Sears Ranger 410 double

Norsky

Norsky

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I have a Ranger double barrel .410 shotgun that was given to my son-in-law. I believe the Ranger shotgun was sold by Sears, and possibly made by Stevens. Not being a shotgun person, I would like to know if it is common for this shotgun to require that you turn it upside down in order to reassemble the barrels. If I do not turn the shotgun upside down, the barrels will not close completely. When the shotgun is upside down the cocking rod in the frame will fall toward the top of the shotgun and allow room for the lug under the barrel to pass the cocking rod. This gun is cocked by the barrel lug raising the cocking lug when the barrel is opened to unload/load.

Should there be a spring that holds the cocking rod up or is it required to turn the shotgun upside down to close the barrels.
Thank you.
 
IF,, it's a Stevens 5100 or 311 Model (same thing), theres a part they call the cocking lever that does exactly what you're descibing and sits down in the frame cut.
(I believe the Stevens 311 was sold through Sears under the Ranger store brand name.)

The arm is spring loaded by a torsion wire spring inside to hold the cocking arm in the elevated position when the hammers are cocked.
If the spring breaks, the cocking arm will fall and you can't get the cocking plunger on the bbl in position underneath the cocking arm during assembly of the bbls.

You've found the trick to reassembly when the spring breaks by holding the gun upside-down. (The hammers have to be cocked also)

It does no harm to use the shotgun that way.
The spring can be replaced,,it's a $3 or $4 part.
The problem is that the action needs to be taken apart just about the entire way including the hammers and mainsprings to get at the cocking arm to replace that small spring.
They're not difficult to take apart. They can be a struggle to re-assemble w/o some experience and a few special tools to compress and hold the powerfull coil mainsprings w/hammer in position & drive their pivot pin back into place.
The cocking arm pivots on the same cross pin as do the hammers.

FWIW, there was a boxlock SxS shotgun made by Hunter Arms Co called the 'Fulton'. They also made a very slightly different version called & marked the 'Ranger'. These were 1930 mfg'r shotguns. The Ranger used a cocking setup somethinglike being discussed above but I'm not that familiar with it to say it employed a spring to keep the part in a certain position.
 
Your description of the issue is exactly what I am experiencing. Also one of the firing pins was through the frame. I used a screwdriver to raise the cocking arm and retract the firing pin. Now to find a competent shotgun gunsmith in my area of Florida or decide to take the shotgun to Iowa/Minnesota this spring where shotguns are more prevalent. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
 
I don't know anything about your shotgun but, I do own a Sears and Roebuck Ranger .22 bolt action rifle. Got it for Christmas in 1959 and it was not new even then. I have killed several deer with it. Very accurate and still a beauty even today. I believe that it was made by Marlin. A Marlin model 80. I found another one that is just a little different for 125 bucks that I've thought about buying sometime soon.
Peace,
Gordon
 
Hi Gordon,

This double is in very good shape for its age. I want to make sure I don't get it butchered like I have had a couple experiences with here in FL. May take it back to the Midwest to get it fixed.
 
what is the sears number on the gun they sold some ranger deluxe doubles that were built by hunter arms,

these guns became the LC smith Fulton box lock , after lc smith bought out the hunter company, and are super nice guns that are strong as anvils

does the 410 have an access plate on the bottom of the receiver?
this is how the hunters were built, the plate is held by three screws
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=386601395

I have seen these in 12/16 but not in 410m most of the 410s I have seen were stevens 311a
 
Last edited:
Hi Ky Wonder,

I thought it was a Sears Ranger from what I could find looking on the internet. There is not an access plate on the bottom of the receiver. On the left side of the frame in large letters is RANGER, Small print is says PAT APR 20-1915. The receiver is steal; however, it is burgundy in color and would look like it was anodized aluminum. No other outside markings. When I remove the barrels the only other markings are what appear to be a serial number - X581xx. The barrels are stamped with .410 GAUGE. Your thoughts are appreciated. Norsky
 
The April 20 1915 pat stamping on the frame is the give away for a Stevens product.
That pat. was for the one piece cast steel frame and single cocking arm.
I think they did away with the marking after the early 1930's. They used 'Pat Appl'd for' and 'Pat. Pending' for a couple years before the 1915 patent issue. That helps date the gun (somewhat). There are no factory records around anymore,,they were mysteriously lost in a fire just as the US Gov't was about to investigate them post WW1 re: Gov't contracts.
Stevens went bankrupt in 1920 and was bought out by Savage at that time. Sometimes you can find a small Savage proof mark on a post 1920 made product.

The burgandy or purple color of the frame is from a more modern hot salt rebluing. It's not uncommon for the process to leave castings with the reddish/purple color either immediately, or for the bluing to turn to the reddish cast color later on. Just the nature of the metal and the process. The original finish was most likely a case color hardened finish done with cyanide.
The gun industry didn't start using 'hot salt' bluing till the very late 1930's in the industry (Winchester was one of the first). Gunshops and gunsmiths started using it in rebluing mostly in the post WW2 years. It's been around though since the 1920's but never a widely used process till the 30's.

Any .410 SxS is a good find and a Sears 'Ranger' branded gun made by Stevens brings decent money if in good condition. It's a Pre-War (2) gun. It's worth getting fixed up IMO.
 
Sears Ranger

Google up "Numerich" they have millions of replacement parts and many guns referenced have an on line schematic---and, they have a cross reference for about every gun you can think of, it gives you a corresponding model number of the manufacturer that made it for Sears, J.C. Penny, KMart, or about any that you can think of.
I use it often, very informative and helpful.
olcop:D
 
I really appreciate everyone’s comments pinpointing the issue, offering suggestions and giving us history information on this shotgun. My son-in-law received this shotgun from his family, only knowing the relative who purchased it many years ago. They will enjoy this information.

Thank you all.
Norsky
 
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