Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Yesterday's Addition to the Family

Brought home a new addition yesterday. It's a Model 30EL (left-hand) 12-gauge with 30" full choke vent-rib tube and dual beads. Bluing is 85-90% with just the typical wear on the slide tube, and the wood only has a few minor handling marks. Date code indicates 1960 (5L). Not a bad grab for $150!

Real Sweet...................


Mike...

I thought so.

What's funny is somehow I keep bringing home first year production models from this show. The 24V in .222/20ga I picked up a couple years ago, the 24C I got there last fall, and now this one. I'm starting to wonder if Savage used to use Ohio as a test bed for new models. lol

One of my buddies mentioned seeing a 1919 NRA there for $300 as well. So besides the 99C in 7mm-08, I'll be keeping an eye out for that one as I've been looking for clean and original 1919 (that isn't overpriced) for a long time.

I think I created a monster, he's seen the light and returning from the dark side.

Next thing you know he'll be selling his BR's to finance his next 99 purchase!!!!

I've never seen a left hand version before. I initially thought the picture was reversed. It's got to be rare!

I'm not a shotgun person...were there many models (any brand)made that ejected to the left? I don't remember see any till this photo.

MMMMMM..... Interesting......


Mike...

Rick, look in any of the 1960 catalogs.

The 30L was made from 1960 to 1969.

Jim missed them the first time as well as they're on the opposite side of the page from the model 30's.

According to the verbage in my 1960 Savage catalog, the 30L was the first-ever LH shotgun brought to market. Remington has offered the 870 Express and 870 in a LH model for a number of years now. I'd guess since sometime in the early 1990's, but not certain. They also offered a LH 11-87 Premier for awhile. Benelli is offering their SBE and M2 auto loaders in LH as well.

Unfortunately, all of the LH pumps and auto's (including the Savage Model 30) are 12ga only, and additional barrels are non-existent.

Most lefties opt for the Ithaca 37 or Browning BPS pump guns that spit spent shells out the bottom. The new Remington 105CTi is the first bottom-eject auto-loader, but they've been plagued with problems. So much so that Remington recalled the few handfuls that actually made it to dealers a few months ago.

Hopefully Remington will get the problems sorted out as I'd love a LH friendly semi-auto that I can get extra barrels for.

Rick,
Once upon a long while ago I had a couple Remington 1100 left hand trap shotguns. It was sweet no longer having empty hulls flying across my face. Sold them both for something I must have needed worse. Wish I still had at least one.
Tom

Thanks guys. Shotguns is a field I have spent next to no time learning about. I have about a dozen but never had an interest in collecting them.

All I've got for shotguns right now that are Savage is the 220 16 ga, 220 28 ga and my 430 20 ga O/U but as soon as I find a nice clean 720 that Remington 58 is a gonner.

Hi Jim,

That's a real beauty, that's for sure. And you paid $150? Fantastic! Thanks for sharing the photos!

Mike

If there are any lefties here who would be interested in one of these, there's one listed on Guns America right now for $175. Looks to be in fairly nice shape.

If it was an Imp. Cyl. or Mod. choke I'd grab it, but I've already got a 30" full choke version.

http://www.gunsamerica.com/976991025/Guns/Shotguns/Savage-Shotguns/Savage_30L_3.htm#