rare find. savage mk 1 research and developement rifle

[T-20E]

my girlfriends dad sold me a 22lr rifle that he believes is a research and development model of the mk 1. I have no idea what It is but it does have the savage info on it and it does have a weird marking on it where the barrel meets the receiver as well as a R D 91 stamped on the receiver. if you think you can help identify this as a real or fake savage gun please let me know I really want to know if it is a real research and development gun and if so how much is it potentially worth. thank you.

[plinkin]

my girlfriends dad sold me a 22lr rifle that he believes is a research and development model of the mk 1. I have no idea what It is but it does have the savage info on it and it does have a weird marking on it where the barrel meets the receiver as well as a R D 91 stamped on the receiver. if you think you can help identify this as a real or fake savage gun please let me know I really want to know if it is a real research and development gun and if so how much is it potentially worth. thank you.

:welcome:
Pictures Please

[T-20E]

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10030_zpsbb5b1fd8.jpghttp://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10036_zps9d9df1d5.jpghttp://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10033_zps4ea47c6b.jpghttp://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10037_zpse38a12fa.jpghttp://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10034_zps502b232a.jpghttp://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10031_zpsb30a283b.jpg

[T-20E]

everything on it is original except for the sling. that he added. and only 3 shots were fired from that rifle that I know of.(but during research and development there could have been numerous rounds shot threw the barrel.)

[plinkin]

When you get a chance you should really post up some pictures. I am sure I am not the only one wanting to see them.

[T-20E]

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10030_zpsbb5b1fd8.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10033_zps4ea47c6b.jpg

[T-20E]

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10034_zps502b232a.jpg
http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10031_zpsb30a283b.jpg

[T-20E]

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10037_zpse38a12fa.jpghttp://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b614/andrewperusse/SDC10034_zps502b232a.jpg

[plinkin]

Does this cock when opening the bolt or by pulling on the back of the bolt?

[sharpshooter]

First of all...this is not a MKI, or a MKII or any variation of one. I'm not sure of the model, but it was made prior to 1988 at the Westfield plant. All of the MKI's and MKII's are made in Canada. The RD 97 is nothing more than an inspector and assemblers #.

[T-20E]

opening the bolt

[T-20E]

then wouldn't there be a serial number on the rifle?

[T-20E]

there is no serial number and no caliber stamp on the rifle.

[plinkin]

there is no serial number and no caliber stamp on the rifle.

Someone correct me if I am wrong, they didn't have to serialize until 1968, before that it was voluntary.

[stangfish]

Looks like a 19 that had better sights(Anschutz?) and upgraded bolt.

[Nor Cal Mikie]

Maybe someone should clue T-20E into who Sharpshooter is and that he just might know what he's talking about? Sure would eliminate a lot of specclation?

[plinkin]

Might as well clue me in too because I haven't a clue.

[JG26_Irish]

The (SP) marks on the bbl and receiver appear to be the machinist hallmark which identify who worked on those components. Would Savage have imprinted the barrel with the company name and plant location for an R&D gun? It sure is a nice piece.

Irish

[J.Baker]

sharpshooter = Fred Moreo of Sharp Shooter Supply

That said, I think Fred's half right - it's not a MkI/II, or at least not anything remotely close to the production MkI/II. My catalogs are all boxed up somewhere right now due to a remodel so I can't pinpoint the specific year, but Savage didn't buy Lakefield Arms until sometime in the early-mid 1990's so a 1991 development rifle made in Westfield is quite possible (assuming Savage was looking at making an all new design before they started looking at buying Lakefield). Savage moved into the Westfield plant around 1960 so it could be a lot older than you think.

I have seen several other "R&D" Savages listed on Gun Broker over the years, but never have I seen one hand stamped "R D" with the year. Also, I can't make out what's in the circled stamp before the "R D" but it appears to be "SS" maybe? Savage jokingly refers to their R&D workshop as the "Savage Skunkworks" but I highly doubt they made up a special stamp for firearms developed there and would then also stamp them with an "R D" as well - it's just kind of redundant.

The circled "SP" stamp is the barrels proof stamp (Savage Proof) which just indicates the barrel was proof tested. Now why they stamped both the barrel and the receiver is a little puzzling, but maybe they were breaking in a new guy who stamped it in the wrong place the first time around. *shrug*

The safety is definitely not of the MkI/II style, nor is the rear of the bolt (that thing is about as fugly as the rear of the new B-Mag bolt). The sight wouldn't have been a factory installed piece unless it was built from the mid 1960's through 1980/81 when Savage was the official U.S. importer for Anschutz. My guess is that it's an owner installed sight - especially if it really was made in the 1990's (which I highly doubt).

Given the lack of a serial number I'm guessing this is a pre-1968 gun. Any firearm made post-1968 that ever leaves the factory has to be issued a serial number under federal law - even an R&D guns. That includes leaving the factory for range testing and evaluation by the engineering staff.

[sharpshooter]

Any gun they use for testing, research and proof of concept, use a serial # with a QA prefix.