Early 110 in .308 - stamped 11J

[huntsman]

I was searching for a well used 110 in order to build a custom rifle and came across a beautiful early 110 in .308 Winchester. This particular rifle is just too nice to break down and customize, the stock is a beautiful piece of Black Walnut, and the finish shows the owner took excellent care of his firearms. It's going to remain original.

According to everything I've been able to find on the 'net indicates this rifle was made in 1958 - it's stamped 11J in the oval inspectors mark. It's a true short action according to all the measurements with a serial number of 121xx - wondering if I have one of the first short action 110's in .308. My understanding is that the short action came out in 1959 not 1958...

A few pics:

http://i.imgur.com/WeIgaa0.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/1p1Okpo.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/bYKLqCE.jpg

Ignore the scope and rings, this was all I had in the parts bin and I needed something on there to shoot with. It will soon be replaced with a Weaver V7 and a set of pivot rings for a more aesthetic look. I like vintage, the smoother more graceful lines appeal to me more than the sharp and abrupt angles that seem to be the latest trend. To each their own.

This rifle likes 42gr of IMR4320 topped with a 150gr Sierra GK SBT in once fired military brass, it shot .78" @ 100 yards this past Sunday (Easter) in a 12mph cross wind. It does not like the Hornady A-Max in 150gr for some particular reason, not a big concern as I'm partial to the Sierra line for deer hunting. Once the new/old scope is mounted, its back to the range for some more load testing with the monolithic copper bullets.

[sharpshooter]

The 110 short actions didn't come out until 1960.

[Fireball]

I was searching for a well used 110 in order to build a custom rifle and came across a beautiful early 110 in .308 Winchester. This particular rifle is just too nice to break down and customize, the stock is a beautiful piece of Black Walnut, and the finish shows the owner took excellent care of his firearms. It's going to remain original.

According to everything I've been able to find on the 'net indicates this rifle was made in 1958 - it's stamped 11J in the oval inspectors mark. It's a true short action according to all the measurements with a serial number of 121xx - wondering if I have one of the first short action 110's in .308. My understanding is that the short action came out in 1959 not 1958...

I'll post some pics soon.

That one is on my list. Have an early 243 and 270, and a 1965 22-250 restocked to look 1958-9. Have never seen a 308, let alone a nice one. Any chance of letting it go?

[huntsman]

The 110 short actions didn't come out until 1960.


Has the letter "J" in the inspectors mark been authoritatively proven to indicate a YOM of 1958?

[huntsman]

That one is on my list. Have an early 243 and 270, and a 1965 22-250 restocked to look 1958-9. Have never seen a 308, let alone a nice one. Any chance of letting it go?

I'll hold on to it for a while. It's a very interesting rifle, with a short LOP for the wife & kids. I like the Winchester Model 88's and 100's for the very same reason - lots of character and fits a smaller bodied adult very well.

[J.Baker]

Savage didn't offer the .308 Win in the 110's until 1960 as Fred noted. The date stamp does however indicate 1958, and I suspect the serial number does as well given I have record of Joe dating a 110 with s/n 14199 to 1960. Savage was offering the .308 Win in the Model 99 at this time, so it's possible this rifle was a special order from the factory to get that chambering.

Best bet would be to pay the $25 to have Mr. Calhoun letter it from his records as it does appear to be somewhat of an oddity.
http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?20849-Lettering-a-vintage-Savage-firearm


I had a Model 110PEL that was manufactured from 1965-1969, but the serial number dated to 1962. The reason for the date discrepancy was because the receivers and other parts were engraved in either Germany (first year) or Japan (remaining years), and to ship them out of the country to be engraved they had to have a serial number on them.

[Mad Dog]

Not sure if JC would have very much info on that rifle, he may, I just have never seen one lettered from that era. Be interested to see what he had in the letter though.

Is the inspectors mark on the barrel or the receiver? Big difference, might just be rebarreled.

[huntsman]

The inspection stamp is on the barrel, so a rebarrel is a possibility. Did they make a .308 Winchester Long Action in 1958?

I removed the stock to give it a light cleaning and oiling, no indication of a rebarrel, but I'm no expert on these things. Not a mark on the barrel nut bluing. No rust - no abuse - looks great.

I'll send some $ off to Mr. Calhoun this week and hope he has some information on it.

[NM2011CTSV]

Interesting.

Post some pictures too. I'm new to Savage, so I would like to see what this unicorn looks like.

[Mad Dog]

If it's on the barrel then it's legit.

The 1958 catalog doesn't list the 308 as an option but the 1959 does.

I think what happened is that your gun was made in 59 with leftover parts from 58 probably right around the start of the new year, it's the only thing that can make any sense.

[huntsman]

I've updated the original post with some pics.

[huntsman]

If it's on the barrel then it's legit.

The 1958 catalog doesn't list the 308 as an option but the 1959 does.

I think what happened is that your gun was made in 59 with leftover parts from 58 probably right around the start of the new year, it's the only thing that can make any sense.

Sheer ignorance here... does a manufacturer like Savage proof a barrel and then add it to an action after proofing? My only experience with proofing is having a custom Mauser built and the gunsmith proofing the completed system.

[Mad Dog]

I've seen 99 receivers proofed a year before the serial number says it was made, I can see it happening with 110's as well.

Or vice versa, serial number in say 1955 yet a date code with 56.

[huntsman]

I've seen 99 receivers proofed a year before the serial number says it was made, I can see it happening with 110's as well.

Or vice versa, serial number in say 1955 yet a date code with 56.

So it would be safe to assume that Savage was planning the short action well in advance of 1958 - and moving towards production during 1958 since my barrel is marked as such.

Not up on the history of the design, but it is impressive, and innovative. I've already got too much stuff to fall in love with another gadget I can't live without, but those trim graceful lines have me hooked.

I suspect I'm in good company here...

[Savage99man]

I know this post is over a year old, but I had to comment.

Savage introduced the 110 in early 1958. That we can all agree on. The confusion as to when the .308 and .243 came out has been the subject of debate. Some say 1960 others say 1959.

Truth is, Savage released the 110 in .308 and .243 in September 1958. I have several ad's that verify this from 1958 sporting magazine's. I have also seen 110's in .308 with the boss code J and a serial numbers indicating 1958. As far as the .308 and .243 not being listed in the '58 catalog is because the catalog was printed before September '58.

My Grandpa had a 110 in .308 from '58 that he bought new in 1958 in Belvidere, IL. Sadly, my cousin pawned it in Rockford, IL in the mid '90's. I'd do almost anything for a '58 110 in .308.

[RC20]

Thanks for brining it back up, that is some great history.

Something I had never thought of but now on the radar is to look for Savages from that era purely as a collector and not a build.

[mbohuntr]

Just an FYI... I just let go of a 110L in .270 because the barrel could not be replaced. They originally used a bolt with the pins vertical holding the bolt face, the bolt face goes into the barrel differently and the barrel is different. I talked to Savage, and they do not have the original specs for the replacement bolt, or the barrel specs. In other words, a no go on a custom build...

[RC20]

Very interesting, we live in the Golden age (well other than that ****ed bottom release)

[huntsman]

I purchased the October 1958 issue of Field & Stream that has an advert for "the new short action .243 and .308" 110 to ensure I had empirical evidence of Savage's 1958 release of the short action.

I'll be looking for the September and earlier publications too, just to try and confirm the month of release. Does anyone have adverts from earlier than September of 1958?