I've been wanting a .32 Stevens Favorite for quite awhile now, actually bought one sometime in the '90's but had no luck with the rifle's very rough bore and the then available Navy Arms ammo and traded it off years ago. Well the itch has grown again and after reading many of the great posts here on making adapters, modifying cases to accept .22 blanks as primers, etc. I think I have come around to wanting a nice one (but not mint) with a bright bore, a 1915 (I understand that is the strongest model) converted to .32 Long Colt.
I haven't the skill or tools to modify the breech myself so I'd appreciate any referrals to good gunsmiths that can move and alter the firing pin and upgrade the pins and screws to strengthen it. Any cost estimates for this work would be appreciated also.
The OGCA show is this weekend and if I can pick up a decent one what should I expect to pay? The current pricing on the auctions sites and armslist seem to very widely. Is the takedown model weaker than the standard? I have it in my head that the takedown are more expensive or collectable.
Thanks for any and all info, and I hope to use the rifle to maybe pot a few rabbits, an occasional groundhog and for just having fun with targets at the range.