Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 1895 SR

Will photograph the letter and post it here when it comes. David

A really nice guy from the factory just called to tell me the only info on the 1895SR is that it has an octagon barrel and that it was accepted from the factory 4-25-1896. There is no shipping date, barrel length, nothing about the checkering. He was very apologetic and is sending my check back along with the little bit of info he found. David

Well, that's a helluva note! This is one time I'm sure you would have been glad to pay for the full story.

edited in --- I see from responses to this it looks like I am suggesting the checkering is not original, (and after reading it again I can understand why), that was not my intent, I was just not paying enough attention to how I presented this, It never had crossed my mind that it was not original, I was just curious as to how close it was to Marlin offerings from the time. Original posting left below.


I got curious looking at the checkering pattern & thought it should be close to one of Marlins, here are scans of the Marlin checkering & engraving options from the 1913 catalog, the pages are identical to ones in an earlier catalog I have that is missing the pages to date it, but looking at the models listed it would be from between1898 to 1906 - I do not have anything earlier. I do not see a real close match.

I guess I wouldn't expect to see Marlin checking on a Savage rifle. I suspect Arthur was picky like that, it was a new rifle and all.
I'm no expert, but engravers and checkers worked in factories, on the side in factories and at their own shops. These guys were a little mysterious and moved around.
I'd guess that a secondary operation such as checking happened elsewhere but under the Savage eye. Proof? Nope, just a theory.
This rifle has the "Savage elegance" before there was Savage elegance.

That style of checkering is absolutely right for an 1895. Fug has at least one, I had one in hand, and this one is in the Davis museum. No worry about that part.



If it's not factory.. It's a darned good copy. I believe it's right.

Yes, correct. Most of the special 1895's have this style checkering. Most have the short pads but a few with the standard 1895 long pads.

Im pretty sure Fug has a couple with that style checkering, i looked at them a few years ago.

This is an engraved 1895 that LeRoy Mertz has for sale.
pistol grip

forearm

I never thought it was not original, I now see my post may have suggested that but it never even crossed my mind - I think I should havepresented that post a little different! Since the guns were made by Marlin I was just curious if they used any of their 'standard' patterns - if they were the ones who checkered it and thought it would be of interest to see what they offered. The pictures I posted date about 10 years later so I do not know if the patterns offered in 1895 were the same.

David, I only made it through 8 pages of 31 looking for that rifle. What's Mertz asking for it? Just wondering how many kids I'd have to sell?

I know, just doing your diligence as always to see if there are any similarities in the checking.
And you have some literature so thanks for looking it up.

...now this I shouldn't start any controversy! (sorry for not being careful of my presentation before!).

I also had wondered about the engraving patterns - compare the No 2 variation here to the rifle LeRoy Merz has listed (for $45.000) -

Leroy's engraved 1895

I found LeRoy's 1895 on gunsinternational a few weeks ago. I would think it's still there. The engraving on the 1895's were done by Marlin's in house engravers Conrad and John Ulrich so I would think the checkering was also done by Marlin people.
Gene, I wasn't being defensive. I've seen the checkering and that line around it in the 1895 catalogs. I just decided to take the time to post photos of LeRoys' rifle to show the similarities. I really enjoy the things you take time to post. I wish I had more time to research deeper into some subjects.
hadn't posted a closeup of my rifle's forearm. So here it is. Wrong pic I'll try again

I wonder if the historian didn't dig deep enough in the ledgers. The barrel has both the "M" and and "JM" stamps. Maybe the rifle got sent back for the checkering. David

Marlin letters are not that great ! the problem here is a rifle made by Marlin, for Savage !!! Marlin letter or savage letter ??? Leroys rifle was sold at Julias auction for about 1/2 of what Leroy is trying to get for it, most of Leroys guns are priced right up there ! The checkered special order 1895 i have ,has a different style checkering, and basically states "shipped to St.Pauls fair" ?? im assuming St. Paul Minn. but again there is very litle info there. Don

The ones with round pannels do they have a pointed pattern or a rounded end pattern? And the desin lines?

Don what dates does the letter give?

I don't remember right off the top of my head,it was sent back to savage for work i the 1920's. I will have to look tomorrow.

The rifle has the updated 1899 bolt then?

Updatedbolt, reblued, shortened barrel to 22", and the buttstock shortened ,but the crescent buttplate was kept on it . I believe it must have been a small person the work was done for.