Can anyone give me their personal opinion on the savage model 20 bolt action ? i would like to get hold of one ,i have never seen one in the ''metal'' but ummmm its my latest fascination at the moment,in 250-3000

I just recentlly sold a very nice one in 250/3000. They were very well made, lightweight , nice wood and checkering. Scope mounting isn't easy, but it can be done. I couldn't bring myself to scope the rifle, it was too nice a piece. Anyway, I ran accross a guy who couldn't live without it, so he's happy and so am I. This one was the only one I've ever seen "in the metal"

One of our forum members picked one while he was back home on a hunting trip. I have made it top priority to trade him out of it. They are very neat rifles and not very easy to find. I am glad Craigster left his all origional. They were meant to be that way.

HAHAHAHAHA. The day you get it, is when the that mess over on the Hunting Report-Africa get straightend out. It does not look like it will either so I guess you won't end up with it.

John

My Dad used one in .300 Savage that had a sidemounted scope (he bought it that way). I acquired one some years later also in .300 Savage, but no scope. Mine has the bolt aperture sight.

They are light and handy.

I am looking for a home for mine.

jim

I was brought up 50 miles from Utica NY and Have a small collection of Utica made guns. I have never seen a picture of a Model 20, would love to see one. What would a good rifle be worth. Thanks.

Here are some pics from another web site that I borrowed. Neither rifle in the pics are mine but I wish they were.






http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v428/M1Tanker70/SavageModel204.jpg

quote:

Originally posted by Witness: I have never seen a picture of a Model 20, would love to see one. What would a good rifle be worth. Thanks.

The one I had was in excellent condition. I sold it for $500. Considering the fact that the buyer didn't bat an eye when I told him what I wanted for it, he may have gotten a real deal. But then again, I got a pretty good deal on it originally.

The first pictures is of a early model 20. The other pictures are also of a early model 20 with a late model bolt. Early models bolts were bent straight down and the late models which were known as the 20/26's bolts were swept back. Also the late models didn't have the rear sites on the barrels as far as I know they all came with the lyman 54 peep site on the bolts. Also the first modle 20's used the same barrel that savage used on there featherwieght 99's. The one I have is all original has not been drilled and tapped. Mine is the late model The only thing is the fron sight blade was missing so it was replaced. Not the best job but it works. Mine is a 300 savage it hold six rounds in the magazine, and it was one of the last ones made they stopped makng them 1929 the last ones if remember rightbeing made in the tail end of 1928. They say the rifle was well ahead of it's time. Savage took some ideas from the springfield 03 and the mauser 93, 95. The rifles wieghed around 6 1/2lbs unloaded. One could consider these the first light wieght rifles to be made. In 1921 the Model 20 sold for $59.99, making it far more expensive than the 99 savage. They say that is one reason it did not sell so well. Savage only made about 13,000 of these rifles.
Also winchester borrowed some ideas from the Savage when they designed the model 54.

John

I envy you guys who have a model 20. I have always wanted one, but have never been able to locate one for sale.

I have a pair, 250 & 300. They are both 1920 models and are a neat rifle when compared against the offerings of the time. However, they have their limitations. Hard to mount scope, split bridge and bad triggers (in todays perspective). They were: light, tang safety and chambered for two very fine ctgs. Both of mine, as many I have seen, have stock problems in the wrist. Perhaps why the 26 model had a beefier stock. Mine are both destined for new stocks, one maple and one mrytle. I have seen one extensively reworked into a 308 (why? 300 is close enough) There is a scope on the 300, using Redfield mounts for it or the MS. The 250 will get a scope via a side mount or a barrel swap with the 300. I have a bolt peep that will go on the 300. Yes I plan to mix and match until I have what I want. Mine are not collector grade and will make a nicely matche pair in two great calibers.

I found this info on another site.
"The model 1920 and the Improved model 20, which we call a 20/26, were cataloged in 250-3000 and 300 savage. Proto-types are known to have been made in 256 Newton, 7x57, 30-06, and 303 British".

my rifle is in 300 savage, shoots well, and no it's not for sale!!! wish you good luck in finding one of these fine little rifles. if they played with these guns in 7x57,303, and 30 newton they must have stretched the action quite a bit. defeating what is a light short sporter.

The original design was for a military rifle which Savage tried to sell the Brits early in WWI. Hence the .303 prototype. They did not bite and Savage redesigned it as a sporter with a shorter action. I owned the long action .256 Newton for a while, a beautifully made and finished rifle, not like an experimental job at all. Had a classy aluminum trap buttplate with the Savage Indian head logo. The buttplate is described in Townsend Whelen's early book "The American Rifle" as standard on Savages but I have never seen or heard of another.

An addendum to my previous post. I now own 3 of them. I was the high bidder on one that was at the Greg Martin Auction in San Franciso (email bid). It is mine for $375 + 13.5% and shipping. Not a bargin, but not bad for what I've seen on these. Here's a link to the gun.
http://www.gregmartinauctions.com look for lot 744. There is an interesting 4 bore rifle at lot 4381

Hopefully you will be able to veiw pictures of my Model 20, .300 Savage here. This is the first time I've tried posting images so please excuse me if it doesn't work.

http://photobucket.com/albums/c296/phm0/