Savage Arms: Американдық қару-жарақ компаниясының тарихы

American firearms company

Savage Arms is an American gunmaker based in Westfield, Massachusetts, with operations in Canada and China. Savage makes a variety of rimfire and centerfire rifles, as well as Stevens single shot rifles and shotguns. The company is best known for the Model 99 lever action rifle, no longer in production, and the .300 Savage. Savage was a subsidiary of Vista Outdoor until 2019 when it was spun off.

Savage Arms was founded in 1894 by Arthur Savage in Utica, New York. Within 20 years they were producing rifles, handguns, and ammunition. The Model 1895 won a New York National Guard contract, but the contract was cancelled due to political controversy. Savage was one of six companies to participate in the United States Army trials for a .45 caliber semi automatic pistol, and was named one of the two finalists before losing out to Colt's design, which would become the M1911 pistol. Savage marketed a series of .32 and .380 caliber pocket pistols, the Models 1907, 1915, and 1917 based on the same patents as their .45 caliber prototype. In 1915 1916 company chief designer Charles A. Nelson directed the design of new bolt action rifles for the US military to supplement M1903 Springfield, but in the run up of the US entrance in WWI US Army decided to adopt Pattern 1914 Enfield which was already in the serial production for the British, and Savage was tasked with machine gun production instead. Savage merged with the Driggs Seabury Ordnance Company during World War I and produced Lewis machine guns at Driggs Seabury's former plant in Sharon, Pennsylvania. A 1979 Savage Arms catalogue claimed that in 1919, Arthur Savage was approached by Chief Lame Deer to buy rifles for his tribe in New York. Lame Deer offered to allow Savage to use his image as its logo in exchange for discounted rifles and an annual fee. As of 2018, Savage Arms was still paying the annual fee. However, the Savage Model 1907 already bore the logo (including those made prior to 1919), and a catalog from 1903 shows Savage Arms using a similar illustration as well.

In 1920 Savage restarted the production of Model 1899 as Model 99, introduced new Model 1920 bolt action rifle based on Nelson's WWI prototypes modified for cartridges shorter than military rifle ones that would fit in Model 99 magazine, and introduced a new cartridge of that type: .300 Savage
Also in the same year, Savage bought Stevens Arms of Chicopee, Massachusetts. In July 1921, a mortgage securing five promissory notes, each for $21,416, was filed in the County Clerk's office in Utica showing that the Savage Arms Corporation had purchased a "number of buildings erected by the government" during World War I for increasing the output of Lewis machine guns at the plant. The buildings included two large four story brick structures, five large storage sheds, and one office building, a concrete mill building, steel storage building, power extension plant, shooting gallery and steel water tank with a capacity of 100,000 gallons. The notes were due in 1927. In 1929 Savage acquired the A. H. Fox Gun company of Philadelphia and moved production to Utica. In 1939, Savage introduced the Model 24 combination gun (a configuration uncommon in the U. S.), which sold over a million copies. Savage was one of the few American makers of affordable double barrel shotguns including the Fox Sterlingworth, Fox Model B, and Stevens Model 311 and produced rifles and shotguns under house brand names for large store chains. In addition to firearms, Savage Arms Corporation also sold power lawn mowers during this period.

In 2002, the company started selling a factory installed, safe, user adjustable trigger, called the AccuTrigger. The AccuStock, an aluminum stock embedded rail system to further enhance action stability and accuracy, was introduced by Savage in 2009. Savage was named the Manufacturer of the Year by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence in 2003. On February 6, 2013, Savage Sports announced the appointment of Ron Johnson as its new Chief Executive Officer. Johnson most recently served as President of the Sporting Group within Alliant Techsystems ("ATK"). Vista Outdoor markets firearm accessories and ammunition under brands that include Weaver Optics, Federal Premium, Speer Ammo, and Blazer. As of July 2018, Vista Outdoor was attempting to sell Savage Arms as part of a larger restructuring. Vista Outdoor said that expanding Savage's offerings to include handguns was too expensive. As of 2018, Savage Arms' sales made up just 7% of Vista Outdoor's overall business. As of May 2018, Savage Arms had 367 workers at its factory in Westfield, Massachusetts. On July 9, 2019, Vista Outdoor completed the sale of Savage Arms and Stevens Arms for $170 million to a group of investors led by Savage's management. Vista received immediate gross proceeds of $158 million and a $12 million five year note. Vista said it will use this money, after paying associated taxes, to reduce its debt.

The S1200 is the first semi automatic shotgun sold under the Stevens brand. The S1200 uses an inertia driven action that uses the recoil force of the gun to cycle shells. The S1200 weighs 6.8 pounds. Options for 26 inch and 28 inch barrels are available. As of 2018, Savage sold the 212 (12 gauge) and 220 (20 gauge) model shotguns. These models can be fired accurately at ranges up to 200 yards. This accuracy is mostly due to their bolt action design. These models use Savage's AccuTrigger system to customize trigger pull weight. These models are specifically designed for firing shotgun slugs in addition to bird shot. Both models come with two round detachable magazines. In 2019, Savage released variants of the 212 and 220 shotguns designed specifically for hunting turkeys. In 2020 Savage released the "Savage Renegauge" also intended for turkey hunting. It makes use of a "Dual Regulating Inline Valve" in order to reduce the recoil. The gun weighs 8lbs and was released at a suggested price of $1,550.

The Model 64 series is a semi automatic .22 LR rifle made in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. It operates on a simple blowback action. It is targeted towards beginning shooters, small game hunters, and budget minded plinking. It is one of the most popular plinkers in the United States due to high accuracy, being chambered in cheap, common, and readily available .22 Long Rifle, and the low price. It is unusual among semiautomatic 22s, and traditional (non bullpup) semiautomatic rifles in general, in that it is available in a true left handed version (left handed safety, charging handle, and ejector).

The Mark II Series is a family of bolt action rimfire rifles chambered mainly for the .22 LR ammunition, as well as the .17 HM2 for its FV varmint model.

Rascal is a bolt action single shot rimfire rifle chambered for .22 LR ammunition.

In 2016, Savage arms introduced the Model 42 Takedown combination gun. It breaks down via a one button, one push mechanism. The over and under barrels are 20" long. The top barrel fires .22 LR or .22 WMR rimfire ammunition, while the bottom barrel fires .410 bore shotgun shells. The lower barrel is chambered for 3" shells, allowing the use of both 3" and 2.5" birdshot, buckshot, slugs, and self defense rounds. The rifle barrel on top has open sights. The Model 42 has a black, matte, synthetic stock.

The Model 110 is a repeating bolt action rifle. The Model 110 was designed by Nicholas L. Brewer in 1958 and was patented posthumously in 1963. It has been in continuous production since that time, and with the closing of Winchester's New Haven, Connecticut, plant in 2007, the Model 110 has passed the Winchester Model 70 as the oldest continuously manufactured bolt action rifle in America. In 2018, Savage released the Model 110 Tactical variant. It can be chambered in .308 Winchester, 6.5mm Creedmoor, 6mm Creedmoor, and 300 Winchester Magnum. The Tactical variant includes Savage's AccuFit system allowing shooters to customize the comb height and length of pull.

The Savage 10FP is a bolt action rifle based on the Model 110 rifle. There are seven variants of this rifle, each designated with an "LE" code signifying that it is part of the Law Enforcement Series. Most 10FP series rifles are configured with AccuTrigger, matte blued barreled action, heavy free floating and button rifled barrel, oversized bolt handle, an internal box magazine (holding four rounds), and three swivel studs for sling and bipod mounting. The Savage 10FP is similar to the Savage 110FP rifle and differ only in the action lengths and in the calibers used. The 10FP is"short action," using cartridges similar in length to the .308 Winchester. The 110FP is considered a "long action," meaning it uses cartridges similar in length to the .30 06 Springfield. Both are bolt action, rotating bolt rifles, with dual lug bolts and integral, non detachable magazines, and both are available in left handed models.

The Predator Hunter Max 1 has a fluted carbon steel barrel and synthetic stock finished in a camouflage pattern. It comes in variants chambered with .204 Ruger, 22 250 Remington, .223 Remington, .243 Remington, .260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor and .308 Winchester. All variants have a 24 inch barrels, except the .223 which has a 22 inch barrel. Accustock, AccuTrigger, a soft rubber recoil pad, a three position safety, and a four round magazine are all included.

The Hog Hunter variant chambered in 338 Winchester Magnum, is a bolt action rifle designed for hunting wild boar. It is a variant of the Model 11/111 design. Models are available for short action .223 Remington and .308 Winchester, .338 Federal, and .350 Legend cartridges. It has a 20 inch, medium contour, heavy barrel with a threaded end. The Hog Hunter comes standard with v notch iron sights. The AccuTrigger allows the shooter to adjust the strength required for a trigger pull. The Hog Hunter weighs about seven pounds. The Long Ranger Hunter variant is available chambered in .260 Remington, .300 Winchester, .338 Federal, .338 Lapua Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 x .284 Norma, and 7mm Remington. All versions except the Lapua Magnum have 26 inch carbon steel barrels with an adjustable muzzle brake, which can be twisted open or closed. Except for the .338 Lapua Magnum, each version has hinged metal floorplates. The Lapua Magnum has a fixed muzzle brake and a detachable box magazine. The receiver is drilled and tapped for mounting a scope. AccuStock and AccuTrigger come standard. The weight of the Long Range Hunter varies from 8.4 pounds to 9.25 pounds depending on how it is chambered. The Lightweight Hunter weighs only 5.65 pounds. Savage achieved this weight by using a light contour 20 inch barrel, spiral fluting the bolt, machining excess metal from the receiver as well as milling cuts in the stock. Weight is also saved by using a polymer bottom detachable four round box magazine. Variants are available in .223 Remington, .243 Remington, .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and 7mm 08 Remington. The barrel has a matte finish. The stock is oil finished walnut. The total length of the rifle is 40.25 inches. AccuTrigger is included. The Axis II XP Stainless is bolt action hunting rifle with a stainless barreled action and a bore sighted Weaver scope. It is made in eight common calibers. It includes AccuTrigger. It was named one of American Hunter's "Top New Rifles" for 2016.

A fully ambidextrous straight pull bolt action rifle introduced in early 2021 with a variety of calibers and models.

MSR 15 variants are all modern sporting rifles based on the AR platform. Savage released the MSR 15 Long Range in 2018. The most salient feature of this variant is its 22 inch barrel. The barrel length was chosen to achieve maximum accuracy with .224 Valkyrie ammunition from long range.

Specialty guns are the primary focus of Savage Arms' business. All of its product offerings fulfill a special need. Weapons designed for left handed shooters are a good example of this. Savage Arms sells 18 different firearms for left handed shooters with products designed for big game, law enforcement, target competition, and predator hunting, including left handed slug shotguns and bolt action and semi auto rimfire rifles. Savage generally releases its products as right handed models with a left handed version to follow a few years later. Models not available with a stock left handed version can usually be made to order. Savage can convert most of its products to left handed versions because most of its receivers, bolt releases, and safeties are designed symmetrically. Savage can easily convert its products' designs by changing the bolt assembly and moving the ejection port to the opposite side, but most of its competitors have to design completely new receivers. Savage's machine tools are likewise set up to quickly and easily switch from producing right handed products to left handed ones and back again.

For most of its history, Savage made ammunition as well as firearms. Savage marketed a wide variety of calibers. The .303 Savage, .22 Savage Hi Power, .250 3000 Savage, and .300 Savage are some of the more important ammunition types sold by the firm.

Savage Arms' Canadian operations began as an independent enterprise called Lakefield Arms. It was founded in 1969 in Lakefield, Ontario where it remains as of 2020. The company was formed partially in response to the closure of a boat factory in the same town. The founding partners thought the laid off factory workers' skills would be readily transferable to gun making. During its first year of operations, Lakefield Arms produced two different .22 caliber rifles for the Canadian market. The Mark II was a bolt action rifle with a 10 round removable magazine. The Mark III was a semi automatic rifle that also had a 10 round removable magazine. Both had wooden stocks. As of 2019, these designs were still the basis for the companies best selling products. In 1973, Lakefield Arms moved into a new factory on 2.5 acre parcel of land the company had purchased near Water Street in the same town. As of 2019, it remains at the same locations. 90 to 140 people are usually employed at this site depending on demand and the time of year. Savage Arms purchased Lakefield Arms in 1995. In an interview with a local newspaper reporter in 2019, a senior company official said that 200,000 to 300,000 guns per year are manufactured at Lakefield. The same official said roughly 85 percent of its output is exported to the United States, 5 percent is exported to other countries, and 10 percent is sold within Canada.