I have an old Savage Model 219. The barrel is marked Utica. Underneath the fore stock the barrel is marked, front to back, "K", "979" & "M". The receiver, inside on the left hand where the chamber rests is also marked "979 M".

The story, as I understand it, is that my Grandfather bought two used guns when his eldest son was old enough to hunt. One was a lever action for his son and the other to carry himself, this Savage 219. This was sometime in the early 40's (my uncle turned 12 in 1942). My Grandfather died in 1949 when my father (his second son) was only 11, so dad never had an opportunity to hunt with him. My uncle kept charge of both rifles during these years. In the mid 1950's my dad found the Savage 219 rusting in the corner of the garage after my uncle had loaned it to a friend and then neglected it. Dad had the entire gun re-blued and refinished the stock, claiming it for his own at this point. The barrel is a nice rich blue and the receiver is a deep purple (no surprise since I understand the receivers were originally color-case hardened).

Well, fast forward many years and my dad parsed out his three firearms (yes, that is all he ever had, this rifle, a shotgun and a 22 pistol). I got the rifle and have always cherished it because of the family story that I heard (believed, made-up, whatever...).

So, does anyone have any insights into the actual age? I understand that the Utica plant was closed in 1947 and that these guns began production in 1938, narrowing the window some. However, this one seems to have a serial number (979) and possible date codes (K, M)?

Insights and stories appreciated.

RWCochran