All in all they are sufficiently strong (within reason), reliable, sufficiently accurate, and ergonomic (feel ok in the hands). But, I submit that they never gained traction, then and now, because they are quite the homely things. Like it or not, aesthetics definitely play a role in a gun's popularity. Model 40/45's fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.
Considering that their production ran from 1928 thru 1942 and that most of that time fell within The Great Depression, I think that Savage is fortunate to have sold as many of them as they did.
Aesthetics aside, the 40/45 Super Sporters have a couple of advantages over the Model 1920 and the improved 20/26;
1. There were chambered for the 2 most popular cartridges of their time, the 30-30 and 30-06.
2. They sold for sell than the Model 99s and the 1920 and improved 20/26.
You've got to wonder if a long action 1920 in 30-06 and 270 would have been a successful competitor to the Winchester 54/70 and Remington 30. And, if it was able to hold its own in the bolt action CF market niche, would Savage continued to develop and upgrade it? After all, the Remington's entire 700 series of rifles has a tubular receiver and washer style recoil lug design that is not too dissimilar to the Savage 1920.
