The Savage Story
The history of Savage Arms is as varied and colorful as the company’s founder, Arthur William Savage, who started his business in 1894. In addition to pioneering a new type of hammerless lever-action rifle and the detachable box magazine (an integral feature of nearly every modern multi-shot rifle), Arthur Savage was a successful entrepreneur and explorer. He was born in Jamaica, to Welsh parents, where Arthur’s father educated recently-freed slaves. In between leaving home and starting his company, Savage homesteaded in Australia, ran a coffee plantation in Jamaica, labored on the New York railroads, and found part-time work with the Utica Hammer Magazine Company.
Savage Arms started out of a small factory located in upstate New York but quickly became one of the largest firearms companies in America. From the late 1800s onward, Savage introduced a variety of innovative designs and manufacturing techniques that generated enormous sales in both the military and civilian firearms markets. Savage produced machine guns during WWI, “Tommy Guns” during WWII, and a variety of shotguns and rifles for civilian shooters over the course of the twentieth century. In between wars, Savage purchased two other firearm companies, Stevens Arms and A. H. Fox, which propelled the organization to even greater heights.
Arthur Savage’s unfortunate passing in 1941 foreshadowed the company’s post-war decline. It was ravaged by a series of unreliable owners who eventually forced the company into bankruptcy during the late 1980s. Savage Arms was revitalized approximately a year later, however, by a new owner. Ron Coburn turned the company around and got Savage back on its feet by making a series of savvy business and production decisions during the 1990s. Coburn retired in 2013, after 25 years of serving as the CEO, leaving behind a very successful legacy. Today, Savage maintains factories in both the U.S. and Canada and is owned by parent company Vista Outdoors, Inc.
Popular Savage Rifles
It’s nearly impossible to do justice to Savage’s lineup of excellent firearms in such a small amount of space. The company presently produces dozens of weapons that run the entire gamut of the firearms market. On the tactical side, Savage has produced all sorts of military hardware, from Lewis machine guns to Lee-Enfield rifles. That legacy lives on in their MSR line of AR-style rifles and tactical shotguns. They also offer dozens of long guns for hunters and competitive shooters, ranging from rimfire varmint rifles to over/under sporting shotguns. What follows is a sampling of Savage’s diverse line of best-selling firearms.
Savage Model 110
Designed in 1958 and introduced to the market shortly thereafter, the Savage Model 110 is a push feed, bolt action rifle that was engineered from the start to be a quality rifle at an affordable price point. While many of the rifle’s smaller parts are made from stamped metal or investment castings, the barrel and action are forged from steel bar stock. The simplicity of the bolt’s design makes it easy to configure for left hand models and a floating bolt head allows for nuanced headspacing whenever the bolt is locked closed, thus improving accuracy.
Initially chambered in only .30-06 and .270 Win, the 110 is now offered in a wide variety of rounds from .204 Ruger to .338 Win Mag. Magazine capacities range from 3 to 10 rounds (depending on variant) and may be fixed or detachable (again, depending on variant). Modern incarnations of the Model 110 also feature Savage’s fully adjustable Accu Trigger.
When the 2007 closure of Winchester’s Connecticut factory ended American production of the Model 70, the Savage 110 became the oldest bolt action rifle model to be continuously manufactured in the USA.
Savage Axis
Designed to be the company’s entry level centerfire rifle, the Savage Axis is a bare-bones, push feed, bolt action rifle featuring a button-rifled barrel, carbon steel receiver, and a price point as low as $365 MSRP. Depending on exact model, the Axis is offered with wood or synthetic stocks and can be had with a blued or stainless-steel finish to the metal parts. More recent versions of the Axis feature Savage’s Accu Trigger system. Chambered in several rounds from the .223 Rem to the .30-06 Springfield, there is an Axis ready to take on all manner of game at a very low price.
Savage A22
The Savage A22 is a straight blowback operated semi-automatic rifle chambered in .22 LR that sports a machined aluminum receiver, a 10-round rotary magazine, and the fully adjustable Savage AccuTrigger. All models are drilled and tapped for the mounting of optics. The A22 Target model also features a fluted heavy barrel and a laminate thumbhole stock.
Savage A17
Like the A22 mentioned above, the A17 is also a semi-automatic rimfire rifle, only it is chambered in the considerably more powerful .17 HMR round. Additionally, the A17 features a robust delayed blowback action to accommodate the extra power of the hot .17 HMR, a hard chrome bolt, a case-hardened receiver and, of course, the Savage Accu Trigger. Like the A22, the A17 is also offered in a target model that sports a heavy barrel and thumbhole stock.
Savage Model 99
The Savage Model 99 was one of the longest-produced rifles in modern history, with a manufacturing run spanning nearly 100 years (1899 - 1998). It was the direct descendent of Savage’s earlier 1892 and 1895 models. All three weapons featured a unique, lever-action hammerless design that, in addition to offering shooters faster reload times and increased accuracy, put Savage Arms on the commercial firearms market map. The 1895 and 1899 also used rotary magazines that were superior to the tubular magazines featured in other leverguns of the period.
Savage Mark II
The Savage Mark II is a rimfire bolt-action rifle and perhaps one of the most popular long guns currently produced by Savage Arms. Savage only produces the Mark II in one caliber (.22 LR) but offers the rifle in numerous configurations with a nearly unlimited list of features. All Mark II rifles feature a detachable magazine and Savage’s patented AccuTrigger—a design that incorporates improved safety features while allowing for adjustable trigger pull. Other features, spread across 21 platforms, include everything from fluted barrels to fiberoptic sights to picatinny rails (the latter of which allow the mounting of advanced optics and various other accessories).
Stevens Model 555
Savage advertises the Stevens 555 as a world-class shotgun available at an affordable price. With a price tag coming in under $700 MSRP and a ton of quality features, such as a Turkish walnut stock and chrome-lined carbon steel barrels, it’s hard to dispute their claim. Many consider the 555 a more graceful successor to the bulkier 512. Range365.com liked the 555 so much that they dubbed it “everyman’s over/under”.
Savage Stocks: Impressive Hardwood Gunstocks for Savage Rifles
While we can’t claim a history as long and storied as Savage Arms, the team here at Boyds still knows a thing or two about quality craftsmanship and dependable firearms. With that in mind, we’ve crafted a
variety of gunstocks and forends for all sorts of Savage products.
A lot of our best-selling items improve upon the already impressive Mark II platform. Our
Pro Varmint Thumbhole Laminate stocks, for example, are sure to improve the look and accuracy of any Mark II. We also sell a variety of beautiful and durable gunstocks for the
Savage Model 110. And, just like Savage, we also offer our
stocks in left-hand versions as well. Check out our
Gunstock Configurator for a full list of Savage stocks.
Savage 110 Tactical
Boyds Gunstocks now available for AICS Magazine compatible Savage 110 Tactical models!