AboutCharles Gage Expertise I can answer questions dealing with firearms and their development due to western expansion. I can answer most questions about any firearms of the world manufactured after the Civil War(1868 - present. I can offer safety warnings about these. I can offer opinions and the reasons behind these.
Experience I have been at the study of firearms and their use since my first issue of Field and Stream in 1962.At that time I was completely devoted to rifles, but over the years I have experienced the thrill of the hunt with handguns, shotguns and of course rifles. I moved from Oklahoma to New Mexico in 1972 and since I have taken numerous game and non-game animals with all firearms (cannons excluded)including blackpowder muzzleloading rifles,shotguns and handguns. My favorite handgun for large non-game animals, such as feral hogs, is my Uberti replica of a 1847 Colt Walker. Very heavy, but accurate.
Education/Credentials I am a 1973 high school graduate. Junior and senior year I developed a class on Wildlife Depredation and Conservation of our Rocky Mountain states. My specialty was the brown bear.
Awards and Honors New Mexico Hunter Safety Program Instructor 5 year award.
Question When I was (much) younger, I had a .22 semiautomatic rifle that fired long and short rounds. It had an all-plastic stock. It was purchased by my father for me in the mid-50s. It was recently stolen out of his house after tornado damage opened it up for everyone. Of course, I am looking for an approximate value for an insurance claim; but, unfortunately, I do not even remember the brand, much less the model number. I don't think it was expensive, but can you give me some guess of the brand and some idea of what I should claim - or where I might find this information?
Another gun was also stolen, but I know even less about it. My father brought it back from Germany after the war. He termed it a "practice rifle," gauge unknown. It was bolt-action single-shot, and its most distinctive feature for me was the flip-cap that covered the muzzle. Does this one sound familiar to you?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
- Jay
Answer Hello Jay. I am taking your question only as a supposition. The .22 caliber semi-auto rifle with a plastic stock could be a Stevens or Savage. The Savage Company had several plastic stock rifle models in or around 1950's. They were not expensive, but they were of good quality. I own a Stevens Model 24 which is a .22 over .410 combination rifle/shotgun with a plastic stock. As far as I know, it is the only model from that time frame that is a collectors item. The rifle your father brought back from Germany was most likely a military issue since you say it had a 'flip-cap' or muzzle cap.This was to keep the barrel from becoming clogged with dirt or mud on the combat or practice field. However, it being a 'bolt-action single-shot practice rifle' would definitely remove it from actual battlefield use. It would be un-ethical for me to give you a price, on the information you have, to give your insurance company. I will say this. As far as a price I would pay for these rifles, in good working condition, without knowing what they are, would be $100.00 each.I hope this will help answer your questions and thank you for asking for me.Charles Gage
