Interested in Stevens 235 (Hammer Double)
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
Joined
·
84 Posts
These shotguns are popular with the cowboy action shooters, and more than a few have gotten the barrels cut down. Hopefully the new CZ hammer cowboy gun will put a stop to some of that. At any rate, they have become a bit harder to find and a bit more expensive, but they are out there. Get a transfer dealer set up, and keep an eye on Gunbroker and you may may score one.
Thanks for that explanation. What a shame. The 235 wasn't even period with "wildwest"cowboys, was it? I dread to think what a person would have to pay if an original, un-hacked 235 shows up on Gunbroker.
Joined
·
1,458 Posts
I got one, couldn't hit the broad side of a barn with the darn thing. It shot 8" to left. It was my Grand dads so didn't stay that way for long. It's had cast put into a new stock; dents removed from the barrels, and some other things. Sure, looks good and now shoots as well. It was made in the early 1900's from what I can gather. The butt pad is the only thing that looks out of place from original, will be working on that soon. It may have to stay as the LOP was way to short.
I could have bought an unfired SKB (I think a model 200?). It was gorgeous, 28” barrels. They wanted $700 for it. I hemmed and hawed and went back a week later. They sold it to a Cowboy action shooter who was taking it straight to his gunsmith to have the barrels hacked. I wanted to cry. Stupid is as stupid does I suppose.
Joined
·
1,458 Posts
Very sad day. I recently saved an auto 5 that was to be converted to 2 3/4 and barrel cut to 18". I guess if your Bonnie and Clyde, it may look cool, but useless to me.
Joined
·
84 Posts
I have not worked on any of the Steven's hammer models so far. I have a decent set of 32 inch barrels for a 225 model that have not been too badly abused, but a couple of attempts to land a frame have been.unsuccessful.. I am curious why every frame or parts gun I encounter seems to be missing the hammers. Did they habitually work loose ot give trouble on these models?
I have a hunch that some people collect gun hammers like kids used to collect marbles - one or two here, one or two there, just for the sake of looking at them.
I am taking serious note of your experience with the 225, because at one time I thought about trying to scrounge parts (ALL the parts) for a 235.
Joined
·
84 Posts
Well I do have growing experience with scratch building shotguns from the frame up. My LC Smith project is 2 years old and coming along. Since I am approaching the time when I attempt chopper lump barrel making and case coloring, I decided to bring along a Stevens 335 to get everything working first. It was an early 335 frame with the water table broached through at the breech, and I mistook it for a 325, which MIGHT have fit my barrel set. The top lever was the give away--the 325 has a center screw, the 335 is solid, but I learned that somewhat later. So this last week, I made a set of wooden "try barrels", fitting them with extruded aluminum lugs and a bite, and these last few days I jointed them to the frame just to get in a little practice. Then I will use them to get a buttstock properly fitted up, and I will use them to get the forend iron made (if necessary) and fitted. I will short chamber them (so as not to accept a real shell!) and vent them out the barrel tops to get the frame working with real primers once the parts are all in and fitted. This is not the cheap easy route by any stretch, but hey, I am retired and there is no better way to gain a complete understanding of a certain design, and the parts chase is always fun and interesting.
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
