The original gun that started this thread was made either by J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co., prior to WW-I, or J. Stevens Arms Co., after The Great War. Two guns designed by Stevens' designer, George S. Lewis, were introduced in the the J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. General Catalog No. 54. A hammer double called the Riverside Arms Co. No. 215 was based on U.S. Patent No. 1,086,378 granted Feb 10, 1914; and a hammerless double called the Riverside Arms Co. No. 315 was based on U.S. Patent No. 1,136,247 granted Apr. 20, 1915. Both of these designed featured the use of coil springs. J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. decided to market these lower priced guns under the Riverside Arms Co. name rather than detract from the Stevens name. Both of these guns continued to be made after The Great War, but about 1928/9 the J. Stevens Arms Co. changed the name of their low priced line from Riverside to Springfield Arms Co. The hammer gun No. 215 continued to be offered through the June 1932 price list, but is gone by the 1933 catalogues and price lists. In addition to being marked Riverside or Springfield, Stevens made and marked these guns for numerous hardware chains and mail order houses.
|