Stevens 77 / Savage 30-69RXL

[Bob Riebe]

J. Stevens & Co. was a small firearms company founded by Joshua Stevens, W.B. Fay and James Taylor in 1864. They were based in Chicopee Falls, MA. The company's most notable achievement was purchasing, and marketing, one of John Browning's shotgun designs. (See: Stevens Model 520/620).

In 1920, Stevens Arms was purchased by Savage, but continued to produce firearms under the Stevens brand (with Savage as the parent company).
First appearing in 1954 as a long-barreled sporting shotgun, the Stevens Model 77 was the first shotgun of this design, replacing the Stevens Model 620.
The design was also licensed by Springfield and by Savage. For the most part, the Model 77, Model 30, Model 67, Model 69, and Model 79 guns were virtually identical in appearance and functioning (differences were mostly cosmetic and related to the finish) and may be regarded as identical for their purposes.

The Model 77 was the first shotgun of this type, first cataloged in 1954. Early in the Vietnam War, the Stevens Arms Company received orders for military Model 77E riot guns from the Department of Defense.


The Model 30 is basically a model 77 except it came with added features like the engraving and checkering, later shotguns also featured an elongated ergonomic forend. The Model 30 was first offered in 1959 and was discontinued in 1978. This was continued by the virtually identical Model 79.

The series letter just has to do with internal part revisions over the years - Savage did that just so they'd know what replacement parts to use if it ever came back for repair or warranty work. The Model 30 was first offered in 1959 and was discontinued in 1978. Left-hand 12-gauge models were introduced in 1960 as well.

As for features, initially there were only two basic Model 30's - both of which were available in LH (12-ga only) and RH versions. You had the basic Model 30 in 12, 20 and .410 gauge offerings, and the Model 30AC (Adjustable Choke) in 12 and 20-gauge. All featured vent rib barrels, receiver engraving, safety behind the trigger and a hard rubber butt plate (not recoil pad).

In 1963 they introduced a new Model 30T Trap model in 12 and 20-gauge that featured a 30" full choke vent rib barrel and Monte Carlo butt stock with rubber recoil pad.
In 1964 RH 12-gauge models were upgraded to accept 3" magnum shells. (All LH models were 2-3/4" only)

In 1966 they added pressed checking to the butt stock on all models.
1968 was the last year the safety was behind the trigger (1969 for LH models)

In 1969 the Model 30 was redesigned to feature interchangeable barrels and a top-tang thumb safety (left-hand models remained unchanged). Last year for LH models.

In 1971 things changed a bit for the Model 30. The basic Model 30 was replaced by the Model 30 Field Grade (12, 20 and .410 gauge). There was also a new Model 30 Field Grade Slug Gun in 12 and 20-gauge. Both featured a finger groove forearm, pistol grip butt stock with stamped checkering, hard rubber butt plate, top-tang thumb safety, plain receiver (no engraving) and plain barrel (22" with rifle sights on the slug gun). The AC (adjustable choke) was still an option on the standard Field Grade as well. The Model 30D was new for this year and shared all the same features as the Field Grade except it included receiver engraving, vent rib barrel, and rubber recoil pad. The Model 30T shared all the same features as the 30D with the addition of a Monte Carlo butt stock.

The Model 30T Trap gun disappeared from the catalog in 1974.

The AC option on the Model 30FG disappeared from the catalog in 1977.
1978 was the last year the Model 30 was offered.

Model 69RXL The special version of the Model 69, featuring an extended 6-round magazine. This was produced in 1982 - 1989