Savage 430

[SPE33]

I have a deep affection for the 16 gauge.However,finding an American made over under severely limits your choices. I got lucky yesterday and found a nice Savage model 430. Savage built these during the late 30’s and early 40’s. They also made a model 420,the difference being that the 430 came with a Jostam pad,nicer wood,checkering,and a matted barrel while the 420 was pretty plain.To top it all off this one is a 16 gauge,just what I wanted.It will make a nice companion piece to my 16 SPE as they are of similar vintage.

[Hilltop]

Very nice! Congratulations

[Researcher]

That is a nice one!! Don't think I've ever seen one that nice for sale.

My dad's second younger brother, my Uncle Irv, had a 12-gauge 430 when I was young. I probably remember it from pictures actually. By the early 50s Irv went totally Remington pump, Model 870 AP "Standard" Grades in 12- & 20-gauge both with Poly-Chokes and left-hand safeties and a Model 760 .30-06 with a Weaver K-V. Always talked of getting an over/under but even though he likely had more money than the rest of the family combined, he couldn't go that $236 for a Grade 1 Superposed and every time he got his mind around the Superposed price they went up again. Finally for Christmas 1971 he gifted himself a Beretta BL-3. Died, age 59, before the 1972 Dove season and the BL-3 ended up with my Uncle Larry, the brother between Irv and Dad. I'm sure there is a lesson there somewhere! The other five Noreen brothers lived 79 to my dad at 91.

[Stan Hillis]

Nice score! And two triggers, too!

How is it choked?

[SPE33]

28” barrels Mod & Full

[Researcher]

Savage introduced the Model 420 & 430 12- & 20-gauge in their 1937 retail catalog --

The January 2, 1937, Wholesale Price List states the 12-gauge would be ready to ship in May and the 20-gauge in September --

By the January 3, 1938, Wholesale Price List the 16-gauge is among the offerings --

For 1937 Savage Arms Corp. was jumping into the break-action gun market with both feet. They introduced a hammerless single barrel the Model 220 --

By the January 3, 1938, Wholesale Price List, they added the Model 219 rifle version and a the Savage Utility Gun, two-barrel sets with a shotgun and a rifle barrel --

Rounding out the line was a side-by-side double, the Model 320 --

Savage apparently thought better of this trigger-plate action double and only a handful ever saw the light of day. Instead for a lower price double than the Fox-Sterlingworth they took the internal parts of their J. Stevens Model 530, introduced in 1936, put them in a slightly nicer profiled frame with black gun metal finish and added it to their A.H. Fox line in mid-1939 as the Fox Model B --

1939 Flyer introducing Model B.jpg (28.21 KiB) Viewed 430 times

Now, one final thing to wrap one's mind around. This from the September 1936 J.L Galef catalog --

Did they start out planning to make the over/under a J. Stevens?

[eightbore]

Wow, for 35 cents more, you could get a Marlin Model 90. Dave, this is a lot of information I have not had before.

[SPE33]

I have a Model 90 as well.Got it out and truthfully,I like the 430 more. The grip on the Marlin is pretty slim,and the single trigger is not my favorite. Nicer wood on the 430 along with a bit of engraving on the receiver. Also,the Jostam pad has held up well over the years but the Marlin pad is as hard as a rock. The separated barrels on the Marlin are pretty cool tho.

[Foxnut]

Very nice find!! You don’t see them often and I’ve never seen one in that nice of condition!!! Thanks for sharing SPE!!

[MARSHFELLOW]

Wow, good for you. What a "looker".
tjw

[vaturkey]

I have never seen the 430. Very nice. I think the 16 gauges were built on a 12 gauge frame, but could be wrong.

[Researcher]

I have a 1951 Savage parts & repair catalog, and the frame has a single part number, not differentiated by gauge.