Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Chopped 1895 & mystery piece

I got this pawn shop rifle recently & need some hints. It's apparently been chopped to 16" and the stock shortened. The Ser # puts it at 1895.

It catches sometimes when I cycle it so I opened it up. It's way simple inside there. The hand-made piece is called a retractor in one set of schismatics. I think it looked like a 2-pronged fork originally. It screws behind a plate connected to the bolt. It acts like a barrel bushing on a 1911.

It does not fit like a glove and I'm wondering should I put a dragnet out on ebay or try to whittle another one out of steel?

Here's the whole thing.

Yep, that's an old 1895. Half-octagon barrel? What a shame..

Not sure if a similar one from an 1899 would fit, it's very possible. Somebody here might have one in their spare parts for you to try.

What makes you think the stocks been shortened?

Have to pull one off a bolt but I have them and the spring.

You have the springs? I think I need one of the springs for an early 1899...

It's 15.5" from the upper tip of the crescent to the other end. The butt end is cut a little ragged beneath the plate like a monkey did it on horseback. I don't have another to compare it with to be certain.

Mine doesn't have a spring. It appears that this may pivot and the fork end moves up/down on the screw that goes through the receiver in the front of it. I haven't been able to find a drawing or photo of what it supposed to look like and how it functions. Can anyone point me to some pictures?

I'll send you a private message with my email.