Info wanted

[tdoor4570]

I picked up an extra press in a yard sale this fall and would like to know if anyone can put an approx date it was made on it. It is a Savage Straight 8 press Model 730. Called savage and noone there could tell me a thing. This press is in like new condition. :-P

[Bent Ramrod]

The Savage 730 was made for only a short time. It first showed up in the Handloader's Digest in 1966 and was gone after the 1972 edition. The frame was made from drop-forged steel, which made it lighter for the same strength than a cast iron frame press. It was advertised as strong enough for heavy case forming and bullet swaging. The linkage could be switched for right- or left-hand use. It cost $27.50 for pretty much the whole time it was offered.

[Pressman]

Named the Straight Eight after the unique shape of the upper frame, this press is one of my favorites. The ram and linkage are typical Pacific-type with an extra long, 13.5 inch, handle. The Model 730 press was designed by William S. Winton, who had previously never reloaded a single round of ammo. The gold color for the press was picked by Richard Havourd. Together, they were issued a patent for the press and its priming system on July 5, 1966. Mr. Winton was talented and gifted engineer who was related to the Winton automobile family. He was given the task to design the press when Savage decided to quit making lawn mowers.

This is not a large press. The frame is made in two pieces. The frame is a strong, steel forging, as compared to other maker’s presses which were made of cast iron. The mounting base is a casting. The upper frame is 6 inches tall but only 2.5 inches wide. A horizontal cross bar provides extra support and positive alignment of the ram to the die in the up or down position.

Mounting the Straight Eight to the bench also offers some choices. The handle is in line with the right side of the press and is set at a 45 degree angle to the bench. The upper frame is positioned 90 degrees to the left away from the operator. The frame may be rotated in the base for right or left-hand operation. To use the press the operator must set with his right side to the bench and feed the press with the left hand. Except that he cannot reach the bench with the left hand. The small, narrow frame, plus the cross bar in the frame also interferes with your hands when inserting long rifle cases.

The Savage press is also different from other presses of the time in that all the parts on the press are unique to this press. Most other maker’s presses share some common parts in the handle, pivot block primer system or ram. All the press parts and dies were made in-house at Savage.

The priming arm works very well although there is no provision for primer feed tubes. In fact it works so well that it was copied by Redding and is still used on their presses today. Savage did consider going after Redding for patent infringement but dropped the idea.

Ken