Savage Model 24
American over-and-under combination gun from Savage Arms.
The Savage Model 24 is an American over-and-under combination gun from Savage Arms, pairing a rifle barrel on top with a shotgun barrel below so a shooter can use either a rifle cartridge or a shotgun shell from the same firearm.
The design began as the Stevens Model 22-410 in 1938. During World War II, the U.S. Army Air Corps bought about 15,000 of these as survival guns. Stevens stopped making the 22-410 in 1950, and Savage then introduced it as the Model 24. The basic .22LR over .410 gauge version weighs 7 pounds, has 24-inch barrels, and measures 41 inches overall. It can be taken apart for easier storage. Over its long production run, many variations appeared, including a pistol-grip model only 26 inches long. Upper rifle barrels were offered in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .22 Hornet, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .30-30 WCF, .357 Magnum, and .357 Maximum. Lower shotgun barrels came in .410 gauge, 20-gauge, and 12-gauge. Stocks were wood or plastic, sometimes with extra ammunition storage in the butt. Finishes and grades varied. The Model 24 was discontinued in 2010.
Early Stevens and Savage models have one trigger, an exposed hammer, and a barrel selector on the right side of the receiver (up for rifle, down for shotgun), with no manual safety. Later models moved the selector to the top of the exposed hammer (forward/down for shotgun, back/up for rifle) and added a cross-bolt hammer-block safety through the receiver.
The Savage Model 242 is nearly identical to the Model 24, but both barrels are chambered for .410 bore 3" Magnum with full chokes. Made from 1977 to 1981, it uses a single trigger, a single exposed hammer with a barrel selector in the hammer, a checkered stock, and a shotgun bead sight.
The Savage Model 42 replaced the Model 24 in 2012. Its barrels are 20 inches long, with the upper firing .22 LR or .22 Magnum and the lower firing .410 gauge shells. It has black plastic furniture, and the adjustable rifle sights can be removed to mount a scope base. In 2016, Savage introduced the Model 42 "Takedown," which breaks down with a single button push.
The Savage Model 2400 was made by Valmet of Finland and imported by Savage from 1975 to 1980. It is a completely different design, with a Superposed hammerless action and a single trigger. The fire selector is a small push button on the upper part of the trigger.
Quick Facts
- Origin
- United States
- Is Ranged
- Yes
- Service
- 1938
- Wars
- World War II
- Designer
- Stevens Arms
- Manufacturer
- Stevens Arms / Savage Arms
- Production Date
- 1938–2010 / 1938–1950 for Stevens Arms / 1950–2010 for Savage Arms
- Variants
- Stevens Model 22-410 / Savage Model 24 / Savage Model 24B / Savage Model 24C / Savage model 24S-E / Savage Model 24V / Savage Model 242
- Weight
- 7 lbs
- Length
- 41 in
- Part Length
- 24 in
- Cartridge
- .22 LR over .410 bore
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Savage Model 24 was introduced in 1950, succeeding the Stevens Model 22-410 which had been produced since 1938. During World War II, the United States Army Air Corps purchased some 15,000 Model 22-410s for use as survival guns. The basic .22LR over .410 gauge model weighs 7 pounds, has 24-inch barrels, and an overall length of 41 inches. It may be disassembled for ease of storage.
Over its many years of production, the Model 24 was made in several versions, including a pistol grip model that is only 26 inches long. The upper rifle barrels were chambered in .22 LR, .22 WMR, .22 Hornet, .222 Rem, .223 Rem, .30-30 WCF, .357 Magnum, and .357 Maximum. The lower shotgun barrels were chambered for .410 gauge, 20-gauge, and 12-gauge. They came with both wood and plastic stocks that may or may not hold extra ammunition in the butt, and were sold in a variety of finishes and grades.
Early models have one trigger and an exposed hammer, with a barrel selector on the right side of the receiver (up for the rifle barrel and down for the shotgun barrel) and no manual safety. Later models had the selector on the top of the exposed hammer (forward/down for shotgun barrel and back/up for the rifle barrel) with a cross-bolt hammer-block safety through the receiver.
Reader's Guide
The Savage Model 24 represents a long-running and versatile combination gun design that served both civilian and military roles. Its introduction in 1950 continued a lineage that began with the Stevens Model 22-410 in 1938, which had already proven its utility as a survival gun for the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. The Model 24's production spanned six decades, ending in 2010, during which it was offered in numerous rifle and shotgun caliber combinations, accommodating a wide range of shooting needs from small game hunting to varmint control. The ability to disassemble the gun for storage added to its practicality. The design evolved over time, with changes to the barrel selector and the addition of a safety mechanism on later models. The Model 24's legacy is further evidenced by its successors, such as the Savage Model 42 introduced in 2012, and the related Model 242 and Model 2400 variants, which adapted the combination gun concept to different specifications and manufacturing sources.
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