Picked up a gorgeous time traveller at the show today!

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NIGHTLORD40K

NIGHTLORD40K

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Stopped by the little local show today, and it did not disappoint-
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Savage Model 23A .22 repeater, made from 1923 to 1933. The serial number places this one around 1930.

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Ive always wanted one of the oval-port Savages, but every one Ive ever stumbled across outside of books was well-worn and weathered. Not this one-

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The wood, metal and bore are all mint. The fella I got it from said his father was the second owner and had purchased it from a childhood friend who bought it new. It lived in a dresser drawer in his parents house since the 50's and as far as he know his Dad never shot it.
Edit: Notice how the receiver and barrel are all machined from a single steel billet- amazing!

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The magazine is unique among .22s. There is no catch in the usual sense- one simply snaps the mag straight up into the well. To remove, you push the little knob forwards and pull down and out. Very slick design!

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Picked it up for a very reasonable price, even by pre-Chinavirus standards. Cant wait to take this time-traveller for a spin!
 
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Very cool..... I was looking for one of those about 9 years ago. Found a nice one at a nice price on a table at a gun show. Just as its new owner was filling out the paperwork. But I did wind up with a Savage Sporter, Model 1922, which was the transition model between the Savage 1919 series and the 23 series. My buddy got it out of an estate sale and gave me a nice deal on it. But I still want a 23A . Got to have another 23 series gun to go with the 23D I've had for over 20 years. P.S.... Don't lose that magazine. Originals are pricey and hard to find. That's the same mag. mine has.... I got the gun with no mag and spent a long time on the internet searching for one that was nice but not priced as if it were solid gold. If it shoots anything like my 1922, I predict you are gonna like it. Are the 23A's capable of shooting 22 short, long, and long rifle? The Model 1922 Sporters are only marked for 22 Long Rifle.
 
I’ve never seen one of those rifles, that’s really cool you found one in such great shape! :thumbup:

Let us know how it shoots when you get a chance to take it out and exercise it a bit :).

Stay safe.
 
Riomouse911 said:
I’ve never seen one of those rifles, that’s really cool you found one in such great shape! :thumbup:

Let us know how it shoots when you get a chance to take it out and exercise it a bit :).

Stay safe.
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My camera doesnt do it justice- Im gonna try to get some outdoor glamour shots tomorrow in the daylight. :D
22250Rem said:
Very cool..... I was looking for one of those about 9 years ago. Found a nice one at a nice price on a table at a gun show. Just as its new owner was filling out the paperwork. But I did wind up with a Savage Sporter, Model 1922, which was the transition model between the Savage 1919 series and the 23 series. My buddy got it out of an estate sale and gave me a nice deal on it. But I still want a 23A . Got to have another 23 series gun to go with the 23D I've had for over 20 years. P.S.... Don't lose that magazine. Originals are pricey and hard to find. That's the same mag. mine has.... I got the gun with no mag and spent a long time on the internet searching for one that was nice but not priced as if it were solid gold. If it shoots anything like my 1922, I predict you are gonna like it. Are the 23A's capable of shooting 22 short, long, and long rifle? The Model 1922 Sporters are only marked for 22 Long Rifle.
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Its marked .22 LR. I read a few threads at Rimfire Central where folks said they wont feed shorts or some longs from the magazine, but of course you can manually feed them. I believe the port is a little bigger on the 23 than the 22 which helps with single-loading.

Ya- the seller thought he had a second magazine in his pile of stuff,. but in the end we couldnt find it. Im glad it had one at all- Ive seen a couple 23s that were missing the mag entirely at pawnshops.
 
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Color me green, that is one sleek rifle. My Model 7 is the family’s favorite rimfire to date for its novel action but I have a huge soft spot for .22 bolt guns. Congratulations!
 
I had a 23D hornet. Wish I still did. I recently did an appraisal where there was the whole set. Nice catch.
 
NIGHTLORD40K
I just realized the barrel and receiver are machined from one peice of steel, dont recall ever seeing that on any other gun before, though I'm sure somebody else has done it back in the day. Very cool!
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That right there is well worth the price of admission! Never heard of the Savage Model 23A before now but it sure is unique (and pretty neat too), with that one piece barrel and receiver design!
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Thanks!

Im kinda torn because Im thinking about sending it out for checkering and to have sling swivels installed......there was a fancy model which had those features from the factory and I think it would really make it "pop" lol.
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Personally, I'd leave it as it is. With that straight grained walnut and that slight schnabel on the stock the concept of "Less is More" sorta sings out to me.
But, YMMV... ;)
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
Its marked .22 LR. I read a few threads at Rimfire Central where folks said they wont feed shorts or some longs from the magazine, but of course you can manually feed them. I believe the port is a little bigger on the 23 than the 22 which helps with single-loading.
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....... Interesting that it's marked ".22 LR", I couldn't recall that because I haven't seen a 23A in years. I never tried anything but 22LR in my Model 1922 and it's pretty inconvenient to manually feed. That was the only way I could fire it until I got a magazine. Got some pix of the Model 1922 here on the computer and here's a side view showing the port. IMG_2958.JPG .... & the 22LR marking. IMG_2961.JPG ..& the whole gun.. IMG_2968.JPG ... Which looks a lot like a 23A. First time I laid eyes on this one, that's what I thought it might be. Back then I had never heard of the Model 1922 Sporter, and there's not that many around because they were only a transitional model descended from things like the Model of 1919 NRA Target Rifle. There's a few minor design differences between the 1919's and the 23 series but overall you can trace the lineage. The Model 1922 and earlier Model 1919 series utilized dual firing pins and when the 23 series came out they may, (IIRC), have gone to the now common on rimfires single firing pin. Does your 23A have a single firing pin ? Here's the front end of the 1922 bolt showing the dual firing pins.
... IMG_9935.JPG ... That's a gorgeous 23A you got and now we're all waiting for those "outdoor glamour shot" pictures and some feedback on its first range trip.
 
Good find. Nice rifles. Everything one needs and no superfluous gewgaws. I have one in .32 Winchester Central Fire (sometimes called .32-20.) Light, easy to carry on a nature hike. Adequate powder for the purpose.

You are probably already aware, but keep track of the magazine! I can't find replacements in any caliber. Not even for scalper's prices.
 
22250Rem said:
....... Interesting that it's marked ".22 LR", I couldn't recall that because I haven't seen a 23A in years. I never tried anything but 22LR in my Model 1922 and it's pretty inconvenient to manually feed. That was the only way I could fire it until I got a magazine. Got some pix of the Model 1922 here on the computer and here's a side view showing the port. View attachment 940601.... & the 22LR marking.View attachment 940604..& the whole gun..View attachment 940605... Which looks a lot like a 23A. First time I laid eyes on this one, that's what I thought it might be. Back then I had never heard of the Model 1922 Sporter, and there's not that many around because they were only a transitional model descended from things like the Model of 1919 NRA Target Rifle. There's a few minor design differences between the 1919's and the 23 series but overall you can trace the lineage. The Model 1922 and earlier Model 1919 series utilized dual firing pins and when the 23 series came out they may, (IIRC), have gone to the now common on rimfires single firing pin. Does your 23A have a single firing pin ? Here's the front end of the 1922 bolt showing the dual firing pins.
...View attachment 940608... That's a gorgeous 23A you got and now we're all waiting for those "outdoor glamour shot" pictures and some feedback on its first range trip.
Click to expand...
It rained all day here...:( Ill try to get some more pics of mine tomorrow.

I actually went back to the show and bought another gun, lol. A Police Positive .22 Target fixer-upper special. That ones gonna need some work before shes ready for the ball.

The 23 has a very different bolt, single firing pin and dual extractors.
 
That is a very nice little rifle and you are lucky to find one that old in that condition. Not being much of a Savage fan I had never even heard of it, much less seen one.
Our little tyrant of a governor has apparently made gunshows a no-no but I have seen some very nice 22 rimfires on consignment in my LGS in the last few months, something that's unusual as there have been very few over the years before our c-bug panic.
 
I have three model 23s. The two on the left are 22 hornets. The right gun is a 25-20. The center rifle is a 99% gun with an original Weaver Model 344 scope. Being a collector, I normally would not shoot a 99% gun.....but these guns are not exactly high-end collectibles, either. I shoot it occasionally.
 

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