Savage Sporter 23C 32-20

[Blueliner]

I''m trying to find out more about my Savage Sporter 23C 32-20 with a tang mounted safety, scope blocks up the barrel, peep sight, great stock, and nickel trimmings.
Best I could do is create my avatar with the rifle. Any opinions on what I may have ?
Blueliner

[Blueliner]

Savage Sporter 23C 32-20Serial # 77227 for first post
Blueliner

[Robinhood]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc5Fq1BtXmw

[Blueliner]

Thanks for the reply. Any observations on the fancy stock and nickel trim ?

[1onefish]

I am pretty sure 23Cs did not have a tang safety (it is more a thumb safety on the right side) or a fancy stock with nickel trimmings. Maybe its a "Special Grade" rifle of some sort. The stock is more of a model 45 shape. Could be a very rare rifle.

[Mad Dog]

This gun sets off flags instantly.

Never heard of such an animal. Every 23 I've seen has the same safety as the 40's and 45's. However there used to be a company that sold an aftermarket tang safety for the Savage 99, I'm wondering if the old owner made it work in a 23?

If I had a pic of the stock I could probably narrow it down to another model, sounds like this gun was somebody's home project. Although the ealy 23C's came with a schnobel tipped stock the later models did have a squarer stock like the model 40's.

[Blueliner]

My thanks for the reply. Must be a catalog showing special features. Maybe someone has a reference catalog? Also, will a letter of manufacture give all “specials” on the rifle. What specific manufacture data have on special production guns ?
an informative reply is appreciated.

[Blueliner]

Thanks Mad Dog. Is their a way to get a picture to you ( and others )
Your stock focus is good. Maybe some answers with pictures, or an early offering.

[Blueliner]

Mad Dog, I see in other posts you had replied that” checkered” means a 45 model. Does checkered on the 23C mean anything special on this rifle. Does serial #77227 tell you anything ?

[Blueliner]

Ok, now I’m a Team Member. How to I send you, or post, pictures ?

[Mad Dog]

I use imgur.com to post pics, really easy to use, just upload your picture to it then click on the bbc tab and it copies it for you, then just right click and hit paste on this site.

I'll go through my catalogs and price lists but I'm sure there was never a special order or extra's on the model 23's, especially nickel plating.

[Mad Dog]

I do see that some were factory checkered only on the butt stock, not the forearm, is your forearm checkered as well?

[Blueliner]

59665963596459655966596359645965Yes, the forearm is checkered. Thanks for the imgur information. I’ll try it today. When can I post directly to this site from my computer ?

[Blueliner]

I hope these pictures came through for you and others on Forum regarding the rarity of this 23C. If not, please advise what else I should do. New Team member asking for assistance and guidance.
Blueliner

[Mad Dog]

Ya they came through just fine.

Where to start?

The checkering isn't factory Savage. The front sight has been added, not original, same with the scope mounting blocks. The rear Lyman peep sight for a model 23 would be a 48Y, that is a Lyman 48 sight but definitely not a Y so someone has bought a Lyman 48 and had the gun drilled and tapped for that as well. The tang safety is not original. The sling mounts are not Savage original and added as well. At first I thought they were Savage #7's that someone had nickle plated but after a good look realised they weren't. The trigger guard is original but it's been nickle plated as well as the mag well.

All in all I can safely say Savage didn't do the work to that gun, the checkering isn't remotely original Savage work.

It is however a really nice gun and someone put alot of money into a gunsmithing shop somewhere, I'm kind of surprised with the amount of work done to it that the smith didn't leave a stamp or signature somewhere on that gun.

If you want to pursue it more and have doubts on my take on it you can write to Savage Arms historian with a check for $65 and have it lettered but I'd say it would be a waste of $65. About all you'll get back is a note telling you when it was made, who it originally went to and a generic statement of barrel length, caliber, etc, etc.

[Mad Dog]

Oh, forgot to mention, Savage never used nose caps on their model 23's so thats a no as well.

[Blueliner]

Well, other than that...... !!
Thanks.
Blueliner

P.S. I have another for you that may stir your interest. Coming soon.

[Blueliner]

Somewhere in the website, and referenced from this sub forum was a list of the letter meanings on the pre-lettered rifles, like 99K or 99C .
It very well may have been created by you or Mr. Baker. It was listed in the form A= ?, B= ?, .....
Do you happen to know the location of that information or have it on hand ?
Thanks, Blueliner

[Mad Dog]

Here, there are two pages, although the best and easiest way is to find a copy of Doug Murray's "The Ninety-nine".

http://www.savageshooters.com/content.php?114-What-Model-99-Do-I-Have/view/1