Single shot firearms have been around since the invention of the cartridge. Year after year the single shot dogmatically continues to sell, in spite of the proliferation of various styles of repeaters on the market. They do so because they work. It is often said “don’t fix what ain’t broken”. The Stevens 94B exemplifies this mantra.
History
In 1937 Stevens introduced the 94B as a single shot 12 gauge. They are notoriously hard to date as originally Stevens never bothered putting serial numbers on them. In 1968 American Federal law changed requiring all newly manufactured firearms be serialized. This leaves a 31 year period where the age is more of a guessing game than a science. One potential clue is that shotguns stocked in Tenite, a wood-infused resin, were manufactured after 1948.
The Stevens 94B stayed in production until 1984 when it was finally discontinued. The age of the single shot shotgun had come and gone, as the pump action shotgun had become the low cost option of the day. The Stevens is still on the second hand market to this day.
Specifications
The Stevens 94B is a break action single shot shotgun with an exposed hammer. There is no safety on the gun, relying on the hammer to serve as a safety. Conveniently, they sport an ejector which will fling spent shells over the shoulder of the shooter. A lever on the back of the receiver serves to unlock the action.
Furthermore, the Stevens carries comfortably at right around 6lbs. While the 30 inch barrel may sound cumbersome in the field, the short action of a single shot means the length of the gun is no longer than a typical pump. The common chamberings are 12 gauge, 20 gauge, and 410. The 12 gauge had a 2 3/4 inch chamber and a full choke.
Strengths
First of all, the Stevens 94B is as reliable as any firearm in existence. There are many people sing the virtues of the reliability of pump guns like the Remington 870 or the Mossberg 500. However, while pump guns are quite reliable, the single shot is unparalleled in the ability to go bang every time. The family shotgun growing up was a Model 94B and I can’t recall even a light primer strike in all those years. The design is so simple that there really isn’t all that much that can break.
Next, is the ease of carry and operation in the field. The Stevens is light and compact for the barrel length offered. In addition, the hammer makes it easily identifiable what condition the shotgun is in. The slim receiver and stock sit easily in the hand or over a shoulder. For safety conscious folks, an unlocked action prevents any possibility of a negligent discharge in the field while still being quick to deploy upon the arrival of game.
Finally, The Model 94B’s durability and affordability allow one to use and abuse it without guilt. As much as we hate to admit it, we all baby finely finished high end firearms. There are few people comfortable throwing an engraved double barrel that cost thousands of dollars under the seat of their pickup. The Stevens 94B lets one focus on the task at hand without fear of a ding here or there.
Weaknesses
However, single shots are not cutting edge and this shotgun does have its shortcomings. First of all, with a 2 3/4 chamber and a fixed full choke, the gun is not very flexible. The chamber eliminates the use of any magnum shells, and many advise against running steel shot or slugs through a full choke. This means that the Stevens 94B won’t be much good in the duck blind or hunting turkeys.
Also, there is an inherent drawback to a single shot; it only holds a single shot. The Model 94B leaves one hard pressed to hit a follow up shot if a second bird appears. Despite this, the auto-ejector works well and consequently reloads are quick if the shooter has a pocket full of shells.
Another shortcoming of the shotgun is the recoil. The trim design which makes it a joy to carry also makes the 94B pretty hard recoiling under some loads. Because of the full choke and short chamber the truly ferocious recoiling 12 gauge loads should not be run through this shotgun. However, even lighter hunting loads do pack a bit more kick out of the Stevens than they would out of a heavier designed shotgun, and the steel butt plate does little to dampen the impact.
Finally, the Stevens has one weird quirk. The front handguard is what holds the shotgun together. Spring pressure holds the handguard in place, which in turn holds the shotgun together. While this feature makes disassembly straight-forward, it also creates a problem. As the gun wears the handguard can loosen. This can lead to older copies having the handguard jostle loose under recoil. When the shooter tries to unlock the gun it will fall apart. The gun reassembles in a matter of seconds but it frustrating when it happens.
Competition
The market for single shots is much smaller than it once was. The most common modern production single shot on the Canadian market is the FedArm SS12. The FedArm has some benefits such as a 3 inch chamber, and the ability to fold down and stow away more compactly. Unlike the Stevens, the FedArm has a manual safety, which may or may not be to ones liking. Also, the FedArm has extractors, not ejectors. This means that the user must manually pull out the spent hulls from the barrels when it comes time to reload.
The other competitive option is the Cooey 84, later rebranded as the Winchester Model 37. Functionally, both shotguns are identical. When considering which one to purchase, condition and price matter more than whether or not it is a Stevens, a Cooey, or a Winchester.
Closing Thoughts
The Stevens 94B is a good beater design that has served outdoorsmen for decades. The drawbacks of the single shot mean that the Stevens is at its best as a general purpose shotgun, and not as a waterfowl or turkey gun. The Stevens would make a fine shotgun for hunting upland birds such as grouse, or a good utility shotgun if one owns a larger property. There are more specialized shotguns out there, but if all one needs is a basic shotgun that doesn’t mind getting dirty, the Stevens just might fit the bill.