New Savage Lever 22 - not a looker

[Roverguy]

I like Savage. I have a few of their rifles from a first year of production 340 to a recent Walking Varminter in 222.

Their new 22 however is not a looker, in my opinion. The bulky tube magazine, matte finish on barrels and mag tube, and what appears to be an oddly shaped forearm all look ugly to me. Kind of normal for Savage, so it’ll probably shoot well

What are your thoughts?

Savage Revel



I have a Marlin 1892 produced around 1905 that seems to me to be the archetype of 22 lever gorgeousness, so that sours me on the Revel. But the cost for one today would be substantial. We’ll see if Ruger can get the 39A back into production at a reasonable price.

 

[doubleh]

I used to think that Savage made the ugliest rifle available. Now other makes have surpassed them in some areas. I agree that your rifle is not a looker. More like what in my youth when we were describing girls was a towsack or paper bag one.

 

[.308 Norma]

What are your thoughts?

Kinda weird and interesting looking at the same time. I like it though - especially with that tang mounted aperture sight. Let us know how it shoots.

 

[Galil5.56]

I thought we might be looking at a Savage single shot lever action from long ago - I remember them in the latish 70s when I was a teenager. Had an action like a Martini-Henry with Western lever gun styling.

 

[3Crows]

I have seen them in the stores. The Revel is lever spelled backwards. They are a full take down rifle, splits in two. Not as bad looking as at first seen, they kinda grow on you.

There is no point in comparing any of these new Revel or Winchester new to the market or for that matter Henry Zamak junk lever rifles with a Marlin 39A or Winchester 9422. These new rifles are meant to be shot, used, abused, not loved and cherished.

 

[The Old Redneck]

Before reading this thread didn't know Savage made one. Have had very good service from lots of the Savage ugly duck products. Some of their rifles have produced amazing groups. Their shotguns always worked flawlessly. Should make a good gun that you wouldn't worry about a scratch or ding. As a kid would have worn the finish off and shot all the ammo I could find through it. But I was the kid that liked the plain girl that rode horses, hunted and liked to fish. LOL

 

[Galil5.56]

How cool would it be to have a company named Revel, and their new for 2025 rifle; The "Bolero"... But I have a feeling Mr. Mauser would not like this.

 

[ms6852]

Looks like Chiappa had sex with a Savage and that is the baby. How does it shoot?

 

[Roverguy]

To clarify, I do not own a Savage Revel. Saw it on Guns America this morning and was not impressed with looks.

I own the elegant Marlin 1892 pictured at the bottom.

 

[3Crows]

I keep hoping and praying that Ruger will get a call from Lipseys or something like that who places an order for a few thousand 39A rifles. Maybe that would get it going, otherwise, if I recall, Ruger said early on in an interview that the 39A was not on their agenda. But agendas change. The receiver could still be forged and machined from a steel casting as always but some of the small, intricate and difficult to make machine parts inside could be CNC or MIM or both. I will take mine in stainless, 18 to 20 inches carbine length barrel, suppressor thread, walnut stock preferred.

 

[Roverguy]

I keep hoping and praying that Ruger will get a call from Lipseys or something like that who places an order for a few thousand 39A rifles. Maybe that would get it going, otherwise, if I recall, Ruger said early on in an interview that the 39A was not on their agenda. But agendas change. The receiver could still be forged and machined from a steel casting as always but some of the small, intricate and difficult to make machine parts inside could be CNC or MIM or both. I will take mine in stainless, 18 to 20 inches carbine length barrel, suppressor thread, walnut stock preferred.

Or to stop Rossi making a clone. But they haven’t.

 

[Mini30SS]

It's made in Turkey, not 'Merica. So I have no interest. Buy Henry, or old school Marlin's, Winchesters and Brownings

 

[Mini30SS]

I used to think that Savage made the ugliest rifle available. Now other makes have surpassed them in some areas. I agree that your rifle is not a looker. More like what in my youth when we were describing girls was a towsack or paper bag one.

Yes but those ugly Chicks made up for their looks with enthusiasm. The Turkish savage, however doesn't seem enthusiastic to me.

 

[marvin02]

It's made in Turkey, not 'Merica. So I have no interest. Buy Henry, or old school Marlin's, Winchesters and Brownings

This article says made in Canada:

Savage Revel: A Return To Lever-Actions With New Rimfire Rifle

More than 25 years after they shut down production of their last lever-action, Savage Arms is back in the cowboy rifle business again.The new Savage Revel has finally broke cover after years of rumors, bringing an all-new lever-action platform to market in .22 LR, .22 Magnum or .17 HMR.Savage...

www.thefirearmblog.com

 

[Mini30SS]

Your right. The New Winchester Rimfire lever is made in Turkey. Any case, not made here, and maybe with Tariffs it will disappear.

 

[unspellable]

I thought we might be looking at a Savage single shot lever action from long ago - I remember them in the latish 70s when I was a teenager. Had an action like a Martini-Henry with Western lever gun styling.

Sounds like an Ithaca 49.

 

[Riomouse911]

I have seen them in the stores. The Revel is lever spelled backwards. They are a full take down rifle, splits in two. Not as bad looking as at first seen, they kinda grow on you.

There is no point in comparing any of these new Revel or Winchester new to the market or for that matter Henry Zamak junk lever rifles with a Marlin 39A or Winchester 9422. These new rifles are meant to be shot, used, abused, not loved and cherished.

I remember when the 9422 and 39’s were being sold new, those also were meant to be shot, used and abused.

Are these newer guns of the same milled-steel heft of guns like my 39A? No, not even close. (That gun is overkill for a rimfire, IMHO.) But they serve their same utilitarian purposes the others did.

As for the looks of the Revel? It’s ok. Not as fugly as a lever gun can be made (“aka tactical”) but not quite as clean as a 9422, 39 or even a BL-22.

Stay safe.

 

[PapaG]

Sure glad I found a 39A 2A last month for $400. Not mint but still machined forgings. 70s.

 

[Speedo66]

The only thing that bothers me is the made from a 2x4 look of the forearm.

How much more work would it have taken to slim it down and give it graceful lines?

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

The bull barrel is a plus. I think a few coats of Tru-oil on the wood. Would help too. Over all i like it.

 

[PapaG]

I would consider it if I had more time to shoot. Ailing wife, aging back, demands of other obligations have me searching for time to just punch a few holes. (at 80+, I'd better find a few.) I've only had one Savage that didn't perform and I feel that was an anomaly. 112V 22-250 around 1982.

 

[MarshallDodge]

I like Savage. I have a few of their rifles from a first year of production 340 to a recent Walking Varminter in 222.

Their new 22 however is not a looker, in my opinion. The bulky tube magazine, matte finish on barrels and mag tube, and what appears to be an oddly shaped forearm all look ugly to me. Kind of normal for Savage, so it’ll probably shoot well

What are your thoughts?

Savage Revel

View attachment 1256872

I have a Marlin 1892 produced around 1905 that seems to me to be the archetype of 22 lever gorgeousness, so that sours me on the Revel. But the cost for one today would be substantial. We’ll see if Ruger can get the 39A back into production at a reasonable price.

View attachment 1256878

The Savage costs around $400.

The Marlin would cost around $900 in today's dollars.

Are you hoping the 39A will be $400?

 

[jmr40]

The Marlin would cost around $900 in today's dollars.

If I could afford a new Marlin 39 or Winchester 9422 in 1975 dollars, I can afford to buy a new one in 2025 dollars. I understand that $1000 is a lot of money, but $200 was a lot of money in 1975. And the average Joe will have to work fewer hours in 2025 to earn $1000 than it would have taken him to earn $200 in 1975.

In my opinion, and I understand lots of people will disagree, but the only reason to own a lever action rifle is for historical and aesthetic reasons. If we're no longer going to make the originals, then let's make the reproductions look as much like the originals as possible.

I acknowledge that Henry makes a quality rifle, but their aesthetics leave me cold. This Savage even more so, but I bet it shoots great.

 

[Roverguy]

The Savage costs around $400.

The Marlin would cost around $900 in today's dollars.

Are you hoping the 39A will be $400?

$900 may be optimistic for the 39A. But I imagine it would have a lot of takers at that price.

 

[3Crows]

I imagine a 39A today is going to run $1,000 plus base model. A 9422 even more or at least as much. I disagree these rifles were ever sold as low end beaters. They were always expensive. I have no idea what a Henry would cost today if it were made out of something other than actual pot metal. In the case of the Henry I would even settle for anodized hard coat aluminum forging. However, I like the Revel and the new aluminum Winchester much more than a Zamak Henry and thus may buy one to toss in my truck behind the seat.