Savage Arms

Savage Arms
Subsidiaries
Industry Firearms
Founded 1894 (1894)
Headquarters Westfield, MA
Products Rifles, Shotguns
Parent Vista Outdoor
Website Savage Arms

The Savage Arms Company is a firearms manufacturing company based in Westfield, Massachusetts, with a division located in Canada. The company makes a variety of rimfire and centerfire rifles, as well as marketing the Stevens single-shot rifles and shotguns. The company is best known for the Model 99 lever-action rifle, no longer in production, and the .300 Savage.

History

Savage Arms Company - Utica, New York - 1904
Savage Arms Company - Rifles - Utica, New York - 1904

Savage Arms was founded in 1894 by Arthur Savage in Utica, New York. Within 20 years they were producing rifles, handguns, and ammunition.[1] Savage introduced the first hammerless lever-action rifle, the Model 1895, derived from Arthur Savage's Model 1892 rifle that he had designed for Colt in a failed bid for a US Army rifle contract that instead was won by the Krag–Jørgensen design.[2] The Model 1895 won a New York National Guard contract, but the contract was cancelled due to political controversy.[3] The Model 1895 was developed into the even more successful Model 1899, later renamed Model 99, which remained in production until 1998.

Savage was one of six companies to participate in the US Army trials for a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, and was named one of the two finalists before losing out to Colt's design, which would become the M1911 pistol. Savage marketed a series of .32 and .380 caliber pocket pistols, the Models 1907, 1915, and 1917 based on the same patents as their .45 caliber prototype.

Savage merged with the Driggs-Seabury Ordnance Company during World War I and produced Lewis machine guns at Driggs-Seabury's former plant in Sharon, Pennsylvania.[1] Savage also produced Model 1899 muskets for the Montreal Home Guard during World War I.[4]

In 1919, Arthur Savage was approached by Chief Lame Deer to buy rifles for his tribe in New York. Lame Deer offered to allow Savage to use his image as its logo in exchange for discounted rifles and an annual fee. As of 2018, Savage Arms was still paying the annual fee.[5]

In 1920 Savage bought Stevens Arms of Chicopee Falls, MA. In July 1921, a mortgage securing five promissory notes, each for $21,416 were filed in the County Clerk's office in Utica showing that the Savage Arms Corporation had purchased a "number of buildings erected by the government" during World War I for the purpose of enlarging the output of Lewis machine guns at the plant. The buildings included two large four-story brick structures, five large storage sheds and one office building, a concrete mill building, steel storage building, power extension plant, shooting gallery and steel water tank with a capacity of 100,000 gallons. The notes were due in 1927.[6] In 1929 Savage acquired the A.H. Fox Gun company of Philadelphia and moved production to Utica.[7]

In 1939, Savage introduced the Model 24 combination gun (a configuration uncommon in the U.S.), which sold over a million copies.[8] Savage was one of the few American makers of affordable double-barrel shotguns including the Fox Sterlingworth, Fox Model B, and Stevens Model 311 and produced rifles and shotguns under house brand names for large store chains.[9] From 1930 to 1949 Savage produced the Browning Auto-5 under license from Browning.

Second World War

WWII propaganda poster from the War Production Board praising Savage ca. 1942-1943

During World War II, Savage turned again to military production, making heavy munitions. Savage made most of the Thompson submachine guns used in World War II. Savage also produced the British No. 4 Lee–Enfield bolt-action rifle; though marked "U.S. PROPERTY", these rifles were never used by the US military and were instead sent to Britain under the Lend-Lease program. As quality wood was earmarked for military gun stock production, Savage produced some Model 24 .22/.410 combo guns and Model 94 single barrel shotguns with stocks molded from Tenite plastic. After the war, it produced the first motorized lawnmower.[1][9]

Post-war

The company was run by a variety of owners from the 1960s to the 1980s. Savage eventually ran into financial trouble in 1988 and filed for bankruptcy protection.[1] Production was then reduced to the basic Model 110 bolt-action rifle. A turn-around began in 1995 with the company returning to private ownership, led by Ronald Coburn, previously of Smith & Wesson.

21st century

In 2002, the company started selling a factory-installed, safe, user-adjustable trigger, called the AccuTrigger. The AccuStock, an aluminum stock embedded rail system to further enhance action stability and accuracy, was introduced by Savage in 2009.[10] This new technology is now available on several of their models.

Savage was named the Manufacturer of the Year by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence in 2003.[1]

The Savage 93R17 BTVS was awarded the "Best New Rifle" in the "Best of the Best" presentation by Shooting Times, Sporting Gun, and Shooting Gazette magazines May 15, 2007, at the E. J. Churchill Shooting School in the U.K.

Ron Coburn, then chairman and CEO of Savage Sports Corporation was honored by SHOT Business Magazine and Time4Media outdoor media group as their "2007 Man of the Year". On February 5, 2013, Coburn announced that he was stepping down after a 25-year tenure as chairman and CEO of Savage Sports Corporation.[11] On February 6, 2013, Savage Sports announced the appointment of Ron Johnson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Johnson most recently served as President of the Sporting Group within Alliant Techsystems ("ATK").

Vista Outdoor markets firearm accessories and ammunition under brands that include Weaver Optics, Federal Premium, Speer Ammo and Blazer.[11] ATK, the predecessor of Vista Outdoor, announced the purchase of Savage for $315 million on May 13, 2013. With the purchase, Johnson remained with Bowtech, who was not part of the sale, and Al Kasper began tenure as CEO.[12]

Savage maintains its headquarters in Westfield, Massachusetts in the United States. The company also manufactures .22LR rimfire rifles in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. This began after Savage acquired Lakefield Arms.

Defense contractor ATK, also known as Alliant Techsystems, bought Savage Sports Corporation for $315 million in 2015. ATK spun off a bunch of its outdoor brands into Vista Outdoor in 2015.

As of July 2018, Vista Outdoor is attempting to sell Savage Arms as part of a larger restructuring. Vista Outdoor said that expanding Savage's offerings to include handguns was too expensive. Vista Outdoor plans to complete the sale by the end of its 2020 fiscal year. As of 2018, Savage Arms' sales made up just 7% of Vista Outdoor's overall business.[13]

As of May 2018, Savage Arms had 367 workers at its factory in Westfield, Massachusetts.[9]

Current products

Shotguns

In 2016, Savage arms introduced the Model 42 Takedown shotgun. The Model 42 Takedown is a combination .22 caliber LR/WMR and .410 caliber shotgun. It breaks down via one-button, one-push mechanism. The top barrel fires rife ammunition while the bottom barrel is for shotgun shells. The lower barrel measures 20" long and is chambered for 3" allowing the use of both 3" and 2.5" birdshot, slugs, and self-defense rounds. The rifle barrel on top has open sights.[14]

The S1200 is the first semi-automatic shotgun marketed under the Stevens brand. The S1200 uses an inertia-driven action that uses to recoil force of the gun to cycle shells. The S1200 weights 6.8 pounds. Options for 26-inch and 28-inch barrels are available.[15]

As of 2018, Savage sold the 212 (12 gauge) and 220 (20 gauge) model shotguns. These models can be fired accurately at ranges up to 200 yards. This accuracy is mostly due to their bolt-action design. These models use Savage's AccuTrigger system to customize trigger pull weight. These models are specifically designed for firing shotgun slugs.[16]

Rimfire rifles

Model 64

The Model 64 series is a semi-automatic .22 LR rifle made in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. It operates on a simple blowback action. It is targeted towards beginning shooters, small game hunters, and budget minded plinking. It is one of the most popular plinkers in the United States due to high accuracy, being chambered in cheap, common, and readily available .22 Long Rifle, and the low price. It is unusual among semiautomatic 22s, and traditional (non-bullpup) semiautomatic rifles in general, in that it is available in a true left handed version (left handed safety, charging handle, and ejector).

A Series

The A Series is a new family of semi-automatic rimfire rifles aimed to replace/compete with the ageing Model 64 series.

  • A17
The A17 is a semi-automatic rimfire rifle that uses .17 HMR ammunition. CCI, another Vista Outdoor subsidiary, specially engineered ammunition for the A17 in cooperation with Savage in order to overcome safety problems associated with small caliber rimfire ammunition being used in semi-automatic weapons. It uses Savage's unique user-adjustable AccuTrigger system that allows the pressure need to affect a trigger pull to be changed. The safety blocks both the hammer and trigger, and locks the bolt open when depressed. In an American Rifleman review, Mark Keefe praised the A17, which Savage designed around the .17 HMR, rather than adapting a rifle to it, while also remaining competitively priced.[17]
In early 2016, Savage released the A17 Sporter, A17 Target Sporter, and A17 Target Sporter Thumbhole variants. The Sporter and Target Sporter have heavy barrels and gray wood-laminate stocks. The Thumbhole has a heavy fluted barrel and a gray wood-laminate thumbhole stock.[18] The A17 was named Rifle of the Year in the NRA Publications' 2016 Golden Bullseye Awards.[19]
  • A22
The A22 is a semi-automatic rimfire rifle that uses the .22 Long Rifle ammunition. It comes with a 10-round rotary magazine and uses Savage's patented AccuTrigger. The standard model A22 comes with a 21" carbon steel barrel with iron sights, but also comes with sightless 22" stainless steel barrel (FSS) or 22" carbon steel varmint barrel (Pro Varmint or Target Thumbhole).
  • A22 Magnum
The A22 Magnum is a semi-automatic rimfire rifle with a design similar to the A17, but using .22 WMR ammunition. It comes with a 10-round rotary magazine, a steel receiver, and Savage's user-adjustable AccuTrigger for changing trigger pull weight.[20]

B Series

The B Series is a new family of bolt-action rimfire rifles aimed to replace the Mark II series.

  • B17
  • B22
  • B22 Magnum

Bolt-action rifles

Model 110

The Model 110 is a repeating bolt-action rifle. The Model 110 was designed by Nicholas L. Brewer in 1958 and was patented posthumously in 1963. It has been in continuous production since that time, and with the closing of Winchester's New Haven, Connecticut, plant in 2007, the Model 110 has passed the Winchester Model 70 as the oldest continuously manufactured bolt-action rifle in America.

In 2018, Savage released the Model 110 Tactical variant. It can be chambered in .308 Winchester, 6.5mm Creedmoor, and 6mm Creedmoor. The Tactical variant includes Savage's AccuFit system allowing shooters to customize the comb height and length-of-pull.[21]

Model 10FP and Model 110FP

The Savage 10FP is a bolt-action rifle based on the Model 110 rifle. There are seven variants of this rifle, each designated with an "LE" code signifying that it is part of the Law Enforcement Series. Most 10FP series rifles are configured with AccuTrigger, matte-blued barreled action, heavy free-floating and button-rifled barrel, oversized bolt handle, an internal box magazine (holding 4 rounds), and three swivel studs for sling and bipod mounting. The Savage 10FP is similar to the Savage 110FP rifle and differ only in the action lengths and in the calibers used. The 10FP is"short action," using cartridges similar in length to the .308 Winchester. The 110FP is considered a "long action," meaning it uses cartridges similar in length to the .30-06 Springfield. Both are bolt-action, rotating bolt rifles, with dual-lug bolts and integral, non-detachable magazines, and both are available in left-handed models.

Model 10/110

The Predator Hunter Max 1 has a fluted carbon steel barrel and synthetic stock finished in a camouflage pattern. It comes in variants chambered with .204 Ruger, 22-250 Remington, .223 Remington, .243 Remington, .260 Remington, and 6.5 Creedmoor. All variants have a 24-inch barrels, except the .223 which has a 22-inch barrel. Accustock, AccuTrigger, a soft rubber recoil pad, a three-position safety, and a four-round magazine are all included.[22]

Model 11/111

The Hog Hunter variant is a bolt-action rifle designed for hunting wild boar. It is a variant of the Model 11/111 design. Models are available for short-action .223 Remington and .308 Winchester and long-action .338 Winchester Magnum cartridges. It has a 20-inch, medium-contour, heavy barrel with a threaded end. The Hog Hunter comes standard with v-notch iron sights. The AccuTrigger allows the shooter to adjust the strength required for a trigger pull. The Hog Hunter weighs about seven pounds.[23]

The Long Ranger Hunter variant is available chambered in .260 Remington, .300 Winchester, .338 Federal, .338 Lapua Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 x .284 Norma, and 7mm Remington. All versions except the Lapua Magnum have 26-inch carbon steel barrels with an adjustable muzzle brake, which can be twisted open or closed. Except for the .338 Lapua Magnum, each version has hinged metal floorplates. The Lapua Magnum has a fixed muzzle brake and a detachable box magazine. The receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting a scope. AccuStock and AccuTrigger come standard. The weight of the Long Range Hunter varies from 8.4 pounds to 9.25 pounds depending on how it is chambered.[22]

Other variants

The Model 112 Magnum Target rifle is a single-shot bolt-action rifle for long-range shooters. It chambers 338 Lapua Magnum cartridges. It is built around the Magnum Target Action, has a pillar-bedded 26-inch heavy barrel, and uses the Target AccuTrigger system for adjusting the amount of force necessary to affect a trigger pull. The Target AccuTrigger can be adjuster by the shooter to require a pull as low as six ounces. The Model 112 weights 12 pounds and is 49.8 inches long.[24]

The Lightweight Hunter weighs only 5.65 pounds. Savage achieved this weight by using a light-contour 20-inch barrel, spiral-fluting the bolt, and machining excess metal from the receiver. Weight is also saved by using a polymer detachable four-round box magazine. Variants are available in .223 Remington, .243 Remington, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and 7mm-08 Remington. The barrel has a matte-finish. The stock is synthetic and black-colored. The total length of the rifle is 40.25 inches. AccuTrigger is included.[22]

The Model 116 has variants chambered for .338 Winchester and .375 Ruger. It has a 20-inch stainless steel barrel and a stainless action The receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting a scope. It comes standard with adjustable LPA open sights. The stock is a black polymer. The bolt hand is oversized so that it can be used while wearing gloves. An internal box magazine holds three rounds. The overall length of the rifle is 41.5 inches. It weighs 7.6 pounds. Savage's standard three-position safety and AccuTrigger system come standard.[22]

The BA Stealth was named one of American Hunter's "Top New Rifles" for 2016. The BA Stealth can be chambered in .308 Winchester. It has a solid aluminum chassis and an adjustable polymer stock. It includes the AccuTrigger system.[25] The Axis II XP Stainless is bolt-action hunting rifle with a stainless barreled action and a bore-sighted Weaver scope. It is made in eight common calibers. It includes AccuTrigger. It was named one of American Hunter's "Top New Rifles" for 2016.[25]

Left-handed firearms

Speciality guns are the primary focus of Savage Arms' business. All of its product offerings fulfill a special need. Weapons designed for left-handed shooters are a good example of this. Savage Arms sells 18 different firearms for left-handed shooters with products designed for big game, law enforcement, target competition and predator hunting, including left-handed slug shotguns and bolt-action and semi-auto rimfire rifles. Savage generally releases its products as right-handed models with a left-handed version to follow a few years later. Models not available with a stock left-handed version can usually be made to order. Savage is able to convert most of its products to left-handed versions because most of its receivers, bolt releases, and safeties are designed symmetrically. Savage is able to easily convert its products' designs by changing the bolt assembly and moving the ejection port to the opposite side but most its competitors have to design completely new receivers. Savage's machine tools are likewise setup to quickly and easily switch from producing right-handed products to left-handed ones and back again.[26]

Discontinued products

Since Savage is one of the older American arms companies still in commercial production, it would be difficult to list the number of models no longer in production made by Savage under its own name and under tradenames for retail outlets. Those most notable and still in wide use today include:

Exports from Canada

According to company officials, the Canadian division of Savage Arms exports 97 percent of its rifles, mostly to the U.S, as of 1997.[28]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Savage Arms: the definition of accuracy: from riches to rags to honors," by Carolee Anita Boyles, Shooting Industry, September 2003
  2. ↑ Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. pp. 189–190. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  3. ↑ Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. pp. 190–194. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  4. ↑ Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. p. 202. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  5. ↑ Henderson, Dave (2 August 2018). "Dave Henderson Outdoors: Busy mailbag about Savage Arms, firearms and more". Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin. USA Today. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  6. ↑ "Cradle of Syracuse Industries". Syracuse Journal. Syracuse, New York. July 23, 1921.
  7. ↑ https://shootingsportsman.com/savage-fox-grade/
  8. ↑ Harold Murtz. Gun Digest Treasury (DBI Books, 1994), p.197
  9. 1 2 3 Kinney, Jim (26 May 2018). "Savage Arms in Westfield for sale in corporate restructuring". Mass Live.
  10. ↑ "AccuStock, Big News from Savage Arms for 2009" Randy Wakeman, chuckhawk.com
  11. 1 2 "SavageArms.com". Savage CEO Ron Coburn Announces Retirement. Retrieved 8 Feb 2013.
  12. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-06-08. Retrieved 2013-07-09.
  13. ↑ Kinney, Jim (26 May 2018). "Savage Arms in Westfield for sale in corporate restructuring". Mass Live. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Case, Larry (20 July 2018). "5 Best Slug Gun Options Ready For Deer Season". Gun Digest. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  17. ↑ Keefe, Mark (22 September 2015). The Daily Caller. Washington, DC http://dailycaller.com/2015/09/22/gun-test-savage-a17-rimfire-rifle/#ixzz3o6JNjBGU. Retrieved 9 October 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  18. ↑
  19. ↑
  20. ↑
  21. ↑ Billings, Jacki (18 June 2018). "Savage expands Model 110 lineup with new Tactical variant". Guns.com. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  22. 1 2 3 4 Dickerson, Mike (April 2016). "Savage Speciality Series Rifles". Gun World. United States.
  23. ↑ C, Andy (5 January 2015). "Gun Review: Savage Arms Hog Hunter". Guns.com. United States. Retrieved 13 October 2015.
  24. ↑ Law Officer. United States. 30 June 2015 http://www.lawofficer.com/articles/2015/06/savage-arms-introduces-magnum-target-rifle-in-338-lapua-magnum.html. Retrieved 13 October 2015. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  25. 1 2
  26. ↑ Stakes, Justin (17 August 2015). "Left-Hand Forward". Ammoland. United States. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  27. ↑ Smith (1973), p.270.
  28. ↑ Testimony of Barrie King, Vice-President and General Manager, to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs, November 24, 1997.
  • Smith, Joseph E. (1973). Small Arms Of The World (10th Revised Edition). Harrisburg PA (USA): Stackpole Books. ISBN 0-88365-155-6.
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