Savage Stevens Stampings Question
Just obtained a Stevens Little Scout 14 1/2 in "Museum Quality" condition. Haven't been made for at least 68 years, this one looks like it came off the assembly line yesterday.
The previous owner said he had left it sitting in his gun safe for the past 30 years since his Dad passed and left it to him. He said he didn't think his dad had ever fired the gun.
Here are my questions for the experts.
This can barely be seen in the picture below, the numeral 23 is in a circle on the breech end of the barrel, and there is an H stamped into the bottom near the back of the trigger guard. The crossbar in the H forms an arrow. See pics below.
Also, I assume the BIG stamp SVG on the left of the receiver stands for Savage, but those others have me stumped. 23? H? Anybody know?
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei45
Here are the pics.
The previous owner said he had left it sitting in his gun safe for the past 30 years since his Dad passed and left it to him. He said he didn't think his dad had ever fired the gun.
Here are my questions for the experts.
This can barely be seen in the picture below, the numeral 23 is in a circle on the breech end of the barrel, and there is an H stamped into the bottom near the back of the trigger guard. The crossbar in the H forms an arrow. See pics below.
Also, I assume the BIG stamp SVG on the left of the receiver stands for Savage, but those others have me stumped. 23? H? Anybody know?
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei45
Here are the pics.
0
-
Actually it doesnt look like an H, it looks like the is a bar with an arrow thru it. I am almost certain that would be an in house inspectors mark. Have no clue about the 23, altho the Stevens favorite was their model 17 for awhile, then became their model 15. perhaps this is their model 23 (it is not a Favorite)??? I have an old stevens catalog from I think the 1920's, i'll try to dig it up and see what they say.
But wow! what a nice gun! I see these at gun shows frequently and boy are they beat! Yours is superb!! No buggered screws, blueing beautiful! If i were you I would hit the shows ans examine every one I can, seeing if that inspectors mark is there and if the 23 (or some other number) is present.0 -
Thanks, dandak1. Soon as I saw it I had to have it. It's the first TRULY "Museum Quality" gun I've owned. I've got some others that are VG to EXC, but even those are nothing compared to this old guy.
The gun show idea is good. Definitely the ONLY way to find out is to personally handle and inspect. Thanks for the tip. I'm hoping someone will see this posting and maybe have the answer in a reference book.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei450 -
Stevens used the number in a circle on many of their guns for years. Proof mark or inspectors number. No one seems to know as far as I can determine. 0 -
Thanks for the info, slumlord44. My FIRST thought was, maybe barrel length... But barrel is not that long. So... Still stumped.
And, you see what dandak1 said about the mark on the bottom. I'd swear it's an H, but he could be right. Hopefully someone will know.
Thanks again.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shasei450 -
You've landed in a sad area in American gun history. Stevens was aquired by Savage Arms in about 1920. Sometime shortly after there two fires at the Stevens plant that destroyed many records. Since Stevens were generally considered common utility grade guns, no one apparently went to much trouble to try to preserve what was left.
Then Savage changed ownership in the 1960's. And the new owners reportely dump remaining Savage/Stevens records in effort o limit liability on the older guns. Add the fact that Savage made guns, often same models, under a host of different names (Savage/Stevens/Springfield. As well as MANY store brands).
Now 40 years later, collector interest is growing for these vintage guns. But unfortunantly, info is sketchy and generally found piecemeal from people such as yourself that had a question. And spent many hours researching to find an answer. There is Savage/Stevens collectors history book. But it is obviously & woefully incomplete and doesn't even mention proof/inspectors marks. (At least someone tried).
One thing vintage Savage/Stevens rimfire collectors have learned is to "Never say never". As undocumented variations and markings continueally pop up w/a regularty that seems to make WW-2 Japanese Ariska MFG look like a smooth operation.
Savage does list an "Offical Historian" on their website. Who for a fee "may" be able to help you.
Beyond that, there are a few forums on the net that specialize in Savage/Stevens collecting. Generally they focus mainly on the Savage Model 99. But Rimfire topics are included. I'd suggest researching these and posting there.
IMO the number in barrel is a proof mark. And the H is an inspectors mark. I have no idea who the inspector may have been.
Good luck.0 -
Many thanks, Fatstrat. You and I agree on the H and the 23. I've been researching the Mossberg Brownie for several years and have definitely learned that "Never say never" idea. I do a Brownie article on the Damguy Mossberg site for collectors.
There are no known surviving factory records for the little guy, even though O.F. Mossberg is still in production and still under the Mossberg family's direction. America's oldest family-owned gunmaking company - but no early records.
Like you said, asking questions at every forum, talking with other collectors, etc., is the ONLY way you can eventually nail down an answer.
I shall keep digging for this Stevens/Savage info, and thanks again for an enlightening response.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei450 -
quote:Originally posted by Shansei45
Many thanks, Fatstrat. You and I agree on the H and the 23. I've been researching the Mossberg Brownie for several years and have definitely learned that "Never say never" idea. I do a Brownie article on the Damguy Mossberg site for collectors.
There are no known surviving factory records for the little guy, even though O.F. Mossberg is still in production and still under the Mossberg family's direction. America's oldest family-owned gunmaking company - but no early records.
Like you said, asking questions at every forum, talking with other collectors, etc., is the ONLY way you can eventually nail down an answer.
I shall keep digging for this Stevens/Savage info, and thanks again for an enlightening response.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei45
If you run across a bolt for a Mossberg Model 20 .22 single shot. I'm looking (For over 2 years now). They apparently don't exist either.0 -
Fatstrat, I'll keep an eye out for the Mossy part, but aside from my Brownie collection the ONLY other Mossy I own is a beautiful, old Model L. The .22rf single-shot with Martini-style action. A very limited production Mossy - about 3 years. Here's pic of mine.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei450 -
So that is what that looked like when my great grandfather bought it. My little scout looks like it was rode hard and put up wet. But it is a fun gun to shoot. Yours is the first one I have seen other than mine.
Edit: Sorry, the whole point of that post was to mention that I can't find any of those same markings on my gun but off I went into memory land.0 -
No apology necessary, Gashauler. I am as much a historian as I am a collector. I figure we collectors are only the temporary caretakers of historical artifacts belonging to some future generations. And why do we keep these outdated doo-dads around? Because they encourage our imaginations to conjure up memories - good or bad - of our own pasts, a pastime we humans seem to enjoy.
Keep watching for another one. There's gotta' be more of 'em around.
Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei450
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
10 comments