Once upon a time I had a Savage 23-D in .22 Hornet. The pre-war W.J. Jeffrey catalogue used to offer them stating that for a few Pounds they could refine the woodwork to make an more attractive rifle,
I think mine must have been one of those they reworked as the stock had been slimmed down and chequered at hand and forend with a horn tip.The stamped trigger guard had been replaced with an engraved English guard and there was a grip cap.
What puzzled me (it was clearly the original stock and butt plate) was the highly figured wood. Then when I looked at the heel where the finish had worn off I realised that the grain figure had been painted in.
The .22 Hornet, .32/20 and .310 Cadet all seem “to punch above their weight”. No doubt the combination of accurate rifles and mild recoil leading to good bullet placement.
