Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors savage 23

hi guys
looking for an old style 22 hornet wondering if one was ever factory produced??
thanks chris

They sure did, a 23D I believe and the 19H. Just bought a 19H a few months ago. Shot it first day I got it, very good shooter. I bought a Weaver old 60 series six power for it . As soon as the weather cools off a little I will do some load work ups for it. I see the 23D's on the auction sites quite often. Dave <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

22hp nailed it. I have a post war 23D. It is light, well balanced, and shoots pretty well.

A nice rifle to walk around with.
Bob

My pre-war (had it lettered) 23D is also light, well balanced and shoots pretty well. I've read about the 19H model but never ran across one. The 23D has the honor of being the first American factory rifle to be available in the Hornet chambering. Winchester was the first to make 22 Hornet factory ammo, but Savage had the 23D so chambered and available before the first Winchester model 54 Hornets hit the dealer racks, ( this was the pre-Model 70 era). I call 23D's the "original factory varmint rifle". I'm the 3rd owner of my 23D & have remounted the original 4x Wollensak scope that was put on when the gun was new. So now it's a "time capsule" rifle and I was considering doing a free-lance piece on it, calling it something like: "The Factory Varmint Rifle - As It Was In The Beginning". The thing is in excellent shape and photographs very well. The model 23D was introduced in 1932 which means that next year will be the 75th anniversary of the first rifle chambered for the first modern varmint cartridge. I'm not a recognized free-lancer so if anyone at Wolfe Publications wanted to do something on the 75th anniversary of the 22 Hornet I'd even be willing to loan 'em a nice all- original specimen just to see some recognition of the Hornet's 75th birthday. Would anybody like to see some kind of commemorative tribute to the venerable old Hornet? I'm gettin' curious. Any feedback would be welcome. Thanks.

the one's i like have the early style stock i have never run across one in the hornet hense the question were they made?
thanks chris

22250, I'll bet you might have better luck sending an article to Precision Shooting. That would be an interesting article. Dave

There were a couple different variations on the stocks of the Model 23's IIRC. I'm at work now & my reference material is at home. But IIRC, the Model 23 was introduced in 1923 as a sporter version of the Savage Model of 1919 N.R.A. Target Rifle, (Model 19) in 22 rimfire. Savage used a letter after the "23" to designate the chambering. The letter "A" was used on rimfire models. I believe it was also 1923 that saw the 23B & 23C introduced in 25-20 & 32-20, respectfully. So in 1932 when they chambered the Hornet into the Model 23 series it became the 23D. So they were indeed made and I've seen a few other than mine over the years. By about 1933 they chambered the Hornet into the Model 19 and called it the Model 19H. I assume 19H's are kind of rare cause I've never come across one. So if you ever come upon a Model 23 in 22 Hornet it should carry the 23D designation and also have "Savage Sporter" stamped on the barrel.

22hp, you may have a good idea there. "Precision Shooting" has done a lot of interesting stuff like that over the years. In fact, back in 2001, IIRC, one issue featured a Model 23 sporter (rimfire) on the cover. I probably still have it at home someplace. I know I saved it. Now if I could just find it.........

What kind of scope mounts are you guys using for your 23s?

The only one I can find from that year that has a Savage rimfire sporter would be this one :


but it is a NRA 19 .......

Hey, Thanks... That's it! At least I recalled the correct year. Didn't recall that it was a Model 19 but the 23 is basically just a sporter version of the 19. The 23D also has a small, sheet metal, box magazine that extends just a bit below the stock. Other than that, 19's & 23's are pretty closely related. Thanks again for posting that as I've been too busy lately to dig up that issue of Precision Shooting.

Dave, did you buy the 19H Bass Pro Shop in Springfield was selling? Nice looking rifle with the speed lock action if I recall correctly.

no prob .....I think Precision Shooting is one of the best rags out there , based right here in CT ......alot of guys don't like the magazine , due to the lack of color photos in between the covers ....( all B+W ) , but the articles are first rate ! I do have to say though - the best covers of any magazine out there !!

My 23D had a set of dovetail mounting blocks gunsmith installed in the late 1930's for the target style, (external adjustment) 4x scope made by the former Wollensak Optical Co.. My old high school buddy got this gun from the original owner about 1967 and had a 'smith drill & tap it for a set of Weaver bases and mounted a K-6 Weaver scope. I acquired the gun from him in 1997 along with both the K-6 and the old Wollensak scope. The dovetail mounts were still in place and eventually I returned the rifle to its original state, scope-wise. The holes for the Weaver mounts were filled in with some plug screws and are hardly noticeable now. The 23 series rifles all had a one-piece barrel & receiver unit (like that model 19 in the picture) so I would imagine a gunsmith would have to be real careful not to drill too deep on one of those things. I don't believe any were ever drilled & tapped from the factory but I've seen a couple other scoped 23D's around over the years so I guess it could be safely done as long as those holes don't get drilled too deep.

Yes that is the one. Didn't quite match their description, but I kept it. Turned out not to be a collector grade, but cleaned up ok. It is a good shooter and thats what I wanted it for. Cast bullets are a good match for it. The old Weaver KV that was on it just isn't enough scope. It has a six power Weaver on it now.

22250:

Thanks. I thought there might have been a mount for the 23s. Mine isn't mint but I'd hate to drill and tap it.

C.