file, torch and elbow-grease!

And yes, its a .22, but could have been a .25 Rimfire or .32 Rimfire originally.

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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DarylS
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Reged: 10/08/05
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Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: Marrakai]
      #366672 - 12/06/22 11:50 PM

My Stevens was a .32 RF.
My "Zip Gun" with 18 1/2" heavy bull bl. is not in that good condition, either.

The one pictured above was listed on the Siki page of H&A's as a Hopkins & Allen Model 722.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3592
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: DarylS]
      #366675 - 13/06/22 01:40 AM

Ah, sorry, I thought that was your Stevens.

Still, that's weird!
I understood the 722 was a .22 calibre rolling-block.
The 822 was listed on the sites I visited as a lever-actuated rolling block, and the 922 was the falling-block.

Bloody internet: two-edged sword. Tons of info, but half of it wrong!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27000
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: Marrakai]
      #366677 - 13/06/22 02:08 AM

As I understand the rolling block(I had a #1), they have 2 blocks, each with a pin or rod on which they rotate. The rods or pins are held in holes on each side of the vertical sides of the action itself.
The front block holds the ctg. inside the chamber & caries the firing pin, while the second block, has the front rounded surface rolling under the rear edge of the front block & acting as the action's locking lug.
The Stevens Favourite is very similar to the Ballard action, in that the block is cam'd on the lever's linkage to hold the ctg. in the chamber against back thrust.
This is as I understand these actions. Hope my explanation is sufficient and I managed to get them right. If not, open for correction(s).

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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2152hq
.300 member


Reged: 20/05/12
Posts: 126
Loc: USA
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: DarylS]
      #367126 - 25/06/22 12:47 PM

Here's a basket case H&A Model 3922. That was their Jr. Schuetzen rifle. This one in .22RF.
Made on the same 922 action with a full oct bbl and a Schuetzen style stock & Swiss style butt plate.

I bought this one as a pile of parts.
I needed a bbl reline. Then rebuild the action.
The Forend wood was missing wood on both sides of the bbl channel,,very thin there. I saved the orig by glueing in patch pieces. The butt stock was cracked thru the grip. Glued and secured. The wood was all refinished and orig checkering recut.

The metal repolished flat. I removed the orig factory lettering from the top bbl flat as it was badly pitted and the lettering was rolled impressed at an angle anyway.
I polished off the top flat of the bbl and florentine matted it full length. I hand lettered the markings onto the oblique flats and included the caliber markings.
The orig rear sight dovetail was filled and made to 'disappear' to provide a smooth full length top flat surface.
The gun was equipted with a Lyman folding rear tang sight and Beeches front target sight.

The action was engraved w/full scroll coverage with a squirrel on one side and a rabbit on the other and finished with a french grey color. The Butt Plate was engraved as well as the lever.

A lot of work, but a fun project. A somewhat rare gun and I though was worth putting the time and effort into to save it.
It went to a good home.

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Marrakai
.416 member


Reged: 09/01/03
Posts: 3592
Loc: Darwin, Top End of Australia
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: 2152hq]
      #367130 - 25/06/22 06:56 PM

Wow!
Obviously you considered it to be worth the effort, 2152hq.
Stunning result.

I am inspired!

--------------------
Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
--------------------------------
www.marrakai-adventure.com.au

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bwanabobftw
.375 member


Reged: 29/12/04
Posts: 675
Loc: Texas
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: Marrakai]
      #367141 - 25/06/22 11:29 PM

Very very nice !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Robert

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NitroXAdministrator
.700 member


Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 39885
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: bwanabobftw]
      #367147 - 26/06/22 12:08 AM

Agree. Very nice result.

--------------------
John aka NitroX

...
Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"

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CptCurlAdministrator
.450 member


Reged: 01/05/04
Posts: 5284
Loc: Fincastle, Botetourt County, V...
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: NitroX]
      #367300 - 29/06/22 08:30 PM

Great work on a classic!

Curl

--------------------
RoscoeStephenson.com

YOUR DOUBLE RIFLE IS YOUR BEST FRIEND.



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DarylS
.700 member


Reged: 10/08/05
Posts: 27000
Loc: Beautiful British Columbia, Ca...
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: CptCurl]
      #367318 - 30/06/22 02:00 AM

Yes indeed, beautiful work on that falling block rifle.

--------------------
Daryl


"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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93x64mm
.416 member


Reged: 07/12/11
Posts: 4200
Loc: Nth QLD Australia
Re: Diamond in the rough? [Re: DarylS]
      #367336 - 30/06/22 06:43 AM

That is some seriously good work 2152hq!
It turned out a treat & the engraving is something else, truly an heirloom piece now mate!
Well done indeed.

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