Need help gathering info about Savage model 3 rifles

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There are several of these old savages floating around in my family. My grandfather had a 3c and it was the first gun that my dad and uncles grew up using. They have since picked up everyone that they see at gun shows and flea markets. I do not know any of the specifics on what they have but they are neat little rifles.
 
Just picked up a Model 3B. Iron sites with gold dot front bead, smooth chrome trigger and bolt, cocking knob on the back of the bolt. Hard plastic butt plate on a walnut stock. It has the stamped trigger gaurd and knurled take down screw. Barrel has Utica markings and a "24" in a circle stamped on the rear of the barrel near bolt. From what I've read here would that make this a pre-war model??? I'm new to Savage, as well as single shot bolt actions....but this seemed like a very nice older rifle.

Blue is about 90%. The stock finish was touched up poorly and had alot of finish scratches everywhere....but overall no cracks or dents, or deep scratches. Still...what was left of the super shiny finish had to go. I've got an oil finish going on it (needing a couple more coats)....already looks way better. I picked it up for $40 from a co-worker....couldn't pass it up.

Nice rifle....I would love to nail down it's vintage a little closer though....any further help than what is here already would be great.
 
TheUker - from your description and the info that has been collected so far I would say that your rifle is a pre war rifle as you alreday figured out. Sorry I can't be more helpfull.
 
Rob62 -

A second opinion letting me know I'm on the right track helps!

It's interesting....I would have thought there would be much more info about these guns... This thread is about all I could find anywhere!!!...but it's very helpful.
Thanks!
 
I have a model 3 that I got from my father and need a replacement for the bolt because when I cock it sometimes it does not always catch. I think it is just worn down. Thus making it unsafe. Does anyone know where to look for the bolt?

Thank You,
 
I actually ran across Model 3 parts on numerich's website. I'm in the process of refinishing my Model 3 and putting a receiver sight on it. I thought I'd turn it into a little target rifle for the boys.
 
I just picked up a Savage Model 3 today, with a 22" barrel. Judging by the info posted here, it looks like it's from 1931. It has some black paint on the far end of the stock (I may sand that down, I haven't decided yet) and overall the stock and barrel look like they're in good shape. The butt plate is plastic, and it's cracked in two pieces. I will probably repair that as well. There are some dings and scratches in the stock, but I kind of like them. This is my first gun. I specifically picked it up because it was cheap but in good condition, and I don't mind having a single shot to learn to shoot properly with. Hopefully I'll be able to take some pics to share with you soon!
 
macha1313 - Thanks for sharing your info.

Generic vintage plastic butt plates are readily available for not very much $$. You may wantto consider replacing the entire plate. Lots of times this is more cost efficient than trying to repair it.

Regards,
Rob
 
My first gun was a Savage Model 3-C.

The day after Pearl Harbor, while men all across America were lining up outside recruiting offices, my Aunt Harriet went out and bought the Savage 3-C, and joined the NRA to learn to shoot. (She was about 20 years old.)

She joined the American Red Cross, and served in Italy and later in Germany and Austria. Once she was "captured" by Italian partisans: she was driving a captured German jeep (V.W. Kuebelwagen), and wearing her feldgrau Red Cross uniform,which looked very German. She just kept babbling "No Tedescha! No Tedescha! Americana!" and offered them coffee and donuts.

The Savage was handed down to my older brothers, who both used it in NRA smallbore, and eventually to me. Alas, it was stolen long ago.
 
hey all, im currently refinishing a savage model 3A i got from my neighbors. its an assignment for my gunsmithing course im taking. it has a 22" barrel, iron sights, finger grooves on the front of stock, stamped metal trigger guard and metal butt plate. it has a (14) in a cricle near the end of barrel, i have been looking for info on the gun, like the years it was made and pre or post war stuff, and the average value of it today. i have plenty of pics of it , just not posted anywhere. im taking photos as the process goes along so i can show others the quality of the work that can be done.
 
I dunno if the letters are revision or feature designators. I have a model 4C, which is also very hard to get info on. It has interchangeable front posts w/ a hood and a crudely adjustable rear peep (with adjustable apertures!). It shoots REALLY well despite its lousy trigger and single action screw. I always figured that the 'C' meant it was the target model. Does that match up to anything in the 3 series?

It's an (the only) old family rifle, and also carries no serial #.
Estimated purchase date is around 1950 if that helps bound things for the model 3 info.

-Daizee
 
I know this thread is quite old but wanted to add some info in case anybody re-visits it. The attached photo's are of a Model 3 that I just had totally refinished. It belonged to my late father in law and we decided to have it done over since it was in such poor shape outside. It was totally re-blued and after seeing pic's of the way they should look I will be doing the stock over again. The rifle is 39 inches long with a 22 inch barrel, gold dot on the front sight and steel butt plate. The trigger was black when we received it, know him it was always this way as he was not known for taking care of things. It also has the number 14 circled on the barrel and upper receiver. If anybody has an idea on what the proper stain would be for the stock I would love to know. This rifle shoots very well and the bore is perfect, I am happy to have it especially as it is no longer covered with rust spots.

model3_1.gif

model3_2.gif

model3_3.gif

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Salty1 - I would use a dark walnut stain. The lightness of your wood is intriguing in general. Do you know if its walnut ?? It sure looks very light to be walnut, but I'm no wood expert. All pics and info I have seen on other model 3's indicates a factory walnut wood stock and its been dark colored.

If I were to take a guess I would say your rifle was one of the earlier ones made. The steel butt plate and stamped trigger guard are a big clue here.

Regards,
Rob
 
I had somebody who is knowledgeable in wood look at the stock tonight, he is almost positive that it is made out of rock maple. He explained that walnut is less expensive than the rock maple and that could be why they "changed" to walnut. I am not sure if it could have come from the factory this way as I cannot find any information that speaks of maple stocks on the M3.
 
Salty1 - very interesting about the stock. Can you tell if it appears to have been inleted by someone other than the factory for the barreled action ? Could this have been a replacement stock ? With the metal butt plate it sure looks original. Which would be wild as there is no information I have heard of that suggests these rifles came from the factory with anything but a walnut stock.

Does it look like a previous stain coat has been removed as part of a stock re-finish? If the stock finish appears to be original minus age wear I would seriously consider leaving the stock as is. Who knows you may have one of the very first rifles out there that was given a non walnut stock.

Here is some of the info from the initial post:

One reference that was printed in 1931…………… that in fact the first M3’s came off of the production line in either 1930 or ’31. However, this same reference showed M3’s with a 39" over all length, and having a 22" barrel and steel butt plate.

Some 1931 dated materials show a grooved stock and list a 24" barrel. The barrel length is important in narrowing down when M3’s were manufactured. Most references printed recently show that Pre-war (WWII) models have 26" barrels, post-war 24". This is confusing, as publications from the early 1930’s do not reflect this same information, reference above.

What I am thinking is, could this be one of the very first produced rifles with a 22” barrel ?! What I don’t know is, and suspect only a diehard Savage collector might know, did Savage use Rock Maple wood for any of their rifle stocks ?

The more I look at the picture of that rifle's stock the more I am convinced it may be original factory. Please do post info about the stocks inletting.

In any event you have a neat old rifle that I would be hesitant to get rid of.

Regards,
Rob
 
Thanks for posting these pics. While I can't be sure, the trigger guard appears to be recessed into the stock where the guard screws are. If this is the case then all the more reason to believe your rifle was one of the first ones produced. I know that later made guns simply had the stamped metal trigger guards screwed into the stock without any recessing of the wood.

(Could you post a pic of the inside of the stock where the stock bolt goes through to hold the barrelled action to the stock ? If this area looks original/unmodified then I'd be 99% sure your stock is original to the rifle.)

It makes sense that early made guns might have had had the trigger guards recessed. It was all part of craftsmanship and quality of work. Then someone figured out that production costs could be saved on more by not doing the inletting so they stopped doing it.

I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that your rifle is a very early (first or second year) production gun. But I could be wrong. I’d like to hear what others think about this.


While I don't need another .22 rifle - if you ever decide to sell it I would be interested in getting it.

Regards,
Rob
 
Rob, I will get the pic over the weekend when the sun comes out, it will be much clearer in the day light. If I even thought about selling my wifes deceased fathers gun I am sure it would cause a domestic crisis that I choose not to be part of. :uhoh:... I will keep that in mind though but she will have to contact you herself.....
 
I put tru oil on the one im redoing 4-5 coats. now it just needs a gooc wax and then im gonna reblu the metal. got any tips on what i need to get the bolt to look like new again...ive been polishing it, but it just seem to get the job done.
 
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