I thought some of the members here could benefit from this information.
This information was consolidated from the Savage, Stevens, Springfield, Clone Data Base over at Rimfire Central
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344753
It is very likely that there is more information to be had from reading the entire thread but it is quite lengthy and I am pressed for time right now.
Dating Savage/Stevens rifles - specific to the Model 4,5,6 and 85,86,87 series and variants. (But may also be applicable to other models)
The easiest is by the alpha code contained in the inspectors mark.
The alpha code should be preceded by one or two numbers enclosed in a circle on top of the barrel, typically between the rear sight & the receiver. Disregard any marking outside of the circle.
Here are date codes from 1949 thru 1970.
A=49, B=50, C=51, D=52, E=53, F=54, G=55, H=56, I=57, J=58, K=59, L=60, M=61, N=62, P=63, R=64, S=65, T=66, U=67, V=68, W=69, X=70 (Note O and Q were not used)
Prior to 1949 there was no alpha code and other methods must be used to date the rifle.
Location of manufacture -
Utica, NY dates it to 1946 or before
Chicopee Falls is 1938-1960
Westfield, Mass is 1960- and later
patent #
single 2094577 patent was registered in 1937
If it contains the patent # RE22585 it is post 1945 (This is a post war reissue patent)
This information was consolidated from the Savage, Stevens, Springfield, Clone Data Base over at Rimfire Central
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344753
It is very likely that there is more information to be had from reading the entire thread but it is quite lengthy and I am pressed for time right now.
Dating Savage/Stevens rifles - specific to the Model 4,5,6 and 85,86,87 series and variants. (But may also be applicable to other models)
The easiest is by the alpha code contained in the inspectors mark.
The alpha code should be preceded by one or two numbers enclosed in a circle on top of the barrel, typically between the rear sight & the receiver. Disregard any marking outside of the circle.
Here are date codes from 1949 thru 1970.
A=49, B=50, C=51, D=52, E=53, F=54, G=55, H=56, I=57, J=58, K=59, L=60, M=61, N=62, P=63, R=64, S=65, T=66, U=67, V=68, W=69, X=70 (Note O and Q were not used)
Prior to 1949 there was no alpha code and other methods must be used to date the rifle.
Location of manufacture -
Utica, NY dates it to 1946 or before
Chicopee Falls is 1938-1960
Westfield, Mass is 1960- and later
patent #
single 2094577 patent was registered in 1937
If it contains the patent # RE22585 it is post 1945 (This is a post war reissue patent)