I just got a Sporter and I am positive it is a 23A. Especially after going over every forum related to the 1922 Sporter and the 23A over the last few years. One thing that has me a little puzzled is the serial number is on the back of the receiver - with the bolt out and looking down the barrel from the rear it is across the back. It is in the same place as the the number on my 1922 Sporter (which is 42XX). The 23A has the first digit that is pretty hard to determine. I think it may be 3 and the number would be 332XX.
My Question to you all is when did the Sporter go from the serial number on the back of the receiver to the side by the ejection port?
Just so you believe me about it being a 23A
It's stamped Savage Sporter on the barrel
the rear sight is dove tail and not a screw
it has the single fire pin on bolt at 6 o'clock
the rear of bolt at end is a rounded edge not the flat edge of the 1922
the stock and butt plate have matching number that do not match the receiver number
i got the gun off a Proxibid auction without a magazine and it was listed as no serial number, So I immediately thought it was a 1922 Sporter and the Auction company just didn't know where to look. But when I got it and saw the little differences from my 1922 (the online pics weren't detailed enough) I determined it was a 23A. I did get an original 23A Sporter magazine of a different Proxibid auction for it.
Thank you for any info
