Help dating my Savage 24V

[Pistolero]

I hope I'm in the correct forum .... if not, I apologize . I have a model 24V in .222/20 and it has a four digit serial number on the left side of the receiver with no letter prefix. It simply reads 48XX. I didn't think that Savage put serial #'s on them until 1968 ....is that not correct ? I searched the available data and can't find any info on serial #'s with no letter prefix. I also have a model 99 in .308 Win. and used the available data to date it to 1977 ..... thanks for providing such a useful site.

[CalhounRR]

Look for an inspection/date code stamped on the barrel. Will be an oval or circle with 1 or 2 numbers followed by a letter.

The letter tell us the year.

[PhilC]

Savage used serial numbers prior to 1968. Firearms produced in 1968 and later have serial numbers with a letter prefix. As noted above, look for an oval stamp on the barrel or receiver, the 2 digits are the inspector's ID stamp, the letter is the year code.

The year codes are shown in this sticky topic - Rifles with Date Code Stamp (1949-1969) (http://www.savageshooters.com/showthread.php?62035-Rifles-with-Date-Code-Stamp-(1949-1969))

[Pistolero]

I found 14U in a barely visible oval on the barrel .... so that would date it to 1967. Thanks for the help !

[PhilC]

I found 14U in a barely visible oval on the barrel .... so that would date it to 1967. Thanks for the help !

:thumb:

[J.Baker]

If I had seen this earlier I could have told you right off that it was made inn 1967. That was the first year for the 24V model and the .222 Rem chambering, and since in 1968 they started using the letter prefix it's the only year of this model that didn't have a letter prefix. Savage must have made and sold a ton of 24V's in .222 Rem that first year because I've owned three different ones in the last 15 years or so.