The Stevens Visible Loader, sometimes called the "Miserable Loader" because of its tendency to malfunction, was made from 1907 well into the 1930s. They are fairly common guns on on-line auction sites and at gunshows. Value depends on condition and exact model. Most were the Model 70 and today bring $100 to $400. Models with fancy sites, pistol-grip stock and other embellishments can carry price tags of up to $600 if in great condition, but they are slow to sell at that price. An "average" price" is $250 to $325.
As of 2014, there are a few places where one can get parts for a Stevens visible loading repeater 22 caliber model 70 gun. These parts can be purchased through the manufacturer, local gun dealers, gun auctions, and gun classifieds.
10-100 USD
Stevens Visible Loader rifles in good condition are selling in the $150-$200 range. Truly excellent examples will bring more. sales@countrygunsmith.net
Gun Parts Corp has a parts list page with black and white parts photos for the Stevens Visible Loading Repeater in their very large gun parts catalog. You can buy the huge company catalog, or download just this page at www.e-gunparts.com for a small fee.
numrich /gunparts co. can help, google them
I'm not sure the actual value of one, but I purchased one last weekend for $215. The seller wanted $250 for it, but we finally agreed to $215. I think this one is a 1907.
I have a Stevens Visible Loading .22, adn the serial number is on the underside of the rifle, on the extended metal that goes from the trigger guard into the stock. It's quite visible. Ed
You can narrow down the dates of production looking at the following information. Information was gleaned from a December, 1986 Amertican Rifleman article by Pete Dickey. In 1907, the J. Stevens Arms and Tool Co. of Chicopee Falls, Mass., brought out a pump action .22 caliber rifle that was marked on the barrel, "Visible Loading Repeater". It was cataloged as the "Visible Loading No. 70", and was chambered in .22 short/long/long rifle. A .22 short only model, the Model 70 1/2, was also produced. Barrels were round in lengths of 20" or 22"., and the rifles had a straight grip stock. In 1916 the company name changed to J. Stevens Arms Co. The firm was eventually purchased by Savage Arms Co. in the 1920s. In the mid 1920's, the rifles catalog name was slightly changed to "Visible Loader" until 1931, when it was replaced with a similar "Visible Loader No. 71, which featured a 24" long octagon barrel and a pistol grip stock. The last Visible Loader was produced in 1934. About 100,000 were produced over the 26 year production span. The peculiar feature of the rifles is that the cartridges from the tubular magazine are fed straight up into the twin extractors on the breech face where they are, indeed, readily visible, unlike other pump actions. There is no "ejector" as such. An extracted round is ither pushed up and out of the extrractors by the following round being fed upward from the magazine, or if it is the last round or empty case in the rifle, by manual removal. These rifles were designed for "regular loadings", thus modern high speed cartridges should not be used in any of these rifles.
HI,I just obtained a J.Stevens arms company Rifle.Chicopee Falls Mass.USA,It is sn#e325 pump vis loading repeater.22 long or short rifle ,Pat.April 30-07 , 14 1/2 -I'm guessing that's inches.Its small .Wooden stock
The stevens model 70 Visible loading slide action rifle was made from 1912-1931.
A few different models of the Visible Loader were offered between 1907 and 1932. Mainly differing only in the sights. Truly excellent condition rifles can reach $350-$400. sales@countrygunsmith.net
Spencer's Repeater was the first rifle that was quick loading instead of having to load after every shot. Another answer: Seen them sell from $600 for a beater up to $4000 for a jewel. Email me with a better description so I can give you a more exact value. Is it a model 1860 or the model 1865?