Dating Savage/Stevens rifles - Model 4,5,6 and 85,86,87 series and variants

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Catt57

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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)
 

Richard Isbell

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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)



I have a date code on my Springfield 87 (not a “A” model) of “19” and it has no post 1945 patent number. Can you tell me anything about it?
 

Catt57

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I have a date code on my Springfield 87 (not a “A” model) of “19” and it has no post 1945 patent number. Can you tell me anything about it?

The letter is the date code and the # is generally thought to be the inspector #. With no letter, the rifle would be earlier than 1948. Being an 87 with no "A" and missing the "RE" patent #, this would make sense and puts it earlier than 1945.


You can read here for more info.
https://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=344753

It is a long thread and the key info is sporadically mixed in. But it's good info and worth reading if you are interested.
 

thgfa63

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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)
 

Steeltown

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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)
My first post, so forgive any errors, thanks so much for all your info on the model 5 savage .22 I Just inherited one from my grandfather, and using your information in the fact that it was built in Chicopee Falls and contains the RE patent number, and also an inspectors stamp that appears to start with L and I think has the digits 41, would lead me to believe it was manufactured in 1960. Do you agree?? Also, the only thing that appears to need attention with his rifle is the trigger guard, which was painted black but it’s flaking badly. Is there a way to purchase another or do you recommend unscrewing it and sanding/painting it? I’m slightly concerned that if I unscrew it, it will tighten back up and not become stripped. Appreciate any advice.
 

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