Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 101

For sale in the shop this morning 279 just passing it along. First one I have handled a little differnt.

That is about the going price. Does it have a box and papers?

If it is marked DUMMY it is worth a little more...

What an interesting gun. Very confusing why they thought there would be a market for these. Juniors first sidearm?

The design originated in the late 50's when every kid wanted to be a Cowboy. There was also a lever action single shot rifle designed to go with the pistol. Savage bought the rights to produce the pistol but passed on the rifle. Ithica was then offered the rifle which they then produced.

Ok that makes sense. Do you happen to know the model of the Ithaca lever gun?

I think the ithaca 22 was a model 49,had one many years ago.

The Ithaca Model 49's were made from 1961 to 1978 and with an total production of around 500,000. These look like a repeater but are a single shot Martini type single shot.
ithacamodel49

Ithaca also made a repeater that look almost the same, the Model 49R, but with a totally different action using a lot of screws on each side of the receiver at the top - these were not popular or reliable and are seldom seen. ithacamodel49R Erma also made a repeating lever action for them sold as the Model 72, this is the same design now produced by Henry.

A version of the single shot was also marketed by Agawam Arms as the M68 for a couple years, one source says 1968-1971. I'm not sure if they actually made theirs or not.
single-shot-22-falling-blocks

Savage made versions of these for a year or two after Ithaca under several names such as Savage/Stevens Model 89, Savage/Westfield 489, and I've seen them as 189's & 289's, the number always seem to have 89 as the last two digits. savage-stevens-model-89

I have a full 'cowboy' set, so I've double the firepower -




The rifle -

The rifles sold more at 500,000 units than the pistols at less than 60,000.

Thanks for the rifle info, Gene. I have 5 pistols but have never held or even looked at a rifle. Always something new to learn.

Gene, are any of those rifle variants strong enough for a Hornet? Just looking down on the top of the action it does have that Martini look.

Is it marked Chicopee or Westfield?

Ithaca also made a lever action single shot shotgun called the Model 66. Friend of mines dad had one, I always thought it was a cool looking gun

Yes, took me a while to figure out how to "release the cylinder" the first time I handled one.
Savage 101's are interesting in their own way. Some good with box and papers, some good and some not as good. Garnett Stancil has a book with 101 info.

I have a number of 101's.

The only known engraved Savage 101.
Professionally engraved by the previous owner.





And this one likely originated from the Savage R&D dept.
The only known Savage 101 DUMMY ".22 magnum"

The engraving on that 101 was very tastefully done. It looks like what comes to my mind when I think about great firearm engraving patterns.

Does dummy mean it doesn't fire?

Yes DUMMY is no fire.
There are ~6 other DUMMY’s known and they are all .22 rf.

Sounds like there might be more than 6.. but probably no more than 10 or 12.

The receivers are cast, soft, white metal - aluminum or zinc alloy - so no.

I'll give you $100 if you can identify 6 by 6pm today.

I have always thought the 101 was a great trapline weapon

Not being able to name where they are doesn't mean they don't exist.. ??

Shah's gun exists. I can't identify it's location.

Does the Garnett Stanci book talk about the dummies? I know the location of 4.

I have a letter from the design engineer, Robert Hillberg, (worked for Bellemore-Johnson Tool Co.) that says "I can't recall the exact number that Savage made up for me. It undoubtedly was less than six." Also, that Jack Knobe, VP at Savage and Roberts contact, might have had some made for his kids.