Hi folks:

Curious if anyone may know of the roughly 12,000 of these rifles that were manufactured, (so I'm told) how many were in 250-3000 and how many in 300 Savage?

Rich

Rich, Of all the model 1920's i have seen the 250-3000 seems to be a lot more common then the 300's. im not sure how the 20-26 ratio is but there were not that many 20-26's produced.Don

Thanks Don, I too have seen more 250-3000s than 300s, I always wondered about it.

Rich

Roughly 8900 units were M1920s according to sales figures posted for the years 1920 -1925 therefore about 3100 rifles were what we consider 1920/26s.

The ratio of 250s to 300s is a good question.

Someone software savvy should set up a survey on this thread. [hint hint]

We collected some data several years back.

- serials started at 1000.
- about 1/2 of the 1920 were made in the first year (around serial 53xx).
- 260remguy (Jeff) who had collected 1920/20/26's said the earliest 300 chambering he had heard of was 39xx.
- after that point (39xx) my data shows about one .300 to every two in .250 till the design change.
- as for the Model 20 (serial 105xx) it looks more one for one.

The Model1920 was designed for the lighter recoiling .250.
The Model 20 had a heavier stock and handled the .300 better.
Highest serial # 13006

I think that figures around 70% .250's to 30% .300's

Rick, I checked my model 1920 in 300 savage, the ser # was 4329. Hope this helps. would that make it a manufacture date of 1920?

Yes sir.

TY

That's... interesting.

Earliest ads I see for 300 Savage 99's is fall of 1921.

Have a model 1920 300 savage with a serial #41XX if that is of any benefit for to those collecting data. GW

I have been collecting, or at least accumulating, 1920s and 20/26s for over 40 year.

I have owned 4 1920s in 300 Savage, the lowest SN was 39xx and the highest was 74xx.

I have owned over 40 1920s in 250-3000, the lowest SN was 1015 and the highest was 101xx.

I have owned 26 20/26s in 300 Savage, the lowest SN was 106xx and the highest was 129xx.

I have owned 24 20/26s in 250-3000, the lowest SN was 105xx and the highest was 125xx.

According to information that I received from Mr. Clark, 105xx was made on the first day of production for the 20/26 configuration in July 1926.

Based on the numbers that we have and feel are accurate, there were approximately 9500 rifles made in the first/original 1920 configuration and 2500 rifles made in the second/improved 20/26 configuration.

When I lived in New England and was active in the market, the 1920s were significantly more common in 250-3000, while the 20/26s were significantly more common in 300 Savage.

EDIT: You never know where you'll find a Savage 1920 or 20/26. I found SN 1015 at a crappy little gun show in Leadville, CO. It is very worn, almost no bluing left and the checkering has been worn smooth. It is so worn that if hadn't been for the very low SN, I wouldn't have bought it, but how could I resist?

Rick:

Thank you for the info. Very interesting indeed. FYI the serial # on the 250-3000 I picked up is 123XX. I am assuming that puts it in the final year of production, 1926?

Rich

And thank you Jeff for that info. One more reason I like hanging out here, a lot of knowledge to be had...
Rich

The 40/45 Super Sporters superseded the 20/26 in 1928 and the first catalog that has the 40/45s in it, #65, also has the 20/26 in it. I have a couple copies of that catalog and have seen the page with the 20/26 over stamped with a notice that the 20/26 had been discontinued and would only be available as long as there was inventory in the warehouse. I think that catalog #65 was used during parts of 1928, 1929, and 1930.

I assume that it took Savage awhile to assemble the 20/26s, at least well into 1927.

IIRC, the last few 20/26s didn't have the clip slot cut into the receiver bridge.

My highest SN 20/26 in 300 Savage, 125xx, has an open rear sight in a barrel dovetail and the tail block, bolt shield, is plain, not d&t for the Lyman #54 peep sight. Special order? If not, why go to the trouble of swapping out the tail block with an early style that wasn't factory d&t? Why not just remove the Lyman #54 peep sight and plug the holes.

Jeff, I have a couple of the late 20-26 rifles both have studs and holes for ,Griffin & howe, echo, kerner style scope mounts ,and they sure look like they were done at savage. Do you or anyone here know if any were done factory? I bought both of these rifles off Wes Hurd a few years before he passed away. thanks. Don

I used to own 13002, 4 off from the last rifle.

Don, G&H weren't making their QD side mounts when Savage was still making the 20/26. Those mounts didn't come along until a couple years later. I suspect the same goes for the others you mentioned. Could be Noske for all I know because I don't know when Noske started up. Niedner was making a side mount too, but again I don't know their time line (but I suspect that Niedner would have installed their own mounts not Savage).

Gary, Wasn't G&H making their single lever mounts in the late 20's??

Well for whoever is keeping 20 20-26 stats i went out and checked mine

s/n 1707. model 20 250-3000 drilled for lyman 54. checkered stock

s/n 2127 model 20. 250-3000. drilled for lyman 54. checkered stock

s/n 4737. model 20. 250-3000. not drilled for 54. checkered stock

s/n 6712. model 20. 300. not drilled for lyman 54 plain stock marbles s20 sight

s/n 6809 model 20 300. drilled for lyman 54. custom stock,engraved after market, wider then normal safety assy.

s/n 11204. model. 20-26. 300 checkered stock,sling eyes, long early style front sight,G&H style sidemount studs screws


s/n 12868. model 20-26. 250-3000. not drilled for lyman 54,no rear sight dovetail,basically no sights,checkered stock,G&H style scope mount pins and screws.

These last 2 rifles are a puzzle as to what sidemount was used on them . Don

Don,

I don't recall that there is anything in the catalogs featuring any of the 1920 or 20/26 series regarding factory installed scope mounts.

I have, or have had, series 1920 and 20/26 rifles that had Echo, G&H, Jaeger, Pachmyer, and Weaver side-mounts on them or had been d&t for those bases.

You are correct on that, I have 4 sightly different versions of this catalog. the earliest has a price list dated Jan 3, 1928 and the Model 20 is not counterstamped, one dated Jan 2, 1929 with out counterstamp, one dated Jan 2, 1929 with the counterstamp on the catalog page and another dated Jan 2, 1930 with counterstamp - all still have the Model 20 on the price list which is not marked in any way. I have a wholesale price list dated Jan 2, 1929 that has a note on the front that the Model 20 was discontinued and it is not included in the listings.

This from an 'Effective Jan3, 1927' Jobber's Price List



Catalog #65 also has the change for the Model 25 pump to the Model 29 and the earliest lists STAZON cleaning kit and the later have SAVAGE.

I guess i will consider the 20-26 rifles with having non factory scope mounts, kind of funny tho that one had no holes for a peep on the bolt along with no rear sight dovetail,unless the bolt end had been replaced. Don

Don, G&H patented the single lever mount in 1927, the double lever mount a few years later. (That from the patent dates on the ones I have and/or observed). That would post-date the end of 20/26 manufacture, right?

Were the bolt handles modified for scope use on your examples?

Curiouser and curiouser.

Gary, They are altered now,they got top mount scopes on them!!! I'm thinking that only 1 in 5 model 20,20-26 rifles are in good original condition with no alterations or cracked stocks. Seems the wrist area on the 20's is a weak spot. Don

Considering that these rifles are all between 90 and 98 years old, I wouldn't doubt that your suggestion that only 20% remain in their original configuration, while the remaining 80% have been modified in some way, is reasonable.

I remember my first 1920, a 20/26 in 250-3000, that cost around $80 in 1971. Purchased at The Green Store in North Haverhill, NH.

In 2018, 80 1971 dollars would have around $485 in buying power, so it turns out to have been a good deal all the way around.

I also made one of my worst ever trades there a year or two earlier, giving up a NIB 760 in 223 for a NIB 660 in 222.

My great uncle used to buy and trade a lot of guns at Greens store, I never got over that way when i was young but we had Shiff over this way.

Shiff the Gun Man. I heard tales of him all the way down here!

Green's closed in 1971/72, I went to the auction and my Father bought several Savage 1899s and 99s. I still have the auction bill and the list that they gave out to people who attended the auction. My Father even got excited while bidding, probably only one of a dozen times that I ever saw him excited about anything in a good way.

Here are a couple pictures of the front of the shiff catalog from 1955,the catalog was the liquidation of his stuff after he died.I also have a 1926 flier telling of some 1920's he had for sale.

"The 1920 bolts in 300 and 250 new at $45.Have 250 in bolt in factory grease with finest micrometer peep on bolt with extra fronts
with latest steven 4 scope with both top and side mounts. Ordered for an Alaskan trip and never used.Cost upward of $110 -$90. The 300 is to new to be available at bargin prices or in used condition except in very rare instances."

Oh, dear Lord. To be turned loose in that slice of heaven!!

Kinda reminds of a vault in New Hampshire!

Gary, The story goes that the local cops and troopers that found Shiff Dead, got first pick !!!!! The guns in the catalog would blow all our minds here.Oh ya new winchester model 94 carbines in 1926 were $25, that is a lot cheaper then $45 model 20 savages,also new 250 and 300 G's were 42.50 new.You had to be rich to afford savages.

All of the rifles that I keep in a vault in NH are boxes so that they stack nicely.

Don't think he meant you 260

That's a good idea. For years I've just been stacking mine in the closet, without the boxes.

Shiff's was about 15 miles north of me in North Woodstock,When my father was a teenager he used to ride up there on his bicycle to buy ammo for a 22H.P. he had.Shiff was quite the character had a Roosevelt dime on the floor when you went into his shop you had to stamp on it !!!!!!!!Rich, Hope you aint to upset with me detouring your thread, just yammering about a N.H. gun dealer!!!

Ha!! Don, I'm loving it!! Great info. and I'm more than happy to have had my thread spark such a joyous conversation, and I love the old pictures Don!!

Rich

I don't remember a gun shop in North Woodstock. Just Clark's tourist trap.

Jeff,Shiff died in 1955, i myself was only 3 ,but all the old timers in the area remember it well,it was on 175 a mile or so south of the big green bridge that crosses the pemi. Don

Thanks Don, for the pic! Wish that place was still there when I was up your way!

John,If Shiff's was still there you would have never gone home !!!!!

Anyone have or came across a 20 or 20/26 NIB?