I thought yall would like this. Your forum inspired me to call this my Safari rifle, a la Hemmingway.. I'll likely just hunt AZ game, but 25 or so years ago I did shoot an Oryx in NM with a .30-06. The point is I'll keep this open sights...
You win some, you lose some. It was vice-versa this time. I like old, obscure rifles including Savages. I watched then bid several times live on a Savage 23 .22 Sporter but the auctioneer gave it to an onsite bidder, even though I kept bidding. I told my buddy the next day, "I'm not too worried about it, when I miss out on a gun, usually a BETTER one appears in the next few days or weeks." It's true, there are a lot of guns out there. But I have NEVER seen a Savage with such beautiful AAA grade wood until a couple days later. I bought it immediately based on the wood, it was out of state. It arrived today. It's the big brother version of what I missed, in .30-06.
The Savage Super Sporter was a short lived economy bolt action rifle from Savage, made from 1928-1940. Previously they had come out with a mauser based action called the 1920. They were popular but more expensive, so Savage wanted to create another model for value minded hunters. Unfortunately, the Great Depression hit in 1929 and both models suffered lowered sales.
Sometime in the 12 year run Savage offered a Deluxe version, the SS model 45. They added a receiver sight, folding barrel sight, checkering. About 6,000 of those were made, this is one.
In 1928 the Super Sport's competitors cost $53 for a Remington 8A, $44 for a Winchester 54, $45 for a Savage 99, but only $29 for the base model 40 Super Sport. Within a few years the prices rose to about $35, and the model 45 was $44.
There's a lot more interesting history but that's enough for now. I was extremely pleased when I unpacked the rifle. The blueing is a fine charcoal blue, medium polish on the barrel and receiver. The stamps for "High Pressure Steel - Proof Tested" and the other marks are deep and crisp. The barrel sight is a Marbles, folds down to see through it with the rear sight, a Lyman made just for this model.
The action, personally I love the sleek look of these, along with the other Savages like the 19 and 23A. Those the entire receiver is milled out of the barrel, they are one piece of steel. In this larger brother, the barrel is turned in. It looks like a Sauer 202, but of course came generations earlier. There are 2 extractors, and the bolt action is very smooth (once I got the grease out of there). The safety is on the right side top, for your thumb, down to fire. The removable box magazine holds 3 I believe, need to load up and check! To me, the unobstructed topline, round receiver matching the barrel, and large ejection port is very clean and refined.
The wood...oh that wood! It speaks for itself. It has an original Fray-Mershon “White Line” pad, patented in 1937. I suspect that's about the year it was made. It has the later pushbutton magazine release, like a Winchester 52. It was well cared for, shot but cleaned by a previous proud owner. Back to the wood. I have not seen any Super Sports with wood like this, other than an engraved one that sold recently. I suspect it was special ordered. I will get a Savage letter to find out. Next stop - the range. This will be my classic hunting rifle, or Safari rifle I'm starting to call it.
You win some, you lose some. It was vice-versa this time. I like old, obscure rifles including Savages. I watched then bid several times live on a Savage 23 .22 Sporter but the auctioneer gave it to an onsite bidder, even though I kept bidding. I told my buddy the next day, "I'm not too worried about it, when I miss out on a gun, usually a BETTER one appears in the next few days or weeks." It's true, there are a lot of guns out there. But I have NEVER seen a Savage with such beautiful AAA grade wood until a couple days later. I bought it immediately based on the wood, it was out of state. It arrived today. It's the big brother version of what I missed, in .30-06.
The Savage Super Sporter was a short lived economy bolt action rifle from Savage, made from 1928-1940. Previously they had come out with a mauser based action called the 1920. They were popular but more expensive, so Savage wanted to create another model for value minded hunters. Unfortunately, the Great Depression hit in 1929 and both models suffered lowered sales.
Sometime in the 12 year run Savage offered a Deluxe version, the SS model 45. They added a receiver sight, folding barrel sight, checkering. About 6,000 of those were made, this is one.
In 1928 the Super Sport's competitors cost $53 for a Remington 8A, $44 for a Winchester 54, $45 for a Savage 99, but only $29 for the base model 40 Super Sport. Within a few years the prices rose to about $35, and the model 45 was $44.
There's a lot more interesting history but that's enough for now. I was extremely pleased when I unpacked the rifle. The blueing is a fine charcoal blue, medium polish on the barrel and receiver. The stamps for "High Pressure Steel - Proof Tested" and the other marks are deep and crisp. The barrel sight is a Marbles, folds down to see through it with the rear sight, a Lyman made just for this model.
The action, personally I love the sleek look of these, along with the other Savages like the 19 and 23A. Those the entire receiver is milled out of the barrel, they are one piece of steel. In this larger brother, the barrel is turned in. It looks like a Sauer 202, but of course came generations earlier. There are 2 extractors, and the bolt action is very smooth (once I got the grease out of there). The safety is on the right side top, for your thumb, down to fire. The removable box magazine holds 3 I believe, need to load up and check! To me, the unobstructed topline, round receiver matching the barrel, and large ejection port is very clean and refined.
The wood...oh that wood! It speaks for itself. It has an original Fray-Mershon “White Line” pad, patented in 1937. I suspect that's about the year it was made. It has the later pushbutton magazine release, like a Winchester 52. It was well cared for, shot but cleaned by a previous proud owner. Back to the wood. I have not seen any Super Sports with wood like this, other than an engraved one that sold recently. I suspect it was special ordered. I will get a Savage letter to find out. Next stop - the range. This will be my classic hunting rifle, or Safari rifle I'm starting to call it.
