What information is available on Stevens shotguns?

Answer 1

Stevens shotguns have always been well-made and dependable. Nothing flashy that attracts the collectors with big money, but they'll throw a load of shot just as far and just as straight. I'd hesitate to guess how many have been produced, but it must be several million. In addition to guns bearing the Stevens name, the company also produced many single shot and double barrel shotguns marked with trade names for Montgomery Ward, Sears Roebuck, Western Auto and other retailers. The company was founded in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, in 1865 as J. Stevens and Company. The name was changed to J. Stevens Arms and Tool Company in 1886. In 1915 the production facilities were sold to New England Westinghouse and used to produce military rifles. In 1920, the name and manufacturing plant were purchased by Savage Arms and operated as a semi-independent subsidiary with the name J. Stevens Arms Company. Beginning about 1948 their guns were marked simply Stevens or both Stevens and Savage. The Stevens name was retired in 1991, but re-introduced on updated versions of the old Stevens Favorite rifles in 1999.