Here is a good solid example of Savage Repeating Arms Co.'s first Lever Action rifle in .303 Savage called the Model 1895. These were really popular with hunters and there is a lot of photographic evidence from the early 20th century to back this up. However, one historical event I keep seeing these early Savage lever actions show up in is the Mexican Revolution. Yes, most revolutionaries are armed with Mauser Bolt Actions and lots of Winchester 1894's, 1873's, 1895's, and even the occasional Marlin, but also Savage Model 1895's and 1899's. Who knew these were so popular South of the Border? See photos.
It's hard to believe a rifle this advanced came on the market only a quarter century after the reign of muzzleloaders, a concept that had lasted for centuries, fell to the Industrial Revolution and a system of machines that for the first time in history could produce interchangeable parts. This became known throughout the world as "The American System" as the United States was the first in the world to achieve this feat and once it happened, things began to change rapidly and it all stemmed from gun manufacture not to mention a little bit of prodding from the US Military who wanted guns accurate enough to repair in the field with spare parts. Not only did this accuracy make it possible for breech loaders, but cartridges, and soon rifles that fired those cartridges repeatedly. When you get to the 1890's, now smokeless powder was just coming out and just when you thought the lever action had reached its zenith with the Winchester Model 1894 and Model 1894, the Marlin 1893, Savage comes out with this gun; a hammerless lever action with a rotary magazine and not only that but a rifle that could talk to its owner by telling its owner whether it was cocked or safe and how many rounds were left in the magazine...all analog of course but DAMN...this was back in the 1890s!
While most of us are familiar with the Savage Model 1899, seldom do we encounter its predecessor, the Model 1895. There just weren't that many of them made as the serial numbers only seem to go up to around 8-9000 before the 1899. At the time, the Savage factory in Utica, NY wasn't ready for production so the 1895 was contracted out and actually produced by The Marlin Firearms Co. All are antique Pre-1898. Note the photo of the Marlin proofmark , "JM" for "John Marlin" in a circle on the bottom of the barrel. Also, check out the front and rear sights...the same ones you'll find on most large caliber Marlin lever actions from this era. These must have been great rifles because of the few thousand that were produced, most surviving examples tend to show long and hard usage. This one is a little better than average and must have come from somewhere cold because it has virtually no patina, just blue and where it has worn, a pleasing gun metal shade of silver to the steel.
This rifle has all the standard features with a 26" round barrel. One of the coolest features on these Model 1895's manufactured by John Marlin is cocking indicator hole on the top of the bolt which reads "S" for safe and "C" for cocked. This was changed when production shifted to the Model 1899 and used a more complicated design which pushed a small rectangular piece of spring loaded steel upwards out the top of the bolt. Long story short, I'm told the 1899 design was prone to breaking. The 1895 was not only simple, it was practically unbreakable. Another distinguishing feature of the Model 1895 is the contour of the buttstock directly behind the receiver. The 1895's have a long rounded oval shape whereas the 1899 is shaped like a "V" with a sharp point. It also has the early style recessed bolt face and the famous rotary magazine cartridge counter numbered 0 to 5 on left side of the frame to let you know how many rounds are in the rotary magazine. Since this was built by Marlin...guess what the sights are? Yep, they're standard Marlin Sporting rifle sights including the long Marlin-Ballard rear sight with original Marlin-style "fish hook" elevator and the Rocky Mountain Front with German silver blade...interestingly, Savage later used nearly exact copies of the Marlin sights on their early Model 1899's but a little thinner.
Overall Condition is nearly NRA Antique Good+. This rifle is 100% original and in untouched condition. The receiver has worn to a nickel-coin-silver with original blue in protected areas, especially around lever, and some faint streaky light blue on the left side of the frame. and fairly consistent blue around the lever and trigger. The barrel has 95% original blue. Rear sight shows traces of blue. The bolt has most of its original bright polish. Great markings and sharp edges. The walnut still retains that nice undarkened reddish hue with 90% original varnish intact with most wear on the forend from carry wear. There are numerous nicks and scratches, etc...from many years of carry and hunting. Some people will frown on wood with this kind of wear but to me, it's honest use that has become art and tells a story. The bore on this rifle was filthy when we got it and hadn't been cleaned in many years. It's cleaned up surprisingly well and is fairly bright with good rifling and gets better with every patch I run through it. This will clean to probably Very Good and maybe even fine. There is no pitting, no rings or most importantly, no bulges. A nice solid early Savage lever action rifle. Only about 5,000 Model 1895's were produced. This one has a serial number in the 3,900 range. I believe the Cody Firearms Museum at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming now house the original Savage records that may produce some interesting information on this rifle. All of the original run of Model 1895 Savages were made before January, 1st, 1899 and qualify as Antiques. A nice solid early Savage lever action rifle priced less than a comparable Winchester 1894, 1895 rifle or Marlin Models 1893, 95 and much harder to find.
Item# 550
$2,450
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