A shop 30 miles from me posted on the internet that they have a used Savage 24 22LR/20 gauge for sale. They could not tell me whether it was a recent (heavy) production or n older one, which I would prefer.

Serial s D3344xx

Anyone here be able to give an idea?

Thanks!

Woops, ok I found there was a sSavage 24 website. The D could mean 1952. The shop did say they ot it from an old timer, though I was wondering if the D might just indicate it was a Savage 24D.

Might be worth a trip down to inspect it!

I have an older 24 that is a 22lr & 410 from 1956. It doesn't have a serial #. I'm not sure but I would guess Savage didn't start putting serial# on them until 1968, but they did put a date code on the receiver and the shot gun barrel.

Lee

Lee's on the track here. Serials started in 68 on this Model and the date codes stopped in 71 or so. The D prefix on the serial would put it around 79-80. Does it have a selectable hammer and are the barrels slightly separated? The '52 Model 24's had neither of these features. Just because the previous owner was an old fahrt like me doesn't mean he couldn't have bought himself a neat, new little combo gun in the early 80's.

What's the old rule of thumb? Buy the gun not the story.