Back in the 1960's when I would go up to my fiance's (now wife for 50+ yrs) home in the Hudson Valley from NYC, I would sometimes shoot her uncle's Stevens tube fed 87a. I thought it was a marvelous rifle; accurate, reliable, and with a large magazine capacity. Although I asked several times, her uncle was not interested in selling or trading the old Stevens. At the time I thought the SA plus bolt action function was remarkable.; it still is. If I had the chance to buy one today I would not hesitate. Sadly, these are hard to find. Your buy at $111 (?) is a steal!
I do the rounds and put in the browse time. Some places are a bit of a ride. Always ask if there’s anything in back waiting the three week rest period and claim it with cash. You don’t get lucky from the couch…..unless your browsing GunBroker, which is an excellent source as well. At least 10 gill guns of several brands on GB right now……including 4 87a examples.
That was an excellent in-depth review, thanks! I've got a Springfield-Stevens Mod. 87A, couldn't find any date stamp on the barrel but it seems to be around 1946-1948 vintage. The barrel mark is kind of like this: -¤- which I haven't been able to translate. Love this old click-clack gill gun, whenever I take it to the range it's a head-turner!
@@MilsurpGarage Mine has the solid lifter. Until your video, I didn't know there was a wire lifter version. Got it by auction, it needed a really good cleaning because everything was gummed up. After a lot of elbow grease it now runs like a top, but I did have to take the lifter assembly apart to clean it & that wasn't fun! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to put it back together right, but apparently I did. I've found that some .22 shorts (CCI I think) actually do run semi-auto in it, which I didn't expect, but I'll take it! I love the old guns, wood & steel & a bit of brass.
Love it. You don't see too many of those 85a's out there. I have a few click clacks myself, which I think are all 87's with the tube mag. I know they make a Savage model 6 deluxe version which seems to be the nicest one.
Ive got a western field sd58 gill gun 22.No idea of the year but only one patent number and looks reaal old like 40s.but cant find enough info on them.Thanks for the info.
The US2094577 patent is the only one that matters with the gill guns.....it's the original Brewer patent from 1937. I would guess yours is in the 1938 to 1940 range.
I've just scored one of these on Gunbroker, although mine is a Ward's Western Field 85 (same gun). I've got several click clack rifles now, but wanted one magazine-fed to round out my collection. I was looking for magazines online, and see that there are some curved 10-rounders that are compatible with this model. Do those function well, or should I stick to the 5-rounders?
It’s not the capacity that causes problems but the quality. Most aftermarket mags are of questionable quality, some work ok. Stock mags are usually the place to go for those who want to avoid issues.
I have the Ward’s Western Field version of this rifle it has a Mossberg No: M4d scope that is usable. However I want to install a larger scope. Do you have a suggestions on a mount that fits this rifle. Also this rifle does not have iron sights (just the cutouts) any idea on where to get some to replace them. I really prefer open sights.
Went through my collection and realized I have a Stevens Model 85 (not the A), has 5 patents on the barrel and is stamped "13J" in the same spot. Would that make it a 1948 model? assuming the same was true for the letter series for the 85A's? Never shot it, but planning to take it out next trip!
All Savage offerings made from 1949 to 1971 have the “Lever Boss Code”, an oval stamp with an inspector’s number followed by a letter inside. The letter indicates the year of manufactured. J is for 1958.
I have a coast to coast 285 which is very similar except the safety is a rear switch. Mine will shoot LR great in semi auto mode. I have issues when shooting single shot. The spent case will stick and not extract. I just tried shorts thinking it would help. Same results. I have to cycle it twice to get it to extract. Anyone have any ideas why?
Check the extractor. During semi auto mode the blowback helps the extractor, but in single shot the extractor has to work all by itself. Either the extractor is a little weak or the chamber is holding onto the brass.
Hilariously enough, aluminum at the time of the 6A would have been a luxury feature for light weight because it wasn’t so easy to get aluminum at that point of time
Everything works flawlessly with CCI Standard Velocity.......and there is nothing foolish about selling cool old guns......after all, that’s how I acquire mine! Seriously, there are plenty of them out there, go grab up another! Thanks for tuning in!
It would seem logical that Savage was simply late filing for the patent on the wire lifter. The wire lifter appeared first in this series of rifle on the Savage model 6 and model 87. These predated the 6A and 87A when the solid lifter appeared. I have not seen a model after 6 and 87 that featured a wire lifter. The model 6 and 87 also did not have the "click clack" style action as it featured a completely different trigger setup.
A 1949 B 1950 C 1951 D 1952 E 1953 F 1954 G 1955 H 1956 I 1957 J 1958 K 1959 L 1960 M 1961 N 1962 P 1963 R 1964 S 1965 T 1966 U 1967 V 1968 W 1969 X1970 You will find a date code stamped on every shotgun & rifle/shotgun in the Savage/Stevens brands produced between March 1949 and December 1968. Usually, it is behind the hinge pin on the barrel(s) or ahead of the trigger guard on the bottom of the frame. It will sometimes appear as a small circle containing a number and a letter. The letters correspond to the years shown in the above table. The significance of the numbers is not known. Sometimes the letter code will stand alone, without being encircled. This code with or without a circle/oval, containing one or two numbers plus a single letter, has been found just about anywhere and everywhere on the frame, but only on the outside of the frame, never inside. It has also been found with letters and numbers on the barrel clusters, on the shot barrel, or on the barrel assembly lug block. While the letter within the circle always matches on the factory matching barrel and frame, the numbers never match. The marks on the inside of the frame, where the lower barrel seats when closed, are what one would call assembly stampings, and match frame to barrel, found on the underside of the shot barrel near the forend lug, and also sometimes found on the butt stock under the butt plate.
@milsurpgarage hey man nice video. Thanks for the info. Do you by chance know where I could get a stock for the 85 (no a)? I have everything intact but the stock. I just wanted a .22 for plinking, and got this from my uncle. Thank!!!
Seemingly, the stock is made of maple. Shoots a bit differently than say a Remington or Winchester rifle. It must be recoil operated in lieu of gas operated. High velocity rounds are a must.
Yeah, just about all of these .22 semi-autos are blowback operated but with these oldies it’s better to stick with standard or even the milder “quiet 22” CCI ammo. Trust me.
Not sure which one I was speaking of specifically but I get a lot of information from online chat forums.....there is one for anything you can think of.
Thanks for this great review. I stopped the video and bought the Realistic Snap Caps then and there. Thanks, I've been wanting something like those. Then, of course, I watched the rest of the video. I have a Springfield 87A w/a Solid lifter having the little bump on the top of it, Aluminum trigger guard, and Plastic butt plate. It has the RE22585 patent & others, a "5" barrel stamp, and a poorly stamped emblem appearing like an open capital letter T. I've kinda got mixed messages as to a manufacturing date. Can you share some of those chat room links with us. They look like they may be pretty helpful.
Was just blindly web surfing, don’t have links….will just have to search. Is there an oval stamped on the barrel near the receiver? If so, what letter/number combo is inside?
Okay so I don't comment too many times on videos but I have a rifle similar to this but it's different and I want to try to explain why it's different it's basically the same rifle and all it says on is Ranger model number 101-14. The butt plate only says Ranger and the trigger guard is not metal it's either plastic or Bakelite and the patent number is one number followed by other patents may follow or something like that but it only has one patent number and no serial number but everything else about it is the same except it has a factory 10-round box Magazine with the little Notch that holds it in right in the middle and it fits perfectly it used to be my grandfather's and he lived in Michigan. Pat # 2094-477 then it says others pending
There are tons of “versions” of these….the Ranger is the one licensed to Sears for exclusive sales in their stores……made really well too. I love the Sears guns.
mmmmmmm.....not really. SKS is short stroke gas piston.....lots of other stuff going on. The Stevens is just straight blowback. What similarity are you seeing? Rapid semi auto fire? Definitely.
I like the click-clack operation of these rifles. It makes them rather unique! And that is what is fascinating to me.
Yeah, you can hear them at once! Funny how these things come and go.
Back in the 1960's when I would go up to my fiance's (now wife for 50+ yrs) home in the Hudson Valley from NYC, I would sometimes shoot her uncle's Stevens tube fed 87a. I thought it was a marvelous rifle; accurate, reliable, and with a large magazine capacity. Although I asked several times, her uncle was not interested in selling or trading the old Stevens. At the time I thought the SA plus bolt action function was remarkable.; it still is. If I had the chance to buy one today I would not hesitate. Sadly, these are hard to find. Your buy at $111 (?) is a steal!
This guy is always lucky.
I do the rounds and put in the browse time. Some places are a bit of a ride. Always ask if there’s anything in back waiting the three week rest period and claim it with cash. You don’t get lucky from the couch…..unless your browsing GunBroker, which is an excellent source as well. At least 10 gill guns of several brands on GB right now……including 4 87a examples.
@@MilsurpGarage easy milsurp. Illinois suucks
I have a model 85 no (a) it was my grandma's she gave it to me almost 53 years ago it shoots as good today as it did when I first shot it.
Great to hear. How cool, grandmas gun. Thanks for tuning in.
That was an excellent in-depth review, thanks! I've got a Springfield-Stevens Mod. 87A, couldn't find any date stamp on the barrel but it seems to be around 1946-1948 vintage. The barrel mark is kind of like this: -¤- which I haven't been able to translate. Love this old click-clack gill gun, whenever I take it to the range it's a head-turner!
That’s the pre-49 stamp (proof?). Does it have the solid or the wire lifter?
@@MilsurpGarage Mine has the solid lifter. Until your video, I didn't know there was a wire lifter version. Got it by auction, it needed a really good cleaning because everything was gummed up. After a lot of elbow grease it now runs like a top, but I did have to take the lifter assembly apart to clean it & that wasn't fun! I was afraid I wouldn't be able to put it back together right, but apparently I did. I've found that some .22 shorts (CCI I think) actually do run semi-auto in it, which I didn't expect, but I'll take it! I love the old guns, wood & steel & a bit of brass.
If you have a "RE" patent number on the barrel, then it would be post war.
Thanks for the in depth review and the tip for the magazines!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks for tuning in.
Love it. You don't see too many of those 85a's out there. I have a few click clacks myself, which I think are all 87's with the tube mag. I know they make a Savage model 6 deluxe version which seems to be the nicest one.
There are a bunch.....Brownells Encyclopedia lists them all......makes my head spin. Some have different gills.
I have the tube version always seemed pretty accurate but I had to redo the loading ramp was too scarred up
Savage/Stevens had all sorts of interesting designs.
Yes they did........very prolific trend setters.
Very interesting video! Such a functional, nice gun!
Yes. Check out my Savage Model 6A video....another gill gun!
Ive got a western field sd58 gill gun 22.No idea of the year but only one patent number and looks reaal old like 40s.but cant find enough info on them.Thanks for the info.
Oh yeah barrel is stamped greased only.Which to me says really old.
The US2094577 patent is the only one that matters with the gill guns.....it's the original Brewer patent from 1937. I would guess yours is in the 1938 to 1940 range.
@@MilsurpGarage Thankyou my friend.Helps put the puzzle together.
I've just scored one of these on Gunbroker, although mine is a Ward's Western Field 85 (same gun). I've got several click clack rifles now, but wanted one magazine-fed to round out my collection. I was looking for magazines online, and see that there are some curved 10-rounders that are compatible with this model. Do those function well, or should I stick to the 5-rounders?
It’s not the capacity that causes problems but the quality. Most aftermarket mags are of questionable quality, some work ok. Stock mags are usually the place to go for those who want to avoid issues.
I have the Ward’s Western Field version of this rifle it has a Mossberg No: M4d scope that is usable. However I want to install a larger scope. Do you have a suggestions on a mount that fits this rifle. Also this rifle does not have iron sights (just the cutouts) any idea on where to get some to replace them. I really prefer open sights.
www.ebay.com/itm/296466435284?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=2IuxbkeDT92&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=CDZx6d_nS06&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
The 6a bolt will fit into the model 85. and work.
Interesting. I guess they changed bolt internals but not the receivers themselves.
Donde puedo conseguir unas piezas para un Stevens Long rifle model 87d saludos
Hi. Try Numrich or even eBay for parts. There are tons of online parts suppliers that ship anywhere. Thanks for tuning in!
Went through my collection and realized I have a Stevens Model 85 (not the A), has 5 patents on the barrel and is stamped "13J" in the same spot. Would that make it a 1948 model? assuming the same was true for the letter series for the 85A's? Never shot it, but planning to take it out next trip!
All Savage offerings made from 1949 to 1971 have the “Lever Boss Code”, an oval stamp with an inspector’s number followed by a letter inside. The letter indicates the year of manufactured.
J is for 1958.
I have a coast to coast 285 which is very similar except the safety is a rear switch. Mine will shoot LR great in semi auto mode. I have issues when shooting single shot. The spent case will stick and not extract. I just tried shorts thinking it would help. Same results. I have to cycle it twice to get it to extract. Anyone have any ideas why?
Check the extractor. During semi auto mode the blowback helps the extractor, but in single shot the extractor has to work all by itself. Either the extractor is a little weak or the chamber is holding onto the brass.
Thanks. Will do
Hilariously enough, aluminum at the time of the 6A would have been a luxury feature for light weight because it wasn’t so easy to get aluminum at that point of time
Mr. Brewer designed the savage model 110 in the late 1950's. He was indeed a genius.
Yes, very interesting designs.
Had one some years ago. It didn't like Winchester bulk ammo, constant jamming. Worked flawlessly with CCI Standard velocity. I foolishly sold it.
Everything works flawlessly with CCI Standard Velocity.......and there is nothing foolish about selling cool old guns......after all, that’s how I acquire mine!
Seriously, there are plenty of them out there, go grab up another! Thanks for tuning in!
It would seem logical that Savage was simply late filing for the patent on the wire lifter. The wire lifter appeared first in this series of rifle on the Savage model 6 and model 87. These predated the 6A and 87A when the solid lifter appeared. I have not seen a model after 6 and 87 that featured a wire lifter. The model 6 and 87 also did not have the "click clack" style action as it featured a completely different trigger setup.
Thanks for the input. The 6 and 87 were most definitely click clacks….same function with the trigger.
Thanks for the input. The 6 and 87 were definitely click clacks. Same function of the trigger.
I just checked mine and it hs a big 3 in the circke it has what looks like the numbers 138 so what does that mean?
mine is the 87a sorry
A 1949 B 1950 C 1951 D 1952 E 1953 F 1954 G 1955 H 1956 I 1957 J 1958 K 1959 L 1960 M 1961 N 1962 P 1963 R 1964 S 1965 T 1966 U 1967 V 1968 W 1969 X1970
You will find a date code stamped on every shotgun & rifle/shotgun in the Savage/Stevens brands produced between March 1949 and December 1968. Usually, it is behind the hinge pin on the barrel(s) or ahead of the trigger guard on the bottom of the frame.
It will sometimes appear as a small circle containing a number and a letter. The letters correspond to the years shown in the above table. The significance of the numbers is not known. Sometimes the letter code will stand alone, without being encircled.
This code with or without a circle/oval, containing one or two numbers plus a single letter, has been found just about anywhere and everywhere on the frame, but only on the outside of the frame, never inside.
It has also been found with letters and numbers on the barrel clusters, on the shot barrel, or on the barrel assembly lug block.
While the letter within the circle always matches on the factory matching barrel and frame, the numbers never match.
The marks on the inside of the frame, where the lower barrel seats when closed, are what one would call assembly stampings, and match frame to barrel, found on the underside of the shot barrel near the forend lug, and also sometimes found on the butt stock under the butt plate.
What happened to the checkered one.
It's alive and well.....and in this video, isn't it?
@milsurpgarage hey man nice video. Thanks for the info. Do you by chance know where I could get a stock for the 85 (no a)? I have everything intact but the stock. I just wanted a .22 for plinking, and got this from my uncle. Thank!!!
Try Numrich. Or eBay is good for stocks. Might take some searching but you will find one. Thanks for tuning in.
@@MilsurpGarage awesome! Thanks for the info!
Seemingly, the stock is made of maple. Shoots a bit differently than say a Remington or Winchester rifle. It must be recoil operated in lieu of gas operated. High velocity rounds are a must.
Yeah, just about all of these .22 semi-autos are blowback operated but with these oldies it’s better to stick with standard or even the milder “quiet 22” CCI ammo. Trust me.
What chat form?
Not sure which one I was speaking of specifically but I get a lot of information from online chat forums.....there is one for anything you can think of.
Thanks for this great review. I stopped the video and bought the Realistic Snap Caps then and there. Thanks, I've been wanting something like those. Then, of course, I watched the rest of the video.
I have a Springfield 87A w/a Solid lifter having the little bump on the top of it, Aluminum trigger guard, and Plastic butt plate. It has the RE22585 patent & others, a "5" barrel stamp, and a poorly stamped emblem appearing like an open capital letter T.
I've kinda got mixed messages as to a manufacturing date. Can you share some of those chat room links with us. They look like they may be pretty helpful.
Was just blindly web surfing, don’t have links….will just have to search.
Is there an oval stamped on the barrel near the receiver? If so, what letter/number combo is inside?
Me think Brewer had the radial tire patent.
Nope. Arthur W. Savage. Patent US1203910. 1916. Some guy in England patented a similar design in 1914 but it was the Savage design that won out.
You are a LUCKY DOG.
Okay so I don't comment too many times on videos but I have a rifle similar to this but it's different and I want to try to explain why it's different it's basically the same rifle and all it says on is Ranger model number 101-14. The butt plate only says Ranger and the trigger guard is not metal it's either plastic or Bakelite and the patent number is one number followed by other patents may follow or something like that but it only has one patent number and no serial number but everything else about it is the same except it has a factory 10-round box Magazine with the little Notch that holds it in right in the middle and it fits perfectly it used to be my grandfather's and he lived in Michigan. Pat # 2094-477 then it says others pending
There are tons of “versions” of these….the Ranger is the one licensed to Sears for exclusive sales in their stores……made really well too. I love the Sears guns.
I see some sks in this rifle
mmmmmmm.....not really. SKS is short stroke gas piston.....lots of other stuff going on. The Stevens is just straight blowback. What similarity are you seeing? Rapid semi auto fire? Definitely.