Savage Model 29-A pump .22, anyone know anything about them? UPDATE! GOT IT! Now with pics..

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canoeguy

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Savage Model 29-A pump .22, anyone know anything about them? UPDATE! GOT IT! Now with pics..

A store close by has a Savage Model 29A .22 pump in pristine condition, like new, round barrel. Anyone know anything about them? I am guessing this one was made in the 50's or 60's, has a finely checkered stock and forend.

Can't find much on-line about them other than completed auctions.

Thanks,

Canoeguy

Update: took my gun show plunder from yesterday and got the rifle out of layaway. Didn't have time for a full work out with it at the range, but did zero it in my back yard range. Back yard range consists of a box tghtly packed with paper as a bullet trap, shooting from inside the garage so as not to disturb the neighbors with the noise...

Here's some pics:

6.jpg


3.jpg


4.jpg


The offhand groups were shot with CCI CB Shorts, not quite as accurate as target grade ammo, but good for back yard shooting. I've found 25 yards is about the maximum range for accuracy with CB Shorts.

Told you it was in excellent condition! I saw a really shabby, worn out one yesterday at the gun show with a price tag of $300, so I definately think it was worth the $350 I paid.

Going deer hunting in the morning, then I'll take the Savage .22 to the range in the afternoon for a full work up.

Thanks to all my friends here on the forum in assisting me with this purchase. Now, to find that Winchester Model 61...
 
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Is that the one that looks similiar to the Remington Model 12?

If so, I've fired a buddy's cool old Savage pump .22 and thought it just the 'Bee's knees'.

If it's one with a checkered stock, I bet its a higher grade model.

I personaly own Remingtons version; a 1920's or 30's Remington 12C. The 12C is a notch upscale of the 12A, which was my fathers ancient .22 pump of choice.

Digging in my old 'Gun Trader's Guide'(21st edition,1998), they value it at $300, octagon barrel pre-war, round barrel post-war, checkered stock and forearm pre-war, plain stock and grooved forearm post-war, made 1929-67....and thats about all I know about the Savage 29
 
I have one with an old little scope on it, Mine is the octagon barrel and it is dang accurate.
We shoot shotgun shells with it at the 50 yard line, And usually hit them pretty regularly!
If it's in the 2-250 range it would be a good plinker if you like the older .22s as I do.
Peter
 
Yes, I think I'll make a move on it. I like the looks of it, and I think it will fit right in with my collection of .22 rifles....


Now, if I could only find a Winchester Model 61....
 
They are fine little rifles, if the price is right- and the price is key.

IMHO, $300 should be top dollar for a nearly new example.

Quite a bit less for one with wear, but I've seen worn out ones priced at $600! I call tactics like that, "fishing (for a sucker)" :mad:

I haven't looked at the auctions for these, so my opinions might be low, but you can pay a bit more and get a Remington 12 or more still and get a clean Winchester.
 
Saw one in a gun store about six months ago. About 100 miles from my house. It was in very good shape. Did not look at barrel. They wanted $180.00 for it. Had never seen one before. Came home and talked to a very knowledgeable local gun dealer about it. He was very enthusiastic about them. Told me if I got it for $180.00 and did not like it, he would pay me the $180.00 and sales tax for it. Made a special trip back to get it. Of course it was gone. Have been looking at them ever since. Not a lot of them around. Saw one at a gun show, NIB with tags and paper work. Guy was asking $500.00. Did not want one that bad. Have seen several for $250.00 or more. Not in as good of condition as the one I missed. Every one I have talked to likes them. One guy told me they were not considered as nice as Winchester or Remington .22 pumps when they were made, but people that wanted a good rifle that was not as expensive bought them. If I ever see another one in that shape, at that price I will buy it. I thought it looked good but was not sure. I should have trusted my instincts.
 
The nice thing is that they will handle .22 shorts just fine for backyard pests as well as using the regular long rifle cartridges. I have an octagon barrel version that isn't too cherry, but it shoots just fine.

Myron
 
I have a Rem 12A and I prefer shooting the Savage 29.
Lets keep in mind that I have nearly 2 dozed old .22s.
My absolute favorites is a well worn Marlin 39A from the early 50s.
But the Savage 29 is up there as a favorite shooter.
pr2.jpg

It's the second one in from the left.
Sorry, I have no good pics of it.
And unfortunately several more have made homes here that are not in pic.

Peter
 
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The pre-war guns had cast receivers. Don't recall if the post war guns did or not. If you frequent enough gunshows & shops you've probably seen the brilliant purple/red color of a hot salt reblued cast receiver Savage 22 pump.
I have a Meriden Arms made and marked version around here somewhere. Meriden went under in 1918 so the design has been around for a while. Meriden used Savage patents for this and a pump 12ga shotgun also. The Savage shotgun pat. is from 1912 IIRC and I don't think Savage ever produced the gun after Meriden folded.

The cast receiver can wear out quicker than a forged one. I've seen some that have but I'd gather it was an awful lot of use and at least some abuse and poor maintainance with corrosive ammo of the times that contributed to it.

They are sleek classic 22 pumps and if in good condition make nice shooters. Critical parts can be hard to come by if you need them. Unless it's something really special like NIB with papers, etc, they should be bought for less than a comparable Rem or Win of the same era.
 
This one is as new condtion as one could expect for a rifle made in the Fiftys. The shop that has it is known for high quality stuff, he also has an octagon barrel one but he says he'll hang on to that one. Price is $350, I'm going to put a dposit on it this morning, and go ahead and get it.

Another thing about this shop, he'll let you step out back and try it before you buy it with old rifles. He has a dirt pile out back where he test fires rifles.

I bought a Winchester Model 62A from him a while a go, He gave me a good deal on it.
 
Any idea where the model #25 falls in with the 29?It seems that the 25 is a lot harder to find out much about.
 
I can tell you what the ancient 'Gun Traders Guide' says about the Model 25.

Takedown, Hammerless, caliber .22 short(20rds),longs(17rds),Long Rifle(15rds)

weighs about 5 3/4 pounds, 24" octagon barrel, open rear/blade front sights,

Plain pistol grip stock, grooved slide handle, Made 1925-29, value $325

This is from a 1998 published Gun Traders Guide. Ain't got any pictures of the Model 25, but sounds about like the Model 29 which would seem to be the 25's replacement.
 
Just a word of caution about cleaning a model 29:
There is a 1/4 inch ball bearing that controls the cartridge feed. If you drop the bearing and it rolls into neverland, several cartridges will spill into the action when you operate the slide. Just replace the steel ball and everything will be OK again.
Happened to me, and the gun set un-useable for several years. The 'smith that I took it to couldn't figure it out!

Myron
 
The Model 25 looks almost identicle to the Model 29A but is a different gun inside and the parts won't interchange.
The Model 25 was discontinued in the late 1920's and the Model 29 was brought out which was a slightly updated Model 25 , but not the rifle the original poster asked about.

This Model 29 was dropped after a couple of years and the Model 29A was brought out about 1932/33. Different mechanics inside, but again they all look much the same from the outside.

They all kinda look the same:
Model 25...pre WW1 pat... mid to late 20's
Model 29...updated Model 25,,1930 to 1933(?)
Model 29A, 29B....complete redesigned mechanism..1933(?) to 50's/60's. 29A-smooth top recv'r,,29B grooved recv'r.(I think I got that right!)

added.....a few 29B models are marked '29G' for some reason (grooved?). No difference in the two other than the marking.
Lots of small variations through the years as typical of Savage mfg.
 
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Being in "as new" condition I would certainly buy it. You don't see them in that condition often and it is a little different seeing the gun in person compared to pictures on an auction.
Ed
 
I put some money down to hold the rifle for thirty days, then went to the gun show today and sold some "Ho-Hum" stuff, so I'll go by and pick it up tomorrrow. Also bought a Savage Model 5 target rifle with a Lyman tangient sight at the show for $115, so I'm feeling kind of lucky. Here's some pics of the Savage Model 5:

1.jpg


2.jpg


Shot a few rounds through it in my back yard when I got home, some .22 long rifles and CB shorts, works good and looks to have promising accuracy. I'll take it to the range tomorrow and give it a thorough range test, along with the Savage Model 29.

My back yard range consists of shooting into a box packed tightly with paper, and we have a large field behind the house in case I miss my back stop. I shoot from inside the garage using mostly CB shorts so as not to annoy the neighbors...

Now, if my luck holds, I'll find that Winchester Model 21!
 
mountaingun629 said:
Just a word of caution about cleaning a model 29:
There is a 1/4 inch ball bearing that controls the cartridge feed. If you drop the bearing and it rolls into neverland, several cartridges will spill into the action when you operate the slide. Just replace the steel ball and everything will be OK again.
Happened to me, and the gun set un-useable for several years. The 'smith that I took it to couldn't figure it out!

Myron
Click to expand...

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I have a model 29 that was my Grandfathers, my Mothers and now mine. I shot it some(close to forty years ago). The last time I shot it, when I took it apart to clean I noticed the firing pin was broken. So I put it away(for forty years).
This winter I took it to the local gunsmith to replace/make a new firing pin. He ordered the part. I took a couple of months for it to arrive...
When he replaced the firing pin, he ran into the same issue you described. All of the rounds spill into the action when pumping a new round. He found a very fuzzy diagram online that showed a ball bearing but doesn't say where it goes. I guess I didn't see it fall out when I took it apart many many years ago. The diagram shows multiple options for what I assume would be the Model 20, 20A & 29B so I wasn't so sure the ball was originally in my rifle(but now I know it is)
The gunsmith couldn't figure out where it is supposed to fit. He let me come into his shop and see if I could figure it out as it was frustrating him. In the three hours(over two different days) I spent playing around with it I couldn't figure it out either.

I have it back at my house now. My question is, can you(or any other member) explain or post a photo or two of exactly where that ball is supposed to fit? It would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks for any help and have a great day!
Bob
 
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