Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Yesterday I got a Savage 1904 at the gunstore for $50 and shot it

The bore looks bad and the extractor spring is weak, but it shoots.
At 3# 7 oz, this is a little boy's gun.

Anyone know when it was made?

stop thief!

nice!

dave

That was a steal!
Have fun with it.

...looks like they made them from 1904 thru 1917 according to my blue book.

dave

"Anyone know when it was made?"

After 1905 and before 1924. Sorry, not many have been lettered so have little data. The 1904 and 1905 are in the same serial range with over 180,000 made. I don't think a lot of the 1904's have survived.

Rick, I think the name change made in 1924 to the Model 04 was just 'on paper' and the guns were still stamped Model 1904, I would be interested in knowing if anyone has seen a gun stamped just Model 04. The the 1904's, listed as the Model 04, were cataloged until Jan 15, 1931 based on a price list from a catalog #66. I also have another catalog #66 with a price listed dated the same, Jan 15, 1931, that does not list the Model 04, but it still is in the catalog. I have another #66 (no price list with it) that does not have the Model 04 in it. These three all have a green background cover.

Hi-Speed 22 ammunition was introduced about 1931 and the Model 1904/04 was not a strong enough action to handle it, I have seen one Model 1904 that was stamped "REGULAR CARTRIDGES" under the caliber stamp- it had a very high serial number. (I think it was still stamped 1904, but I am not 100% sure now). Many of cheaper Stevens models of 22's at that time had the same, or similar, stamp added (and were soon discontinued), even guns that were sent in for repair after that time often would get some type of warning stamp added about the use of Hi-Speed cartridges.

I also have a catalog #66 from about a year later with a brown background cover, price list dated Jan 25, 1932, it does not have the Model 04 but what may be of interest to many is that it adds the Models 99-R & 99-RS which were not in the other three.

Nice little single shot!

I ordered a new extractor spring, but it was like the old spring. The extractor was peened over a few thousands wider in front of the bolt and would not go into the bolt slot.

After much fooling around, I just put the extractor in the smooth jaw vise and squeezed it back to original width. Now the extractor works.

That'll bring back the boy in you!

I'd stick with CB Short, CB Longs or CCI Quiets if you are going to shoot it. Just my $.02.

How many barrel markings have you seen??

I have shown all of them now.
It must have been that barrel marker's first day on the job:)

Doug, I've only seen two. The one pictured and an earlier one without the patent info and the balance centered in the bottom line.

I think JTC said the the 1904 and 1905 were serialized together. My 1905's have the same addresses as above.

The early address ran till at least 14xxx. Don't have enough samples to say more. Anyone else with info?

Doug & Rick, Several years ago I saw one with a low serial number that was not not marked at all except for the caliber - 22 SHORT, it was very rough but did not appear to have been polished to remove markings. I also have seen two examples, very late production, that had "REGULAR CARTRIDGES" stamped under the caliber markings.

I have picked up a few of these & 1905's over the years but have never had them all out together to make comparisons. I know they moved the serial number location at some point. I have serial numbers ranging from just over 5000 to just under 183000 in 1904's and 93xx to 237xx in 1905's plus one 1905 serial number 135 - which seems to low to have been in with the 1904's. I also recently got a 1905 parts gun with Swiss butt plate, serial 433xx, it's rough and has the No 25 rear sight instead of the No 21, I have to think it's possible they switched to that sight for these after the windage adjustable version of it was introduced around 1914, I think by then they were getting away from the No 21, it's not shown in catalog No 60 from ~1916~ and the description of the 1905 in catalog No 55 is vague about sights.

Gene, my 1905 with the English stock has a higher serial number than your highest, it's 3185X.

It's wearing a 21S rear sight.

Edit: oops, just saw your highest was in the 40's, thought it was the 23XXX, my bad.

I have a 1904,and a 1905 with swiss sytle buttplate,i'll check out today.

It's been a while since we sent you out of the house to do some checking. How's the cider supply holding up?

My Model 1905 s.n.28513 is barrel stamped like the one above.
Has a No. 21B rear sight and No. 3B? front.
Nice setup back in the day.

...and it appears the 1904's & 1905's were accurate too -



Here's the typical reaction when someone got a 1905, 'back in the day' -



... and when they didn't!!

"My brother gets a Savage 1905!! and they just give me his old Hamilton No 27 that he got free for selling salve... and they want me to say 'CHEESE'... they're lucky I don't say something else!"

I found an old Hamilton up here in Canada that was a pump action, never knew they made them till I saw that one. It's long gone now but I think I sent Gene some pics of it.

This is my 1905 with the English stock. I got rid of my 1905 with the swedish stock because I just figured everyone that has a 1905 has one with the swedish so I had to be different and kept the more uncommon model. Still think the Swede has more of a look to it but you don't trip over the model 1905 style B every day. The forearm on the style B extends further than the Swede as well.