Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Just pulled the trigger on this 1895. Did I do OK?

This came online a few minutes ago and I quickly scanned the depth of my checkbook and hit the Buy-it-NOW button.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=374350436

I know next to nothing about 1895s, but enough to know that this does appear to be one. I felt like I should move quickly on it. I checked quickly in my Murray book to see if my initial thoughts were correct, but didn't feel like I could / should linger too long, and ask the several questions I had in mind for the seller (What's the top of the bolt look like? How long is the barrel?)

Swing away, guys. Is my $850 well spent, or just an expensive lesson?

Rod

Whats displayed appears correct for a 1895. Would have been nice to seen the topside of the bolt. Its either a buy or slight loss. Worth the risk I think. GW

You done dam good from where I set!! I don't see any risk with that one!

Nope.. I can't see where you did anything but good on that one.

Congrats! Wish I'd seen it first.

It appears that the rifle has a tang sight mounted back behind the tang, probably using wood screws. A couple of the other 1895s I've seen on-line have had sights mounted like this. What's the deal with this? Was it a case of using a sight designed for another model because it was more available?

Clearly, I've purchased a pig in a poke. I hope it turns out to be a worthwhile pig.

Rod

Good job Phil. That gun appears to be in excellant shape and the price is a bargin. Good for you.

Don't older 99s and 95s have longer tangs. This could account for the sight appearing further back on the stock.

I believe that's a tang sight that was offered in the 1895 catalog. It's a bonus, not a detract ion.

Rod
No Way! You Done Great!
Congrats

Rod:

A little practice with the 303 and you'll be ready to hunt the MI opener. Better put a rush on shipping.

Jim

Nice grab! Let me know if the tang sight is marked "SA".

Your just gloating, you stole that gun, the tang sight alone is worth 3 bills to the right collector.

Joe--

I'm starting to see that I got a good deal here, but honestly I had no idea what I was getting into. What kind of sight do you think this is?

Rod

Can't get a real good look at it on the auction site but I'd bet 9 out of 10 it's the type that they used on the 1895's that screwed into the wood, only seen a handful of them and only on 1895's, never an 1899. I've got one here in my stash stamped SA, just waiting to pick up an 1895 that had one and was removed. Sort of a back up sight, just in case, lol.

Like Rick said, we'd like to know if it's stamped SA when you get it.

Mine is stamped with the SA and on the other end is stamped X, not sure if the English Express rifles used the same sight or not.

Interesting. I did a lot of looking around at photos on the web after I bought this and I saw a couple of photos of rifles with the sight screwed to the stock. I incorrectly assumed that somebody was just trying to make do with a sight designed for a different rifle.

There's a lot of things I don't know about this rifle that will be answered when I get it in my possession. I'll keep you posted.

Thanks,

Rod

Savage designed the 1895 with threaded holes for a tang sight but there was no tang sight in production that fit the curvature of the Savage tang. It appears that Lyman put together a sight in their current, at the time, design. Was it the same as used on another model with maybe a different locking angle, I don't know. But we have seen many 1895's with screw holes in the wrist and sights (Mad dog's in the post above) with the "SA" stamp. It's also pictured in the catalog.

Looking forwards to comparison of the Phil99 and Mad dog sights.

Rod, I don't mean to hijack your thread, but this is a picture of the tang sight on the 1895 I bought. I'm sure it's a Lyman as well. BTW I paid a shi*tload more than you did. I can't believe the listing said it was an 1899B. I agree, you stole that rifle. It couldn't happen to a nicer fellow. Congratulations.

Steve--

I think part of the price difference might be because of that little ring on the side of the receiver.

Rod

Maybe,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,BUT you made one HELLUVA nice buy. Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a good pic of JackpineSavages old 1895 with the correct tang sight on it. I'm sure Dick used to own a couple with the same sight before he sold them.

Hmmmm, just noticed that the stem is a #2 and that it's turned the wrong way, the aperture would thread in from the other side. You would almost think that was a factory screw up but I picked up my SA marked 1895 tang and it's a #1 with the flip down aperture and it's pointed the wrong way as well. Wish Dick still had his tang sights. I think this isn't just a coincidence, we'll know more when Rod gets the gun, I'd like to see what way the aperture is pointing.