Help me with an antique Steven's .22

[Selmer]

I have inherited my great-grandfather's Steven's .22 LR target rifle and I would like to mount a scope on it. It is built on a Steven's 44 frame, has a Pope barrel and comes with the original Steven's target scope, but is very dirty inside and not a good choice for hunting squirrels or punching paper. It comes with the original peep-site as well, but I am afflicted with keratoconus and cannot focus on open sights worth a hoot. I'd like to find some bases that will fit this rifle without retapping the barrel, because I won't do that because of the value of the gun. It has a Pope target barrel on it and is in 90% condition, it was built in the early 1900's and still shoots one hole groups at 50 feet (shot by my brother, not me, he doesn't have keratoconus). If pictures would help the recommendation, I can provide them. Any help is appreciated, and no, the gun is not for sale.  
Sincerely,
Selmer

[KENTDEP]

Selmer,

Try the CPA Stevens Web site. Go there to get their telephone number and give them a call they will probally have an answer for you.

By the way does your rifle have the half octogon- half round barrel? I have a model 45 that is a tack driver too.

Jay

[marlinman93]

As it has the target style bases, you should consider going with a newer scope that also uses target style bases. A Lyman targetspot, JW Fecker, Litschert, or even one of the newer Redfields, all come with rings to fit the old bases on your rifle.
 I agree with your decision to not redrill the barrel. Your old Stevens-Pope is much too valuable to do this.
 I have a #44 .22lr Stevens Pope Schuetzen rifle, with a Litschert 20x scope on it. It originally had a Lyman 438, but it was only 4x, so I found this Litschert at a gun show for $225, used.mThey are great scopes, for a reasonable price.

[Leftoverdj]

I'm going to agree that using the existing bases, if at all possible, is the way to go. It would not be at all difficult to drill a blank scope base to fit the existing holes, but getting the screws that have been in those holes for most of a hundred years out is not a job to be tackled lightly.

Just the passage of years can be enough to freeze them, but in the pre-Locktite days, it was a not uncommon practice to put a drop of iodine in the hole before the screws were tightened. When that was done the screws rusted solidly to the hole and they don't come out again unless they are drilled out.

Hunting squirrels with a Stevens-Pope??   Some folks have all the luck. Only gun I ever inherited was a 20 gauge White Powder Wonder.

[Don in PA]

Selmer
You may want to contact Parsons Scope Repair. Parson repairs and cleans antique scopes and does a very good job. He's located in Ohio

 www..parsonsscopeservice.com or give him a call at
 513-867-0820.

Don

[Selmer]

Thanks for the Parsons tip, and I've already removed both bases, no problem at all, they even had a little grease on them!  I'll see what Parsons can do with that scope, I don't think I'll use it in any case, but it could use a good cleaning, and I'm good enough with gun repair and tinkering to know when something is beyond what I should be doing, this falls into that realm.
Selmer