RARE**MINT BORE**FACTORY NICKEL PLATED**C1880’s J. STEVENS & CO .32 Rim Fire Obsolete Calibre New Model Pocket / Bicycle Rifle (15” Barrel) With Rare To Find Detachable Shoulder Stock. Sn 21715 .32 Single Shot

**RARE**MINT BORE**FACTORY NICKEL PLATED**C1880’s J. STEVENS & CO .32 Rim Fire Obsolete Calibre New Model Pocket / Bicycle Rifle (15” Barrel) With Rare To Find Detachable Shoulder Stock. Sn 21715 - 21715

J. STEVENS & CO ( CHICOPEE FALLS USA) Pocket / Bicycle rifles were not intended to be a rifle from the outset of its creation. Instead, and probably quite predictably, the Stevens Pocket Rifle was derived from the Stevens Pocket Pistol which was one of Joshua Stevens’ first creations following the founding of his company after working for several of the nation’s most renowned firearms makers like Colt, Smith & Wesson, as well as Eli Whitney. They were single-shot single-action pistols chambered in rimfire cartridges like .22LR, .25 Stevens, and .32 Rimfire. The Steven’s Pocket Pistol saw great success upon its release and just 5 years later (1869), Stevens Arms would produce the first “Pocket Rifle.” The Pocket Rifle was essentially the same firearm as the Pocket Pistol but featured a larger grip handle, heavier, thicker, and longer barrels ranging from 10 inches all the way up to 18 inches, and of course a removable wire stock and sighted barrels. The Stevens Pocket rifle was so popular that it put Joshua Stevens’ company on the map as a truly legitimate firearms manufacturer. Each rifle was made available in 22 Long Rifle, 25 Rimfire, and 32 Rimfire, and some models came complete with a special carrying case specifically designed for bicycles which lead to the Pocket Rifle being referred to as the “Bicycle Rifle” as a marketing tactic to broaden the appeal of the design to cyclers, outdoorsmen who wanted a backup to their centre fire rifle, or even those simply wanting a lightweight, compact, affordable, and accurate small calibre rifle. A piece of mail dated February 17th, 1886 from J. Stevens featuring the Stevens pocket Bicycle rifle with detachable stock is illustrated in image 1. This is an excellent original example of the breech loading pocket / bicycle rifle with seldom found together original shoulder stock. Our example in UK obsolete .32 rim fire calibre, has a 15” 2 stage blued steel sighted barrel. Its bore is near mint clean and bright with crisp rifling. It measures 29” overall with shoulder stock attached (18 ½” without shoulder stock). The nickel plated brass skeleton stock attaches to the grip frame of the pistol by a recess in the butt of the frame and a hand turned screw lug on the stock which fastens to a threaded hole in the rear of the grip frame. The recess in the butt is numbered 8417. The barrel is stamped with the maker's details and two line address (illustrated in image 2). The pistol’s brass frame retains its original factory nickel plating and its rosewood grips are undamaged. The pistol has a sheathed trigger and its break action and cocking and firing actions work crisply. The price for this rare to find pistol with even rarer detachable stock includes UK delivery. NB As an antique obsolete calibre rifle no licence is required to own this item in the UK if retained as part of a collection or display. Sn 21715

£1,245.00