Hybrid Twist/Forged Steel- J. Stevens T&A Co.

[Bruce B.]

Newly acquired Model 360 J.Stevens Arms & Tool Co. has a unique design of mating Twist Steel barrels to a milled Solid Steel Mono-Block. The first 3" of the breech and hook mechanism are milled from a solid one piece forged block of steel. The Twist Steel barrels are threaded into the mono-block. I can't detect the union in the bores, quite a manufacturing feat. The botton line on the left side of the receiver reads "-Pat's.Appl'd For-". Though a very short lived model it dates to about 1905. The overall quality is surprising. The gun has above average wood and is hand checkered 18 lines per inch. Perhaps not qualifying as a high grade double I post this information as more for educational purposes demonstrating the evolution of Damascus and Twist Barrels. A higher grade Model 370 was produced with Damascus Barrels also. The 28" bores are bright silver and have no flaws. Enjoy the photos, Bruce

[Autumn Daze]

Very interesting gun Bruce. Thanks for the photos.

[MarketHunter]

That is an interesting gun for sure. A friend had a Stevens hammer gun years ago that had the barrels made the same way.

DLH

[BRDHNTR]

Bruce, did these barrels come out of the factory like this or was this a later modification on a twist steel gun? If the gun was made in this fashion I wonder if Stevens did so recognizing the shotgun world at the time was evolving to non-damascus and they saw this as a way to use up existing damascus stock barrels in their inventory and a short term measure before fully transitioning to the non damascus/twist steel world.

[MarketHunter]

This is factory work for sure.

DLH

[Drew Hause]

Courtesy of Researcher
http://shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=313536

http://www.doublegunshop.com/forums/...95233&page=all

[charlie cleveland]

i really like the way they done this...a most interesting gun for sure... charlie

[Bruce B.]

I measured the chamber length at 2 3/4", this should safely allow for the use of 2 3/4" shells since they measure a touch over 2 1/4" inches before firing, allowing for the shell to fully open up. I see the original company published literature states "choke bored for nitro powder". This information will be reassuring to some but I will stick to the 2 1/2" low pressure RST and the "High Pheasant" loads regardless of 1905 company claims.
The safety is one that I have never encountered, it's a 3 position one. Pushing it in the fully forward position it is on "Fire", pushing it fully to the rear it is also in "Fire" position. Only when the safety is in the center or middle position is the gun on "Safe".
This one will be fun when the weather cooperates. It's currently 8 degrees at 4:45 PM. Bruce

[charlie cleveland]

bruce in the early years the 3 position safety was a common thing..i have 3 lc smiths with this 3 position safety...its ok after you get use to it... charlie