I'm looking at a 24V Series D (Ser# D3533xx) in .357 Mag over 20 gauge, and I was wondering if someone here could answer a couple of questions for me (many thanks in advance!)...

1) It is in nearly mint condition and the asking price is $575

2) This rifle has no Savage medallion on the grip-cap. Is that correct or has it been altered?

3) This rifle has a plastic trigger-guard. Is that correct or has it been altered?


Haycock

1. $575 is reasonable if the gun is pristine, they highest I've seen a 357 mag over 20 sell for so far is $751.

2. If the grip cap is thin and groved, it should have a Savage medallion, but unfortunately, they were never glued on well, and tended to fall off with use.
First year, with the thicker squared off grip cap did not come with the medallion to my knowledge.

3. Plastic trigger guard is correct also.

Wink_man,

If by grooved you mean it has a white spacer like the butt-plate, then yes it does. What exactly do you mean by squared off? Also, exactly what was the range of years over which the .357/20 was produced? I could only find a .357 model in the catalogs on sava24.com in 1980....

Many thanks for the quick response, by the way!!!


Haycock

The catalog shows a grip cap medallion but I wouldn't worry very much over that, they may have just thrown another one on your gun.

Does the grip cap on it look like it's been replaced? Does it fit well?

The 24 was first produced in .357 Mag in 1979, and that was also the last year of the 'half moon' receiver. That year had the fatter squared off pistol grip cap without the savage medallion. So if your receiver has the 'half moon' cutouts where it is mated to the stock, it's a 'first year' .357 Mag, and shouldn't(to my knowledge), have the medallion.

In 1980, they went to the straight sided receiver(where it meets the stock), and the smaller grip cap with the Savage medallion. The 357 Mag was only made till about 1982 or 83, when the 357 MAX made it's debut, and then the 357 MAX was only produced for a year or 2, including for one year, in a VERY RARE model called the 24VS, which was a nickle plated gun with 20 inch barrels instead of 24 inch, hardwood furniture, and an additional hardwood pistol grip.

Those catalogs on www.savage24.com are mostly mine, LOL.

It fits well and the coloring of the spacer matches the one on the butt. There is a bolt hole in the center and the bottom of the cap is perfectly flat while the sides are slightly bevelled inward from the top of the cap (where it meets the spacer) to the bottom (where it is flat).

If it fits well and matches the gun I wouldn't worry about changing it.

Besides it probably looks better than the chief on the medallion with the big whiskey nose anyways!

I hear you, mad_dog, but Wink_man's comment about the first-year (.357s ?) not having the medallion intrigues me.

I'd like to know for certain whether or not the rifle is missing an original part before I plunk down hard earned scratch for it. Know what I mean?

From your serial number the gun is not a first year gun though.

What are the ser # ranges?

Not sure what you mean by "half-moon receiver cutouts".....

Could I impose on you to take a look at some pics of the rifle and render your opinion? The first 3 pics below are probably the most useful if I you correctly

http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa183/Haycock-PA/24vside.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa183/Haycock-PA/24vForearm.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa183/Haycock-PA/24v-1.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa183/Haycock-PA/24v-4.jpg
http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa183/Haycock-PA/24v-5.jpg

This is a 'half moon' receiver:


The pics you have listed, look very familiar to me, is that gun on, or has been on Gunbroker? I remember such a gun with a red backround as in the pics being on gunbroker, from a shop in Idaho, I think?

Anyways, see the difference in the side of the receiver, how the pics of the one you have have a 'straight' sided reciever, where it meets the stock?

The gun you show in the pics falls between 1980 to 1982/83 vintage. It is the deluxe model with walnut furniture, and the 10 1/2 inch beavertail forend and skip line checkering. Being such, yes, it should have the brass Savage logo on the pistol grip cap, but as I stated previously, they were never glued on very well from the factory, and many fell off even with just normal use.
Hope this has helped.

Yup. That helps considerably. Many thanks, sir.

By the way, the gun is not the one you are referring to in Idaho. This one is in PA.


Haycock

Garry...

Last question (promise)...

Any thoughts on where I can pick up a grip cap? Who do you know that stocks a fair supply of original 24 parts?

I have the same Savage 24V Series D, SN D3343xx, and think that the 357/20 is a nice 24V configuration. 24Vs in 357 Magnum are pretty uncommon, so if you want 1, you'd probably do well to buy the 1 you're looking at.

Steve, the guy who used to have all of the Savage parts, sold me some of the little indian head medallions a couple of years ago, but I don't know where you would find them now.

Jeff

I have one somewhere. If it's that important, drop me a private message.

Haycock,
You don't need a new grip cap, the grip cap and white line spacer shown on the pics is origial, and doesn't need to be replaced. WHat you need, is the little brass Savage Indian head logo, that fits in the indentation of the grip cap to cover the screw. And unfortunately, no one I know of has any, you could watch ebay, and one might pop up, or you could try this guy, but you'd have to call him, he's got a lot of savage parts, but he wouldn't advertise an item like that on his website:
http://www.gun-parts.com/index.html/

Don't worry about the savage logo, it's not a big deal, and it won't devaluate the gun not having it. They were only made for a few years in .357, and they are not very common, and they're highly prized in some parts of the country as a 'truck gun', one doesn't get to many shots at them, so if you want it, I'd jump if I were you.

Numrich shows as having the brass medallion, here's a link, it's part # 721520:

http://www.e-gunparts.com/products.asp?chrMasterModel=089Zz24%20LATE%20MODEL&MC=

Description of the part says it's for a 110, but i'm sure it would be the same.

Only problem with Numrich is, you may order that brass medalion, and wind up with the front fender of a 64 volkswagon instead. I NEVER order anything from them, but I have taken the ride up there if I really really need something, LOL.

I guess you don't bother to read what other people post.