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{{short description|British firearm designer}}
'''Arthur William Savage''' (13 May 1857 - 22 September 1938), was a businessman,
{{Infobox person
inventor and explorer.
| name = Arthur William Savage
He is most famous as the inventor of the [[Savage Model 99]] a famously
| image = Arther w savage and tire.png
innovative [[lever action rifle]], which remained in production for over
| caption= Newspaper photo Arthur Savage and a new steel tire, circa 1911
100 years, and the founder of [[Savage Arms]], a gun company.
| birth_name = Arthur William Savage
However, his most lasting and valuable inventions may be
| birth_date = {{birth date|mf=yes|1857|05|19}}
[[radial tires]], and the modern detachable [[magazine (firearms)|box magazine]]
| birth_place = [[Kingston, Jamaica]], [[British West Indies]]
used in almost all modern military firearms.
| death_date ={{death date and age|mf=yes|1938|09|22|1857|05|19}}
He also invented an early torpedo and the [[recoiless rifle]]. He built and raced cars.
| death_place = [[San Diego, California]], United States
| occupation = Inventor, explorer, businessman
| spouse = Annie Bryant
| partner =
| children = [[Arthur John Savage]]
| relatives =
| signature =
| website =
| footnotes =
}}


'''Arthur William Savage''' (May 19, 1857 – September 22, 1938), was a British businessman, inventor, and explorer. He is most famous for inventing the [[Savage Model 99]] [[lever-action rifle]], which remained in production for over 100 years, and founding [[Savage Arms]]. However, his most lasting and valuable inventions may be [[radial tires]],<ref name = "tire">{{US patent|1203910}}, May 21, 1915, Vehicle Tire, Inventor Arthur W. Savage</ref> and it has been argued, the modern detachable [[magazine (firearms)|box magazine]] used in almost all modern military firearms. He also invented an early torpedo and built and raced cars.
==Early Life==
He was born in [[Kingston, Jamaica]], [[British West Indies]].
<ref>Kimmel, Jay, "Savage & Stevens Arms: Collector's History" Cory Stevens Publishing,


==Early life==
ISBN: 978-0942893007</ref>
He was born in [[Kingston, Jamaica]], [[British West Indies]]. His father was [[Wales|Welsh]], a special commissioner to the [[West Indies]], charged with setting up an educational system for the slaves emancipated in 1834.<ref name="Kimmel">Kimmel, Jay, "Savage & Stevens Arms: Collector's History" Cory Stevens Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0-942893-00-7}}</ref>
He attended schools in Britain and the United states and had a [[classical education]].
He married, and had eight children.


==Travels==
In the late 1880s he took his family to Australia, homesteading in a covered wagon.
In the late 1880s he took his family to Australia, homesteading in a covered wagon. He came to own what was then the largest cattle ranch in Australia.<ref name="Kimmel"/>{{dubious|date=November 2019}} Eleven years later he sold it and bought a coffee plantation in Jamaica.<ref name="Kimmel"/> In 1892 he moved to [[Utica, New York]], and hired himself to a railroad, the [[Utica Belt Line Street Railroad]] (See [[List of New York railroads]]). He also got part-time work at a gun factory, the Utica Hammer Magazine Company.<ref name="Kimmel"/>
He came to own what was then the largest cattle ranch in Australia.
Later he sold it and bought a coffee plantation in Jamaica.
In 1892 he moved to Utica New York, and hired himself to a railroad and also a
part-time to a gun factory.


Savage began designing guns.
==Savage Arms==
His first model, in 1887, was a lever-action rifle with the magazine in the stock,
Savage and his son Arthur John began designing guns. His first model in 1887 was a lever-action rifle with the magazine in the stock, rather than under the barrel.<ref>{{US patent|366512}}, July 12, 1887, Lever Action Gun, Single-shot or Magazine, Inventor Arthur W. Savage.</ref>
rather than under the barrel.
<ref>U.S. Patent No. 366,512, July 12, 1987, Lever Action Gun, Single-shot or Magazine, Inventor Arthur W. Savage.</ref>


Six years later, he patented a lever-action rifle able to shoot then-modern [[guncotton]] military center-fire [[Cartridge (firearms)|cartridges]] with .303-caliber [[Spitzer (bullet)|spitzer bullets]].<ref>{{US patent|502018}}, July 26, 1893, Hammerless Rifle, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage; It was called the 'Model 95' because production started in 1895.</ref> This "Model 95" was the direct predecessor of the [[Savage Model 99]]. Savage invented a novel [[rotary magazine]] rifle. A benefit of this magazine was that it had a cartridge counter on the left side of the receiver that enabled the shooter to tell how many cartridges remained in the magazine. Lacking sufficient manufacturing capacity the first 9600 ( plus or minus ) Model 1895 rifles were contracted to be built by [[Marlin Firearms|Marlin Repeating Arms]] and are so marked with the JM proof mark. In 1894, Savage started [[Savage Arms]] in rented space on Hubbell street in [[Utica, New York]], to produce his new rifle.<ref name="Kimmel"/> Slightly later, in 1897, he filed for the patent on a nearly identical gun with a removable box magazine. This is substantially the modern [[Savage Model 99]] [[lever-action rifle]].<ref>{{US patent|634034}}, Firearm, Filed: Apr 21, 1897, Granted Oct. 3, 1899, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage</ref> It stayed in production until 1999.<ref name="Kimmel"/>
Six years later, he patented a lever-action rifle able to shoot then-modern
military center-fire .303-caliber [[spitzer]] bullets.
<ref>U.S. Patent No. 502,018, July 26, 1893, Hammerless Rifle, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage</ref>
The model 99 was actually perfected in 1893.
The classic underbarrel tubular magazine used in most lever-action rifles
holds [[round]]s end-to-end.
In such a tubular magazine, pointed spitzer bullets can detonate the
[[berdan primer|centerfire primer]]s used in military ammunition.
So, he invented a rotary magazine.
The gun also used a firing pin, rather than a hammer, and was the first
mass-produced hammerless rifle.
Another benefit of this magazine was that it had a cartridge counter that
enabled the shooter to tell how many bullets remained.
Hammers are inferior because they can jam on cloth or brush.
A hammerless rifle was therefore a substantially more practical gun for use in the field.


The modern removable box magazine often seen on military rifles was invented in 1908 by Savage, as an improvement to the Model 99.<ref>{{US patent|885868}}, April 28, 1908, Improved Magazine, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage</ref> It did not come into wide use until his patent expired in 1942 with the obvious exception of the family of rifles designed by [[James Paris Lee]] and adopted by the [[USN]] and the [[British Empire]]; first as the [[Lee–Metford]] and later as the [[Lee–Enfield]] rifles. The box magazine has many attractive features that ensured its eventual dominance: shoulders to retain cartridges when it is removed from the rifle, operates reliably with cartridges of different lengths and is insertable and removable at any time with any number of cartridges. This allows the operator to reload the gun infrequently, carry magazines rather than loose cartridges, and to easily change the types of cartridges. It is assembled from inexpensive stamped sheet metal. When empty the follower<ref>The "follower" is the sheet metal part between the last cartridge and the spring.</ref> stops the bolt from engaging the chamber, informing the operator of the gun's emptiness before any attempt to fire.
In 1894, Savage started [[Savage Arms]] in [[Utica, New York]] to produce his new
rifle.
<ref>ibid. Kimmel</ref>


Savage collaborated on the invention of the Savage-Halpine torpedo,<ref>{{US patent|456524}}, September 27, 1891, Torpedo, Inventor Arthur W. Savage</ref> which was eventually adopted by the [[Brazilian navy]]. Although U.S. sea trials were successful, it was not adopted in the U.S., due to political considerations.<ref name="Kimmel"/> Savage moved to [[Duarte, California]] to pursue other business ventures and in 1905, Savage sold his remaining interest in the Savage Arms company.
Slightly later, in 1897, he filed for the patent on a nearly identical gun with a removable box primer. This is substantially the modern Model 99.
<ref>U.S. Patent No. 634034, Firearm, Filed: Apr 21, 1897, Granted Oct. 3, 1899, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage</ref>
It stayed in production until 1999.


==Savage Tire, later years and death==
The modern removable box magazine often seen on military rifles was invented in 1908 by
While in California in 1901, Savage attempted to grow oranges, but this failed. Savage formed the Savage Tire company, a $5 million corporation formed to make tires and [[inner tube]]s. He later moved to [[San Diego]], where he invented [[radial tire]]s<ref name = "tire"/> as well as new production methods.<ref name="Kimmel"/><ref>{{US patent|1138250}}, March 6, 1914, Inner Tube Manufacture, Inventor Arthur W. Savage</ref> Savage formed another gun company with his son, Arthur John, in 1917, but this also failed. Savage later sold Savage Tire in 1919.
Savage, as an improvement to the Model 99.
<ref>U.S. Patent No. 885,868, April 28, 1908, Improved Magazine, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage</ref>
It did not come into wide use until his patent expired in 1942.
It has many attractive features that ensured its eventual dominance.
It has shoulders to retain cartridges when it is removed from the rifle.
It also operates reliably with cartridges of different lengths.
So, is insertable and removable at any time with any number of cartridges.
This allows the operator to reload the gun infrequently,
carry magazines rather than loose cartridges,
and to easily change the types of cartridges.
It is assembled from inexpensive stamped sheet metal.
When empty the follower stops the bolt from engaging the chamber, informing the operator
of the gun's emptiness before any attempt to fire.
His magazine first appeared in the [[Savage Model 99]] [[lever action rifle]].


Savage tried a number of other occupations before his death, including oil drilling, gold mining, pipe, brick and ceramics. Savage also managed the San Gabriel Water Company. In 1938, Savage was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Faced with a slow and painful death, Arthur Savage died by suicide at the age of 81, on September 22, 1938, in San Diego,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oYkxAAAAIBAJ&dq=aw-savage&pg=6169%2C3225316|title=The Montreal Gazette - Sep 23, 1938|access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> while still director of his successful tire company.<ref>Obituary, American Rifleman, November, 1938</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forgottenweapons.com/biographies/arthur-w-savage/|title = Arthur W. Savage|date = 11 October 2013}}</ref>
Savage also collaborated on the invention of the Savage-Halpine torpedo,
<ref>U.S. Patent No. 456,524, September 27, 1891, Torpedo, Inventor Arthur W. Savage</ref>
which
was eventually adoped by the Brazilian navy. ALthough U.S. sea trials were
successful, it was not adopted in the U.S., due to political
considerations.<ref>ibid. Kimmel</ref>

In 1901 Savage moved to San Diego and formed the Savage Tire company, a $5,000,000
corporation formed to make tires and inner tubes.
Here, he invented radial tires as well as new production methods.
<ref>U.S. Patent 1203910, May 21, 1915, Vehicle Tire, Inventor Arthur W. Savage</ref>
<ref>U.S. Patent 1138250, March 6, 1914, Inner Tube Manufacture, Inventor Arthur W. Savage</ref>
<ref>ibid. Kimmel.</ref>

He also invented a toy machine gun, patent 1,419,646.

Savage died at the age of 83, on September 22, 1938 in San Diego, still director
of his successful tire company.
<ref>Obituary, American Rifleman, November, 1938</ref>


==References==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


{{Authority control}}
[[Category:American Inventors]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Savage, Arthur William}}
[[Category:1857 births]]
[[Category:1938 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Kingston, Jamaica]]
[[Category:19th-century Jamaican people]]
[[Category:Emigrants from the British West Indies to the United States]]
[[Category:British inventors]]
[[Category:19th-century American inventors]]
[[Category:20th-century American inventors]]
[[Category:Firearm designers]]
[[Category:Savage Arms]]
[[Category:1938 suicides]]
[[Category:Suicides by firearm in California]]

Latest revision as of 23:54, 28 September 2024

Arthur William Savage
Newspaper photo Arthur Savage and a new steel tire, circa 1911
Born
Arthur William Savage

(1857-05-19)May 19, 1857
Kingston, Jamaica, British West Indies
DiedSeptember 22, 1938(1938-09-22) (aged 81)
San Diego, California, United States
Occupation(s)Inventor, explorer, businessman
SpouseAnnie Bryant
ChildrenArthur John Savage

Arthur William Savage (May 19, 1857 – September 22, 1938), was a British businessman, inventor, and explorer. He is most famous for inventing the Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle, which remained in production for over 100 years, and founding Savage Arms. However, his most lasting and valuable inventions may be radial tires,[1] and it has been argued, the modern detachable box magazine used in almost all modern military firearms. He also invented an early torpedo and built and raced cars.

Early life

[edit]

He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, British West Indies. His father was Welsh, a special commissioner to the West Indies, charged with setting up an educational system for the slaves emancipated in 1834.[2]

Travels

[edit]

In the late 1880s he took his family to Australia, homesteading in a covered wagon. He came to own what was then the largest cattle ranch in Australia.[2][dubious – discuss] Eleven years later he sold it and bought a coffee plantation in Jamaica.[2] In 1892 he moved to Utica, New York, and hired himself to a railroad, the Utica Belt Line Street Railroad (See List of New York railroads). He also got part-time work at a gun factory, the Utica Hammer Magazine Company.[2]

Savage Arms

[edit]

Savage and his son Arthur John began designing guns. His first model in 1887 was a lever-action rifle with the magazine in the stock, rather than under the barrel.[3]

Six years later, he patented a lever-action rifle able to shoot then-modern guncotton military center-fire cartridges with .303-caliber spitzer bullets.[4] This "Model 95" was the direct predecessor of the Savage Model 99. Savage invented a novel rotary magazine rifle. A benefit of this magazine was that it had a cartridge counter on the left side of the receiver that enabled the shooter to tell how many cartridges remained in the magazine. Lacking sufficient manufacturing capacity the first 9600 ( plus or minus ) Model 1895 rifles were contracted to be built by Marlin Repeating Arms and are so marked with the JM proof mark. In 1894, Savage started Savage Arms in rented space on Hubbell street in Utica, New York, to produce his new rifle.[2] Slightly later, in 1897, he filed for the patent on a nearly identical gun with a removable box magazine. This is substantially the modern Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle.[5] It stayed in production until 1999.[2]

The modern removable box magazine often seen on military rifles was invented in 1908 by Savage, as an improvement to the Model 99.[6] It did not come into wide use until his patent expired in 1942 with the obvious exception of the family of rifles designed by James Paris Lee and adopted by the USN and the British Empire; first as the Lee–Metford and later as the Lee–Enfield rifles. The box magazine has many attractive features that ensured its eventual dominance: shoulders to retain cartridges when it is removed from the rifle, operates reliably with cartridges of different lengths and is insertable and removable at any time with any number of cartridges. This allows the operator to reload the gun infrequently, carry magazines rather than loose cartridges, and to easily change the types of cartridges. It is assembled from inexpensive stamped sheet metal. When empty the follower[7] stops the bolt from engaging the chamber, informing the operator of the gun's emptiness before any attempt to fire.

Savage collaborated on the invention of the Savage-Halpine torpedo,[8] which was eventually adopted by the Brazilian navy. Although U.S. sea trials were successful, it was not adopted in the U.S., due to political considerations.[2] Savage moved to Duarte, California to pursue other business ventures and in 1905, Savage sold his remaining interest in the Savage Arms company.

Savage Tire, later years and death

[edit]

While in California in 1901, Savage attempted to grow oranges, but this failed. Savage formed the Savage Tire company, a $5 million corporation formed to make tires and inner tubes. He later moved to San Diego, where he invented radial tires[1] as well as new production methods.[2][9] Savage formed another gun company with his son, Arthur John, in 1917, but this also failed. Savage later sold Savage Tire in 1919.

Savage tried a number of other occupations before his death, including oil drilling, gold mining, pipe, brick and ceramics. Savage also managed the San Gabriel Water Company. In 1938, Savage was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Faced with a slow and painful death, Arthur Savage died by suicide at the age of 81, on September 22, 1938, in San Diego,[10] while still director of his successful tire company.[11][12]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b U.S. patent 1,203,910, May 21, 1915, Vehicle Tire, Inventor Arthur W. Savage
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kimmel, Jay, "Savage & Stevens Arms: Collector's History" Cory Stevens Publishing, ISBN 978-0-942893-00-7
  3. ^ U.S. patent 366,512, July 12, 1887, Lever Action Gun, Single-shot or Magazine, Inventor Arthur W. Savage.
  4. ^ U.S. patent 502,018, July 26, 1893, Hammerless Rifle, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage; It was called the 'Model 95' because production started in 1895.
  5. ^ U.S. patent 634,034, Firearm, Filed: Apr 21, 1897, Granted Oct. 3, 1899, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage
  6. ^ U.S. patent 885,868, April 28, 1908, Improved Magazine, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage
  7. ^ The "follower" is the sheet metal part between the last cartridge and the spring.
  8. ^ U.S. patent 456,524, September 27, 1891, Torpedo, Inventor Arthur W. Savage
  9. ^ U.S. patent 1,138,250, March 6, 1914, Inner Tube Manufacture, Inventor Arthur W. Savage
  10. ^ "The Montreal Gazette - Sep 23, 1938". Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  11. ^ Obituary, American Rifleman, November, 1938
  12. ^ "Arthur W. Savage". 11 October 2013.
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