Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 1895 spotted

The s/n doesn’t look centered on the receiver. Off-center s/n’s on Winchester lever guns are a sign that the s/n has been altered in some way.

Anybody got a ledger page containing 5797?

I don't know the serialization process at Savage or Marlin for that matter.
Seems the serial number would not be stamped until after receiver production, quality checks, etc.
"IF" it was serialized during the time of early Savage production when XX.XXX was being used that may explain it. Just a theory.
I don't dig in and defend a theory, just looking for ways to prove or disprove the unknown.

Two 1895s recently came to auction in Canada, gun number 36 and 37. Actually, they were part of a fairly large collection of Savage lever guns and ammunition. The sale ended August 31 and there was no shipping, everything had to be picked up at a later date. They can be seen at Jim Hands Auction. No prices are listed, but gun #29 a model C in 284 Win sold for $725 Canadian, just under $600 US.

The 1895s sold for around 1100 or 1200 Canadian. The highest price that I saw was the 1899 in 25-35 at about 1400 dollars. Most were well below those prices. Having no shipping lowered the potential pool of buyers.

Nick

No shipping helped those in the gallery. Lots of desirable Savages at prices not found in the US.

My notes show that I've seen either the top part of the page this was on, or the previous page. But it stopped before getting to this gun. Most entries on that partial page were accepted March/April of 1896, many shipped in the fall of 1896.

While the first shipments received by Savage were in the 5000 serial number range, the ledger books start at serial number 1 (blank entries, tho). 1895 entries start at 3156, end at 8200. So 5797 is 2,600 entries from the lowest 1895 entered, and 2,403 from the last 1895 entered. Right in the middle of the entries.. but not middle of the book.

If it was stamped later and was looking for an unused 1895 number, it's at an odd place. Number of blank entries earlier in the book.

Thanks for the context info.
Obviously the deluxe wood and the serial number style do not fit squarely in any known Savage model/configuration. Doesn't mean it's not a "Savage" rifle.
We've seen and know of plenty of non-catalogued examples from 1895 to 1899 to 99.

Granted we've only seem limited pics at this time. (thanks to LBK for what we got!)
Some look at this rifle and see red flags all over the place. That's fine.
Some see deluxe 1899 wood on a 1895 receiver with a unique serial number style that is intriguing. Fine too.

If anyone gets another shot at that rifle in person, some pics, s.n.'s wood, more would be good.

Meanwhile I'm more interested in knowing about the rifle than the rifle itself. That's how I roll.