J. Stevens Model Ideal Schuetzen No. 51 .32-40 27″ Single Shot Rifle C&R

SOLD FOR: $2225

LSB#: 211201KB13

Make: J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.

Model: Ideal Schuetzen No. 51

Serial Number: Not Serialized

Year of Manufacture: 1902-1915 C&R

Caliber: ..32-40 W.C.F.

Action Type: Falling Block Single Shot Breech Loading Rifle with Double Set Triggers

Markings: The front face of the receiver is marked “44 1/2” and “0”.

Barrel Length: Nominal 27″, Actual Length 26 3/4″ Half Round Half Octagonal Douglass Barrel

Sights / Optics: There are no iron sights installed. The top of the barrel is installed with a pair of male dovetail-style bases. The top band is installed with a base for a flip-up aperture sight.

Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are checkered walnut. The buttstock has a pistol grip, straight comb, cheekpiece, and a metal schuetzen buttplate. The forend has a Schnabel tip and is installed with a base for a folding palm rest. There are some scattered compressions. There are a few little marks through the finish. The forend has a small gap to the receiver. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures approximately 13 1/4” and 12 5/8″ from the fronts of the triggers to the back of the buttplate. The buttplate has been polished bright and has some streaks from polishing. The stocks rate in about Fine overall condition.

Type of Finish: Blued & Case Color

Finish Originality: Refinished. The barrel is not original to the receiver.

Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.

Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 90% its metal finish. The receiver has some scattered light oil stains, most noticeable on the right side. The edges of the receiver have thinned. There are some little spots of discoloration and finish loss from previous oxidation on the receiver and lever. The case color is slightly muted on the right side. There are some scattered little spots of thinning and finish loss on the barrel. There is some finish loss on the edge of the muzzle. There is standard operational wear. The screw heads range from sharp to lightly worn with strong slots. The markings are mostly clear. Overall, this rifle rates in about Fine condition.

Mechanics: The action functions correctly. The trigger is very light when set. Sometimes the extractor is slightly off center and makes closing the action difficult. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.

Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None.

Our Assessment: Alternately translated as “shooter” and “marksman”, Schuetzen also refers to a German shooting sport from the turn of the 20th century. As with many types of firearms, gunmakers took the design and manufacture of Schuetzen rifles to the extreme, with elaborately carved stocks, engraved receivers, and capable of astounding precision. Stevens produced a variety of single-shot rifles, but the majority were little affordable lightweight boys rifles like the CrackShot or Favorite series. While lesser known, they also made full-size rifles mostly for target shooting. This is one of their full-size target rifles, the Ideal Schuetzen No. 51. This model and many of their other target shooting models were built on 44 1/2 frames though they had different designations based on features. They were available in a variety of configurations and numerous custom components were available from the Stevens catalog. This one has double set triggers and a Douglass heavy barrel. The new barrel is chambered in one of the originally offered calibers for this rifle, the .32-40. The bore is great so this will be as great a shooter as the day it left the factory. If you’ve been after a quality American made single shot target rifle, the search is over. Please see our photos and good luck!

J. Stevens Model Ideal Schuetzen No. 51 .32-40 27" Single Shot Rifle C&R
J. Stevens Model Ideal Schuetzen No. 51 .32-40 27″ Single Shot Rifle C&R