Friend has one, serial # 43236, would like to know date of manufacture. Posted this on savageshooters.com but no response. Thanks...

There should be a boss code somehere on the frame, will be a letter and number in a circle if that helps any. Les

I just got a 720 (I think) as a gift. The only mark besides "Savage Automatic" mfg in Utica, is a "Z" on the tang of the trigger guard down on the pistol grip. Mine is stainless, or has been chromed, both reciever and forearm cap, barrel is blued. S# 40429.

Went over the date code thing with him; he's looked for the code but can't find one.

The date codes started in 1949. If your shotgun has "Utica" instead of "Chicopee Falls" as corporate address, then it was made before the move, IIRC, 1929.

Cmon guys, the 720's were made in the 30's and early 40's, you ain't gonna find a date code on it.

Post 49 auto shotguns were the 775's.

Okay, sorry, wasn't thinking, not really up on the Shotguns, I know it works on the Bolt actions and anything made after 1949. Les

No one? Any one? Buehler?

I've been looking at a few lately.I always wanted a sweet sixteen since my dad sold his to feed us good for nuthin kids.Oh and his sterling silver side plate parker.Anyway,I saw a 720 with rolled engraving? and the word savage on left side.Does anyone know what that model is called I can't find any reference to it in Blue Book.Thanks,HD

I think it's still the 720; it's the hump-backed A5 look alike, right? I have a 775a in 16ga with acid etched "engraving"; it's rounded at the back of the action. Pretty darn good guns for the money; a whole lot cheaper than an A5 or a Model 11.

Yeah looks just like A-5 sweet sixteen but goes for a bunch less.
I found one that was real nice but it had a crack on backside of hump on receiver.I see under "trench guns" they have some with engraving but this one had 30" barrel and raised rib and no sight ramp.HD

The chart in West's Savage - Stevens book shows 1930 to 1943 manufacture. Model was changed to 750 post war.

Hi guys,

I have an early Savage 720 in 16 gauge. Serial # is 168XX. It's the old 'humpback' and has no engraving on the receiver. What it has on the left side in the middle of the receiver is:

SAVAGE AUTOMATIC
Manufactured by
Savage Arms Corporation
Utica, N.Y. U.S.A.

Then on the left side bottom rear of the receiver it says:

JOHN M. BROWNING PATENT 1900

I bought it probably 10 years + ago because I couldn't (probably still can't) afford a Sweet Sixteen, although I still want one. The first time I took it out was on a pheasant hunt, and the first bird flew, I pulled the trigger and 'click', a busted firing pin. Well, my dad was going back to the pick-up, so he let me carry his Browning Citori for the rest of the walk, and it was then I realized how heavy my 16 guage really was. But, I have a thing for 16 gauges and it's a pretty cool old Savage, so I think I'll hang onto it.

RandySavage99

I have an old 12 guage auto fancy wood on it , it says springfield automatic on it manufactured by savage arms corp, browning patent, i assume this was before the 720, anyone got any imformation on springfield automatic? Don