savage steven 87d

Question
no apparent serial number on an 87D. .22 rifle. question any idea as to date of manufacture.  same patent numbers as 87A listed earlier.

Answer
Hello Clayton.
  The Savage/Stevens Model 87 was manufactured from 1938 through early 1980's. In 1946, Savage Arms moved from their Utica, NY. plant to the Stevens plant in Chicopee Falls, Mass. In 1959, Savage moved from Chicopee Falls, Mass. to Westfield, Mass. So, the date of manufacture depends on the city of manufacture and the lack of a serial number, since serial numbers were not required until the Gun Control Act of 1968. If your Model 87 was manufactured in Utica,NY., it was manufactured between 1938 and 1945. If it was manufactured in Chicopee Falls, Mass., it was manufactured between 1946 and 1959. If manufactured in Westfield, Mass., and does not have a serial number, it was manufactured from 1960 to 1967. The letter suffix was used to describe minor changes in the mechanics of the gun.
  I hope this helps and thank you, again, for asking for me. Charles Gage