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A Boy and His Rifles (Boys Rifle Rehab)

jds holler

jds holler

Gold $$ Contributor
I've been enjoying a fun and economical hobby for awhile now. The pic below is of five of the rifles which probably began their service as the treasured companion of a young boy. They are mostly around a hundred years old, and all have been in need of some love, and a part or two, and often a fix for a cracked stock. I don't get crazy trying to restore them, and leave the bluing as is with only rust removal, stocks are left with pretty much the finish they had unless they've been slathered with Verathane or some such. Most of the stocks have initials carved in them, and I'll usually leave them.

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I shoot these rifles, and often take one with me when I am slaughtering ground squirrels with my high powered squirrel rifle. When a varmint pops up twenty or thirty yards away, one of these little rifles is the perfect medicine.

I picked these guns up for generally a hundred dollars each, and none were functional or safe when I got them. A couple have bores that aren't real pretty, and they still shoot pretty well. A couple have bores that are absolutely pristine, and they shoot pretty well. As with most 22's, any target within a hundred yards is in grave danger. I shoot a lot of CCI CB caps in them, to keep the starlings at bay around my house.

These rifles were new in early 1900's, and I'm sure most of the original owners have gone on to those heavenly woods and pastures. I like to think that they'd be happy to know that their beloved rifle is still providing happiness for someone. -- and if I am able to work it out they will provide happiness for some kid after I head off to shoot squirrels with Jesus. jd

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What brand/model are they? I love older rifles, and still have my great grandpas model 67 SS B/A .22 also, a treasure that I'll hopefully pass down to my child.
 
Reading that story and seeing those pictures, put a smile on my face! Thank you! That is really awesome to do something like that. That makes me want to go out and do the same, maybe I will. I still have my first 22 a Marlin model 780 from the early 1970s. This is one gun that is safe not to be sold until after I go to greener pastures. Not the greatest picture, but that’s where it sits by my back door in the corner waiting for some disgusting low down vermin to traipse through my yard.IMG_2729.jpeg
 
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Thanks for sharing. I never owned one of the common little 22s from back in the day but I was always excited when we were off to visit relatives out in the country. I knew to bring a few boxes of 22 of any length variety and I would disappear in the woods until I knew it was time to eat, or until I had something that needed to go in a pot. Best days of my youth for sure.
 
MUP said:
What brand/model are they? I love older rifles, and still have my great grandpas model 67 SS B/A .22 also, a treasure that I'll hopefully pass down to my child.
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From top to bottom, they are:
IMG_0066.jpeg
Stevens Junior, Model 11
Page Lewis Reliance Model D
Winchester, Model 02-22 Sport
J. Stevens, Crackshot - 26
Remington Model 6

These generally sold for five bucks or less when they were new. The stocks are often cut from a 1" board, and except from screws, the parts count is often about six. Their beauty is exhibited in their simplicity and economy.

Barrels are almost always 20" from muzzle to breach, with that Crack shot being 22". Sights are iddi-biddy, with windage adjustment by drifting, and elevation use your imagination. The technology of the platform is such that limitations in accuracy aren't really relevant between the different models. They all shoot great for their intended purpose.

I've also got another half dozen or so 22's, that are sort of in this category- only more recent, such as the Rem 500 series and others. They exhibit more complicated features that show advancement in machining processes, and newer materials. I'm of an age group that remembers when any firearm that came out with plastic or aluminum parts was considered junk. My, how times have changed.

I guess my favorite is the Rem model 6 on the bottom. It was one of my first, and just seems a little more solid in construction. By the way, every one of these is a take-down rifle where one thumb screw allows turning your rifle into a twenty inch package that could easily fit into the typical nap sack. Made it pretty easy to take your rifle to school, and shoot rabbits on the way home. jd
 
JD,

Love the write up. I have a little Stevens with a toggle on the side, and a 414 Armory Model, and a 68 Winchester. Gonna go buy back my 67 from my cousin soon too. I'll toss up some photos as soon as I can remember to take them.

P
 
Reading this thread sure brings back a lot of memories starting with my first 22, a REM 512. I just gave it to my oldest grandson and told him I hoped he would keep it in our family.
 
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Reminds me that my dad engraved his SS number on his guns. He never sold any thus this didn't worry him. They have all stayed in the family.

Thinking about that reminds me all his tools had his name engraved on them.
 
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Coming across parts for these old rifles is sometimes sketchy, and I just stumbled upon a site called "Homesteadparts.com". The web page is sweet and easy, and the guns listed are right in this category. They've got some stuff, and --- some not so much. I just picked up an original extractor for my latest project, and it was quick and reasonable and very good. jd
 
I suppose a fellow should consider them a form of scrimshaw, only a boy's version.

I think it adds to the novelty rather than detracts from it. Obviously not everyone would think so and that's fine. That whole 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' thing.
 
Thanks for the post - how fun to remember the joy a kid gets from their first 22.

I have a new grand kid about 8 years from his first .22 and I’m on the lookout for a little rifle.

It would be nice to gift an accurate rifle - does a small simple .22 with a nice barrel shoot as well as the same barrel in a thicker profile fitted to a larger action?
 
TaperPin said:
It would be nice to gift an accurate rifle - does a small simple .22 with a nice barrel shoot as well as the same barrel in a thicker profile fitted to a larger action?
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At longer ranges, AND with optics, a heavier and better built rifle would take the day. At ranges of 0 to 50 yards, these little rifles would probably preform better for a small kid. They are very light, and shorter stocked.
Also, I've noticed that at the shorter ranges, the ones with a crappy bore don't seem to suffer from it. jd
 
IMG_20230910_162525088_HDR.jpgIMG_20231231_162814114.jpgIMG_20231231_162824004.jpgIMG_20231231_162855796.jpgIMG_20231231_163351277.jpg
Stevens 414 Armory model 22LR
Crackshot 22 LR
Close up of the specific style of Crackshot maybe model 13?
Winchester 68
Winchester 450 (1967)/Diana 45 177 underlever (my first good airgun at age 12 I still have)
 
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