Springfield Picture

If you look closely at the receiver you will see the grain structure on the surface. That indicates cast steel, not drop forged steel. Cast steel receivers may hold up to black powder and lower pressure smokeless loads, but as years went by other processes came about, both in forging and in ammunition.

Our Parkers had forged steel receivers, then case hardened for resistance against surface wear. I have a stripped 12 ga. No. 2 frame size VH receiver from about 1900, still usable today for a "rebuilt"--

The late gun designer/genuis Bill Ruger developed the "lost wax" or investment casting method for ordnance steels (4130-4140 series mainly) about 20 years ago I believe. That was another big step forward.

You might want to open the gun up and check the receiver where the flat (water table) forms to the standing breech- there should be a visible radius at that point- if there isn't one, I might suggest a "wall hanger" and not a shooter.

[MarketHunter]

Ooops, the last word has come down from Morin, I'd better retire Dad's old Stevens as it's just a wall hanger. They just won't hold up to these new fangled shells!


DLH

[MarketHunter]

I hate to tell you, but these type guns were made in the 30's 40's and 50's, long after the black powder era.

DLH