savage model #74

[ratherbefishin]

I like .22's and have a Husqvarna rolling block in .22 short about 100 years old ,but have been keeping my eye open for a ''Stevens Favourite''-.I'm still kicking myself for not ordering a ''Varna'' falling block when they first came out[good luck finding one now] Anyway,I was at the gunshow today and picked up what I thought was a newer''stevens model 30''but it turned out to be a bit older-a Savage #74,which I found was the cheaper version of the ''Crackshot''.No collector value but it has a good bore and seems a nice little .22.I think they were only made for one or two years  in the early 70's.The wood looks like beech, but it stained up nicely-and hey-all I wanted was a ''shooter''not a collector-I use my guns.

[ratherbefishin]

since this little savage is not a collector and I can't focus on open sights anymore, but still wanted to shoot it I did some judicious filing opening up the rear notch,then found a nice aluminum spacer with  a hole in it-used JBweld to attach it behind the notched rear sight, ground it down to fit, champhered the hole and sanded it all smooth then gave it a shot of flat black paint-and voila'-I now have a psuedo ''ghost ring'' [much like the Marbles''bullseye'' rear sight] that I can see-and by adding a dot of orange flourescent nailpolish on the front beed-I can now shoot my little savage falling block with my enhanced open sights.
I wouldn;t do this to a ''collector'' rifle-but it works pretty good on open iron sights if you don't want to scope the rifle,which is my only other option