Savage Arms 32 cal. Lever Action Rifle

wcyote · July 14, 2017, 11:51 AM

I am trying to find out information on a gun that has been in my family for a long time. It is a Savage Arms lever action 32 cal. rifle. It has the patent date of 1893 on the barrel. Where do I find the serial number so that I can date it more accurately. Also any information I can gain would be appreciated. I am attaching one picture but can take more close-up pics if needed. Thank you for your help in advance.

wcyote · July 14, 2017, 11:53 AM

I thought I attached a pic but it did not show up. Can anyone help me on doing this. I clicked on manage attachments and uploaded the pic but it did not attach. What am I doing wrong?

T. O'Heir · July 14, 2017, 12:42 PM

Likely a Savage 1895. Predecessor of the Model 99. SN should be on the underside of the receiver in front of the lever.
http://www.nramuseum.com/guns/the-ga...n-carbine.aspx
If it's a .32, it's probably a .32-40 Winchester. That'd be a guess though. The 99 came in .32-40 Ballard too. Blue Book claims it only came in .303 Savage(that's not a .303 at all. It uses a .308" bullet.). though.
There's an original manual on Gunbroker at $3.99. No bids.
http://www.gunbroker.com/item/667476255

mapsjanhere · July 14, 2017, 04:05 PM

How large is your picture? Your typical cell phone picture is way to big for the attachment manager, you need to resize it before uploading.

wcyote · July 14, 2017, 06:41 PM

What size does it need to be?

wcyote · July 14, 2017, 06:52 PM

OK. I found out more information on the gun. The serial number is 3425. It does have a shot counter on the side of the receiver. Here are some pics...I hope I got them small enough.

BillM · July 14, 2017, 07:46 PM

Interesting. If I input the serial number on savage99.com, it says it's a 1895.
But supposedly all 1895's were 303. Re-barrel? Best guess is that it's a
1899, made early in the first year. Near zero finish, looks solid but well used.
That fore-end is kind of different--highly unlikely that it is original.

Bill DeShivs · July 14, 2017, 09:39 PM

Where does it say it's .32 caliber?

wcyote · July 14, 2017, 09:55 PM

There is 32 stamped on the gun. It has a box of 32 caliber bullets with it so I am making a little bit of an assumption. I will be with my father in law tomorrow who knows a lot more about the gun.

shuvelrider · July 14, 2017, 10:00 PM

http://www.savage99.com/index.php This site might help you for history.

James K · July 16, 2017, 09:35 PM

I think it would be a safe bet that the stock on that rifle is either not original or has been heavily "modified".

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · July 17, 2017, 08:59 AM

If the gun is chambered in a .32 caliber cartridge it is NOT a Model 1895 Savage. It would be a Model 1899.

The 1895 was commercially available only in .303 Savage, with some military-style muskets made in .30-40 Krag.

"If it's a .32, it's probably a .32-40 Winchester. That'd be a guess though. The 99 came in .32-40 Ballard too."

The .32-40 Winchester and .32-40 Ballard are the same cartridge. Identical.

Ballard Arms developed both the .32-40 and the .38-55 rounds as target cartridges for their lever-action dropping block target rifles.

Winchester later adopted both cartridges for their lever-action repeating rifles, and thus the rounds became known as the .32-40 and .38-55 Winchester cartridges.

**Mike Irwin** · July 17, 2017, 09:05 AM

Neither the stock nor the forearm are original. They're much later replacements; my guess is 1950s.

The high comb on the butt stock makes me think that the rifle was once scoped.

I can't even begin to imagine why the "schnable" on the forearm looks like that. Hell it looks almost like a logger's peavey.

**Mike Irwin** · July 17, 2017, 09:10 AM

I just saw the serial number...

That makes this a LOT more interesting, as that is definitely a Model 1895 serial number, but it's certainly not an 1895 chambering.

wcyote, you say there's a box of .32 caliber "bullets," with it.

Do you mean actual cartridges, or just the bullet itself?

If the cartridge, could you take a picture of the cartridge and also the .32 marking on the gun?

I'm just wondering if this might not be an 1895 rechambered to a wildcat cartridge (.32 caliber bullet in a .303 Savage case) to salvage a worn-out .303 barrel.

pesta2 · July 18, 2017, 02:20 PM

I wonder if a shot out .303 could have been rechamber to a .32 WS?

Jim Watson · July 18, 2017, 05:53 PM

Not very well, .303 Savage has a larger head diameter than any of the .32-40 (.30-30, .32 WS, etc) series.

July 14, 2017, 11:51 AM	#1
wcyote Junior Member Join Date: April 14, 2017 Posts: 11	Savage Arms 32 cal. Lever Action Rifle I am trying to find out information on a gun that has been in my family for a long time. It is a Savage Arms lever action 32 cal. rifle. It has the patent date of 1893 on the barrel. Where do I find the serial number so that I can date it more accurately. Also any information I can gain would be appreciated. I am attaching one picture but can take more close-up pics if needed. Thank you for your help in advance.

July 14, 2017, 12:42 PM	#3
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Likely a Savage 1895. Predecessor of the Model 99. SN should be on the underside of the receiver in front of the lever. http://www.nramuseum.com/guns/the-ga...n-carbine.aspx If it's a .32, it's probably a .32-40 Winchester. That'd be a guess though. The 99 came in .32-40 Ballard too. Blue Book claims it only came in .303 Savage(that's not a .303 at all. It uses a .308" bullet.). though. There's an original manual on Gunbroker at $3.99. No bids. http://www.gunbroker.com/item/667476255 __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

July 14, 2017, 04:05 PM	#4
mapsjanhere Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2009 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 2,832	How large is your picture? Your typical cell phone picture is way to big for the attachment manager, you need to resize it before uploading. __________________ I used to love being able to hit hard at 1000 yards. As I get older I find hitting a mini ram at 200 yards with the 22 oddly more satisfying.

July 14, 2017, 09:39 PM	#8
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	Where does it say it's .32 caliber? __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

July 17, 2017, 08:59 AM	#12
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	If the gun is chambered in a .32 caliber cartridge it is NOT a Model 1895 Savage. It would be a Model 1899. The 1895 was commercially available only in .303 Savage, with some military-style muskets made in .30-40 Krag. "If it's a .32, it's probably a .32-40 Winchester. That'd be a guess though. The 99 came in .32-40 Ballard too." The .32-40 Winchester and .32-40 Ballard are the same cartridge. Identical. Ballard Arms developed both the .32-40 and the .38-55 rounds as target cartridges for their lever-action dropping block target rifles. Winchester later adopted both cartridges for their lever-action repeating rifles, and thus the rounds became known as the .32-40 and .38-55 Winchester cartridges. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 14, 2017, 11:53 AM	#2
wcyote Junior Member Join Date: April 14, 2017 Posts: 11	I thought I attached a pic but it did not show up. Can anyone help me on doing this. I clicked on manage attachments and uploaded the pic but it did not attach. What am I doing wrong?

July 14, 2017, 06:41 PM	#5
wcyote Junior Member Join Date: April 14, 2017 Posts: 11	What size does it need to be?

July 14, 2017, 07:46 PM	#7
BillM Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Amity Oregon Posts: 791	Interesting. If I input the serial number on savage99.com, it says it's a 1895. But supposedly all 1895's were 303. Re-barrel? Best guess is that it's a 1899, made early in the first year. Near zero finish, looks solid but well used. That fore-end is kind of different--highly unlikely that it is original.

July 14, 2017, 09:55 PM	#9
wcyote Junior Member Join Date: April 14, 2017 Posts: 11	There is 32 stamped on the gun. It has a box of 32 caliber bullets with it so I am making a little bit of an assumption. I will be with my father in law tomorrow who knows a lot more about the gun.

July 14, 2017, 10:00 PM	#10
shuvelrider Senior Member Join Date: October 2, 2011 Location: West Coast of Michigan Posts: 132	http://www.savage99.com/index.php This site might help you for history.

July 16, 2017, 09:35 PM	#11
James K Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 24,383	I think it would be a safe bet that the stock on that rifle is either not original or has been heavily "modified". Jim

July 17, 2017, 09:05 AM	#13
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	Neither the stock nor the forearm are original. They're much later replacements; my guess is 1950s. The high comb on the butt stock makes me think that the rifle was once scoped. I can't even begin to imagine why the "schnable" on the forearm looks like that. Hell it looks almost like a logger's peavey. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 17, 2017, 09:10 AM	#14
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,388	I just saw the serial number... That makes this a LOT more interesting, as that is definitely a Model 1895 serial number, but it's certainly not an 1895 chambering. wcyote, you say there's a box of .32 caliber "bullets," with it. Do you mean actual cartridges, or just the bullet itself? If the cartridge, could you take a picture of the cartridge and also the .32 marking on the gun? I'm just wondering if this might not be an 1895 rechambered to a wildcat cartridge (.32 caliber bullet in a .303 Savage case) to salvage a worn-out .303 barrel. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 18, 2017, 02:20 PM	#15
pesta2 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2006 Location: Fairmont, WV Posts: 1,682	I wonder if a shot out .303 could have been rechamber to a .32 WS? __________________ http://www.stevekonya.com

July 18, 2017, 05:53 PM	#16
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Not very well, .303 Savage has a larger head diameter than any of the .32-40 (.30-30, .32 WS, etc) series.