Savage Fox B

[corvairkid]

I recently purchased a Savage Fox Model B Series H 20 Gauge.
Three questions:
1. What does Series H mean?
2. How can I determine the age of the gun?
3. There are no choke markings on the barrels. How do I determine the choke on each barrel?
Thanks in advance for any and all advice.
Ken

One additional thought.... I'd like to locate an owners manual. Ideas?

[Fin2Feather]

If it's a series H it's a later issue; there should be an oval containing a number and a letter stamped on the bottom of the action near the hinge; the letter is a date code starting with "A" in 1949, "B' = 1950, etc. I don't believe the chokes were marked; probably have to measure them to find out. Probably M/F but you never know with these guns. Hope this helps.

[corvairkid]

Hmmm.... can't find an oval with a letter or number in it.
There are numbers and letters visible when I break the gun apart, but none inside an oval.
Would the serial number help?
It starts with the letter B.

[Fin2Feather]

If it's late enough to have a serial number it probably doesn't have the date code. Someone here probably can date it by serial number if you post it; can't help you there. Sorry.

[corvairkid]

Thanks for trying Fin.
Here's a partial serial number: B815***

[Researcher]

The old Savage/Stevens/Fox catalogues don't ever mention the various "series" but here is my chronology of the catalogue offerings for the Fox Model B --

Fox Model B – The Fox Model B was added to the 1940 Fox catalogue put out by Savage. The retail price was $25. The Model B was offered in 12-, 16-, and 20-gauges and .410-bore, and had a color case-hardened frame. By January 22, 1945, the retail price of the Model B was up to $34.50. After WW-II the Springfield 311 (1947) and then the Stevens 311 (1948 and on) were built on a version of the Model B action. The pre-WW-II Springfield No. 311, as well as the Riverside and Springfield No. 315, the Stevens No. 330, and numerous “trade brand” guns were all built on Steven’s G.S. Lewis’ Apr 20, 1915, patented action.

Through the 1954 catalogue the Model B remained a double trigger, plain extractor, slim forearm utility gun. In the 1955 catalogue Savage added a Model BST which got a non-selective single trigger and a beavertail forearm. The offerings were the same for 1956 thru 1958.

By the 1960 catalogue the B and the BST got ventilated ribs. There were no changes in the 1961 catalogue.

For 1962 a B De Luxe in 12-gauge was added with a satin chrome receiver, white-line grip cap and butt plate, checkered side panels, beavertail, ventilated rib, and gold plated non-selective single trigger. They also gold plated the trigger on the BST. There were no changes for 1963.

For 1964 the De Luxe became the BDE, and included automatic ejectors, and also was available in 20-gauge chambered for 3-inch shells. The B and BST remained unchanged.

For 1965 the B and BST 20-gauges got 3-inch chambers.

For 1966 the satin chrome BDE was gone. There was a BSE with ejectors, non-selective single trigger, satin black finish, white-line butt plate and grip cap, beavertail and ventilated rib. The Model B had double triggers, was case hardened, had a ventilated rib, and now a beavertail. Both guns now featured impressed stamped checkering. For 1967, 8 and 9 the offerings were the same. The gun control act of 1968 required Savage to start putting serial numbers on these guns.

I don’t have a 1970 catalogue, but by 1971 there was a gun called the Savage 550 which was just like the BSE but had a case hardened receiver, and was offered in 12- and 20-gauges. The text said it had precisely engineered barrels resulting in perfect balance. In the picture it appears to be a mono-bloc design?!? Also grip caps are gone from the B and BSE. Offerings for 1972 were the same – the 550 listed at $174.95, the B-SE listed at $164.95, and the B listed at $139.95.

By 1973, the BSE and 16-gauges are gone, but there is a 24-inch barrel B in 12-gauge and 20-gauge, both with 3-inch chambers.

For 1974 the Savage 550 is gone and the B-SE is back. The B-SE 12-gauge has 2 ¾ inch chambers and the 12-gauge B and 24” Fox B have 3-inch chambers. All the 20-gauge and .410-bore are 3-inch chambered. No changes for 1975, 6, 7, or 8. For 1979 the grip caps are back and the double triggered B is offered with ejectors as the BE.

For 1980, cut checkering is back, but the 24-inch barrel offerings are gone – B, BE and B-SE. In 1981 the BE was gone, but the FA-1 and the FP-1 Fox autoloader and pump appeared. For 1982 the Fox offerings were B, B-SE, FA-1 and FP-1.

For 1983 the only Fox offering was the B-SE. The B-SE remained through the 1987 catalogue when its list price was $525. By the 1988 catalogue the Fox name was gone.

[Witty1]

wow! Researcher great information. But I can't start collecting Savage Fox Bs too. lol

[corvairkid]

Thanks for the info guys. This is all very helpful.
So far I think I have it narrowed down to manufacture between 1971 and 1978.

Any ideas on finding an owners manual?

[Fin2Feather]

Not sure there'll be one; if you find anything for the Stevens 311 it will work as they are basically the same gun. You might try Abby at Cornell Publications, http://www.cornellpubs.com. She has lots of reprints available.

[ASavageFox]

Thanks for the info guys. This is all very helpful.
So far I think I have it narrowed down to manufacture between 1971 and 1978.

Any ideas on finding an owners manual?

Your gun was made in 1975... they have the same serial sequencing that Savage has been using since sometime in the late 60s or so...

I have seen several of them NIB but have never paid much attention if there was an owners manual with them. Cornells is a good location for reproduction but being only 35 years old... likely you can get them on ebay if they exist.

[corvairkid]

1975!
Thank you ASavageFox!
May I ask... what source did you use?

[ASavageFox]

a reputable one



Just kidding... i also collect Savage 99s.... pretty much all of the savage guns used the same serial number sequencing in this era... 99 collectors are about as die hard as they come... many have been keeping serial number records for years and years and years... many have old factory record info, have spoken en masse with the factory historian, etc, etc etc. They said it was a 1975 and I trust their dates. You can take it with a grain of salt if you choose. You can also post the question publicly on the Savage collectors forum (google it).

[corvairkid]

Thanks again ASavage!!

Just curious.

I saw a Fox B "new-in-the-box" for sale yesterday.
Is that possible after all these years? Or, too good to be true?

Regards,
Ken

[ASavageFox]

Ken,

Certainly possible... there was an auction recently that had a whole stack of mid 70s era Model Bs, 311s, Savage 170s, and even some Savage 99s all NIB. I don't know what any of them sold for as they don't fit in my collection but they are around for sure.

There have been a few much older Foxes show up around here with the boxes and a LOT of condition... not sure if anyone would claim theirs was NIB or not but several that were close.

[CLAYBORN]

I may have missed it, but I saw no mention of the Fox "B" N series. I have an N and when I bought it I thought it was an H series. Any info on the N series??
Later,
Clay