Manufactured c. 1901-1903, this rifle is an exceptionally fine example of a small number of rifles built during a short lived partnership between J. Stevens Arms & Tool Co. and the legendary riflesmith Harry M. Pope. Pope was one of the most highly respected American gunsmiths of the late 19th and early 20th century, however, due to personality clashes between him and Stevens company officials, the partnership was only destined to last a few years, making these Stevens-Pope rifles very scarce. This example is made even more scarce due to the fact that it includes an extra barrel and forearm. This rifle is built on the Ideal No. 54 "Schuetzen Special" frame, which was one of the highest grade target rifles offered by Stevens, coming standard with their finest quality, near full coverage engraving. This example is not engraved, perhaps showing that it was truly intended to take care of business in match shooting. It is fitted with a .32 caliber muzzleloading barrel with muzzle machined for interfacing with a false muzzle and starter (bullet loaded at the muzzle, cartridge at the breech) for serious accuracy when target shooting. The top flat on both barrels has the standard two-line Stevens-Pope address. The bottom of the .32 caliber barrel is marked with the serial number, "1", "21/1.41", and "484". The bottom of the .22 RF caliber barrel is marked with "20/1.24" and "485". The front face of the receiver is marked "54". The serial number is marked on the lower tang, with the last three digits of the serial number, "316", marked on the rear faces of the forearms, the butt of the stock, and inside the buttplate. The butt of the stock is also stamped "V.CAPAN". Both barrels are fitted with a globe type front sight (windgauge on the .22 barrel) and no provisions for a rear sight. A peep sight is mounted on the upper tang. Both of the forearms have a Schnabel tip and multi-point checkering. The buttstock has a checkered grip area, prominent cheekpiece, and a Schuetzen type buttplate.

Fine, retains 60% of the blue finish on the barrel and 40% of the original case colors with the balance having thinned to a mottled grey-brown patina. The .22 caliber barrel retains 70% of the original blue finish with the balance having thinned to a brown-grey patina. The wood is also fine with some scattered minor handling marks, typical of a match-used rifle, and mostly crisp checkering. There is a hairline crack and minor edge chip in the forearm on the .22 caliber barrel. Mechanically excellent.