Source: ATF P 5300.11 · Curios or Relics List · Jan 1972 – Apr 20253,573 entries · 4 sections
The C&R RegisterA finding aid to the ATF Curios or Relics List, for Type 03 collectors
C&R · IIIA · 039

Stevens Reliable Pocket Rifle, first issue

Section IIIA: removed from the NFA, classed as an antique (outside the GCA)

Official wording

ATF P 5300.11 · APRIL 2025 EDITION · SECTION IIIA · VERBATIM · PDF P. 80 ↗

Stevens, Reliable Pocket Rifle, first issue, cal.’s .22 short, long or long rifle.

What this entry requires

  • ATF REQUIRESMade 1898 or earlier (ATF’s dates)
  • INFOAn antique under federal law, outside the GCA.

Editorial facts · Our research

Country
United States⁴
Manufacturer
J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.¹³
Type
Other
Action
Other⁵
Caliber
.22 Short, .22 Long, .22 LR
Made
c. 1886–1896ATF: made in 1898 or earlier; start year approximate²
Service
Commercial
Search listings ↗Check a specific gunReport an error ↗

Source

Official wording
ATF P 5300.11, April 2025 edition · Section IIIA · PDF p. 80 ↗ · ATF original ↗
Entries
1 line
Verbatim check
Checked against the PDF text before every release
Editorial facts
Confidence: High · Last revised 18 October 2026 (Evidence pass) · How we rate confidence
References
  1. Wikipedia, “Stevens Arms” ↗, maker: J. Stevens & Co. 1864–1886; J. Stevens Arms & Tool Company 1886–1916
  2. gunvalues.gundigest.com ↗, years: Gun Digest: Reliable Pocket Rifle (the No. 42 entry calls it the "first issue Reliable"), barrel marked "J. Stevens A&T Co.", "Approximately 4,000 manufactured between 1886 and 1896"
  3. gunvalues.gundigest.com ↗, maker: Gun Digest: barrel marked "J. Stevens A&T Co."; the firm took that name in 1886 (Stevens Arms, Wikipedia)
  4. Wikipedia, “Stevens Arms” ↗, country: "an American firearms manufacturer founded by Joshua Stevens in 1864" in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts; maker of the pocket rifles
  5. thefirearmblog.com ↗, action: the Stevens Pocket Rifle "was essentially the same firearm as the Pocket Pistol" with a longer barrel and detachable stock; the pocket pistols were "single-shot single-action pistols": a single-shot tip-up, action Other
Fact tags
  • ATF the ATF wording states it.
  • REF ¹ an outside reference supports it; the number points to the list of references.
  • ESTIMATE an approximate or indirect reading, for example the production range of the base model.
  • NO CITATION we haven’t attached a reference for this fact; it’s our editorial reading, not ATF’s.
Source checked
20 October 2026: ATF’s page still lists the April 2025 edition
Corrections
4 changes · see below

Correction history

  1. Evidence passEditorial confidence: Low → High. Re-rated after supporting references were added or re-checked.
  2. Evidence passYears: 1869–1896 → 1886–1896. Gun Digest dates the (first issue) Reliable Pocket Rifle 1886–1896
  3. Evidence passMaker: J. Stevens & Co.; J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. → J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.. J. Stevens & Co.
  4. Data-trust reviewMaker: J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. → J. Stevens & Co.; J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co.. Years 1869–1896 spans the 1886 change of firm name

All corrections · How corrections work

Historical context

NO VERIFIED IMAGE AVAILABLEWe show only freely licensed images verified to depict this model. None has been found yet.