First post, and first time Savage owner.

I picked up a nice Savage 340E in .30-30 today in a private sale. It has seen some use, but the bore & crown are great.

The problem is the bolt is VERY stiff opening & closing. I mean nearly as bad as a Mosin Nagant with "Sticky Bolt Syndrome". Its also fairly rough riding in the bolt, but I would expect that on a cheaper rifle. The previous owner told me about it up front, and he even had his gunsmith check it out. The gunsmith told him it would loosen up with firing. He told he put 500 rounds of .30-30 through it, and it did loosen up a bit.

That said, I can't believe something isn't wrong. The force needed to open & close the bolt is just outrageous.

Does anyone have any ideas on what it could be?

ETA: After looking it over some more, I missed something else. The receiver has no markings. Nothing looks scrubbed, or scratched off..... just no markings. The barrel is marked as a 30-30, but nothing on the receiver.

I bought it as a 340E, and I can't believe I missed something like that. I know Pre-68 firearms didn't have to have a serial number, but no markings at all?