Savage 840 series e

[Dieselcamino]

Hey guys, year ago I inherited my grandfathers 840 series e in .222 and I'm just now going through a full restoration with it, looking to get a little more info in it (mainly the year it was made) everything I read online these came around in the late 70s 80s but I have picture from old hunts with it being held back into the early 60s. Doesnt quite add up.

The serial number on it (assuming it's the serial number, located under the scope mount) is 5507859. And the barrel reads " savage arms Westfield mass usa, springfield model 840 series E. Proof tested caliber 222 rem.

And on the base of the barrel is a "50" in an oval and a "20" in an oval along with "sp7"

Any info is appreciated, thanks

[Mad Dog]

They omitted the date codes O and Q from the stamps so they wouldn't be confusing, are you sure that the O isn't a D or a G?

[Dieselcamino]

It's hard to say since neither the "50" or "20" were stamped very well its may be a "5d" and a "2u" not sure how to upload pictures yet

[J.Baker]

The Westfield, Mass. barrel stamp makes it 1960 or newer as that's when Savage moved their factory from Chicoppee Falls to Westfield. Lack of a letter prefix also tells me it was made before Nov. 1, 1968 when the Gun Control Act of 1968 went into effect as that's when Savage started using the letter prefix to differentiate between those guns made before and after the law went into effect.