Savage 29A

[CZU]

I missed out on a really nice Savage 29A 10-15 years ago. It had fancy wood and was also lightly engraved, I guess it would have been a deluxe model or a special order. Anyway, it was one of those "I'll think about it" moments and as many of you know that was a big mistake. It was gone when I had made up my mind that I really needed that .22.

This 29A showed up a couple weeks ago at the lgs. (They had a Japanese Browning SA22 that the owner of the Savage traded it in on). As you can tell from the pics, this one was used pretty hard and externally it shows it. I won't go as far as saying it was abused, it was just treated as a tool. Mechanically, it was taken care of, the bore is shiny and the action is tight. I just wish it was more visually appealing. Best I can tell it was made somewhere around 1940.

 

[kev74]

Very nice!

There's nothing wrong with signs of use on a rifle that's been used. I like it!!

 

[TJm15.38]

That's a great looking old Savage .22. Nothing like the classic look of wood and steel. Everything is plastic these days. I have always wanted a Savage 99 in .300 Savage. They are few and far between as well as expensive when you can find one.

 

[maxfam]

Very nice, a friend has a model 29 with the octagon barrel and he knows I want it.

 

[2152hq]

Great .22 rifle!
Usually very accurate and no worry about using .22HV ammo in the 29A or 29B. The 29B is the same rifle but has either the grooved top of the recv'r or the left side factory D&T'd for scope.

The Earlier Savage/Stevens .22pumps are .22StdVel ammo only .
Even though some of the later models were factory upgraded with a 'High-Speed Bolt' . That upgrade really did little to strengthen the action but did support the head of the shell casing better when being fired.

I like the Savage/Stevens pumps.
I have a 1909, 1914, 30S(Model 29S(Deluxe) , 29A and 29B.
The 1909 (and 1903) use a detachable box mag.
The Model 29 though name & looks in common with the later 29A & B is a completely different rifle inside.
Mine is a House Brand (Ranger) Deluxe version with factory tang site and 2 leaf fold down bbl sight.

I had plans on making a 'Deluxe' out of my 1914 Model. But so far have just been that,,ideas and plans. Most everything is on hold right now.
Something along the lines of the Meriden upgrade I did a while ago but that already had deluxe wood.

 

[Inland7-45]

I have had one of these for a very long time. The are well made accurate and fun to shoot. Nice workmanship and materials.

 

[The Kid]

Beautiful little rifle with enough wear you shouldn’t be afraid to shoot it or take it squirrel or rabbit hunting.

You mention the wear and evidence of it being used like a tool. My Great Grandad had one that was a rebranded Sears “Ranger” that he used for half a century or more. Much of its time was spent standing behind the door in the barn or behind the seat of his pickup. No telling how many rabbits, squirrels, chicken hawks, skunks, coons, opossums and whatever else it accounted for. I know my Grandad talks about them head shooting quail in the edge of the cotton field with it.

As you might guess it had NO finish left. It got stuck in a closet in the 80’s when the firing pin broke and another couldn’t be located. Eventually when I was in trade school I found one and got it shooting again. Even with a pretty dark bore it was not much trouble to keep a can rolling out to 50 yards or more. Neat little guns.

 

[Miracle Man]

Nothing at all wrong with the patina and wear on those era guns. They're from a time when many were used to put food on the table. They wear their marks with pride.

Great find, congrats