What model Savage do I have? 1895 or 1899

hermn8r

hermn8r

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Hi, looking for some help deciphering exactly what model lever action Savage I've got. It's chambered in 303 Savage but does not have any markings on it telling me what model it is. I know the 1895's are considerably less common than the 1899's, but I want to make sure I know exactly what I have before I post it for sale. I've looked up a few sites online but none of them are helping me all that much. Serial number is 32.###. When I look up a date of manufacture it gives me roughly 1902/1903 but does not give me a definitive answer as to what model it is. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I can send more detailed pictures of specific areas of the rifle if need be.

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Manufacturing date. The 1899 came out in 1899. There were 5000ish 1895's made by Marlin (should be JM marked) prior to 1899.

I'm sure an expert will be along in a while. Savage models are very confusing to me.
 
1895 serial #s I believe were 0 to 10k. What is the . in your serial # (32.###?) also length of barrel - looks like 26"- and a picture of barrel address, in front of rear sight would help. If ser# is 32000 then dom would be 1903.
 
450yukon said:
1895 serial #s I believe were 0 to 10k. What is the . in your serial # (32.###?) also length of barrel - looks like 26"- and a picture of barrel address, in front of rear sight would help. If ser# is 32000 then dom would be 1903.
Click to expand...

There is a period in my serial number to the right of the 2. I'll have to measure barrel length, and I'll attach a picture of the barrel markings shortly.
 
450yukon said:
1895 serial #s I believe were 0 to 10k. What is the . in your serial # (32.###?) also length of barrel - looks like 26"- and a picture of barrel address, in front of rear sight would help. If ser# is 32000 then dom would be 1903.
Click to expand...

26" barrel. Markings in front of rear sight read:

Savage Arms Co., Utica NY USA
Patented Feb.7.1893.July 25.1893 Cal. 303
 
The barrel markings seem right for a 1895, but if it was an actual '95 it would have a four digit serial number, not five as your gun has. Maybe a barrel swap from an older rifle at some point in it's life? Just thinking out loud....Catnip
 
catnip said:
The barrel markings seem right for a 1895, but if it was an actual '95 it would have a four digit serial number, not five as your gun has. Maybe a barrel swap from an older rifle at some point in it's life? Just thinking out loud....Catnip
Click to expand...

Hmm, yeah that's what's confusing me. I looked a little more into it and I'm thinking it's an 1899A but I'm still not 100% sure. I know forsure the serial number is 5 digits (with a period between the second and third digit) so to me that rules out 1895 and puts it as an early 1899? Having a 26" round barrel tells me it's a variation A (so 1899A).
 
Barrel addresses on 1895's was style'A'- SAVAGE REPEATING ARMS CO'. Your barrel address SAVAGE ARMS CO, style '1' is correct for ser# 10,000 to 38,000/ years 1899-1904.
 
Yukon.... you are correct on the barrel address .I missed that when I read the address that hermn8r posted. 1895 models do indeed have "REPEATING ARMS" in the address line....Catnip
 
Not really.

The 1895 and early 1899's both had a cocking indicator on the top of the bolt. The 1895 had a hole showing if it was cocked or not and the 1899 up to serial number 90,000 had a square notch that popped up on top of the bolt when it was cocked. The cocking indicator never moved to the upper tang until after serial number 90,000.
 
All 1895's are marked JM (John Marlin) on the barrels, they were made at the Marlin factory, Arthur Savage never had his own factory then, not till the 1899's and even some of those were made with left over parts brought over from the Marlin factory. I had an old 1899 with an early serial number of 10.3XX that wore 1895 furniture.

Some of my 1895's, the top one is a special order 30" barrel with nickel receiver and buttplate, the one under it is a 1895 SRC, the rest are run of the mill 1895's.

Jjca9HP.jpg
 
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