Savage 167

The Savage 167, also marketed as the West Point Model 167, was typically sold by True Value Hardware. While I couldn’t find a parts diagram for the Savage Model 167, the parts and schematic for the Savage Model 30, Stevens Model 77, and Springfield Model 67 pump action shotguns from which the Savage 167 evolved can be substituted in its place.

Where available, I used the equivalent factory part name and its corresponding number for this article but there are a few parts unique to the Model 167 for which the official factory name is unknown. How the action works. The following assumes that the action is closed with a spent shotshell in the chamber, the hammer down on the firing pin, and the slide lock lowered from the path of the slide assembly. Pumping the operating handle/forearm causes the Operating Handle Bar (63) to move rearward.

The Slide Assembly (6) has a stub that protrudes downward, interlocking it with the operating handle bar. Unlike other shotguns that have a milled recess as its lock up point, lock up in the Savage 167 is attained between the breech Breech-Bolt (9), slide assembly, and the Slide Lock (30).

Movement of the operating handle bar forces the slide assembly to move rearward, the beveled portion of the slide assembly to engage the matching bevel on the underside of the Breech Bolt (9), causing it to unlock by forcing it back and down onto the slide assembly where the two move together toward the rear. The breech bolt’s two Extractors (15 and 16) pull the shotshell from the chamber. As the slide assembly moves to the rear, the rear of the slide assem- Below, disassembly into major components.

Note the breech bolt, slide assembly, and trigger guard group have not been disassembled in detail. The stock-bolt has been assembled to the trigger group. bly strikes the tail of the Cartridge Stop (47), causing it to begin a seesaw action with its tail pivoting down and the front of the cartridge stop moving up to prevent a fresh cartridge from exiting the Magazine Tube (52).

Concurrently, the slide assembly engages the Hammer (45), forcing it back and depressing the Mainspring Plunger (42) and compressing the Mainspring (43) until the hammer hook is arrested by the Sear (40). At about this point, the Ejector Plunger (24) strikes the base of the shotshell, forcing it out through the ejection port.

When the operating handle assembly is pushed forward, the slide assembly goes forward with it, allowing the Lifter Assembly (59) to rise and introduce the fresh shotshell into the path of the breech bolt. As it goes forward, the shotshell is pushed with it. When the breech bolt is about two-thirds of the way closed, the Lifter Pawl (58) clears the slide assembly and pops up from pressure of the Lifter Spring (71). This in turns moves the lifter assembly down.

Almost concurrently, the front of the slide assembly engages the front camming surface of the cartridge stop, causing the cartridge stop to rotate down and out of the way of the magazine tube. The Magazine Follower (61), under pressure from the Magazine Spring (50), forces a fresh shotshell out of the magazine tube and onto the lowered lifter assembly where the shotshell’s movement is arrested by the lifter and the slide

Above center: Barrel rotated halfway counterclockwise in anticipation of removal. assembly’s bottom protrusion. Unlike other shotguns with two shell stops, it is normal for a shotshell in the Savage 167 to rest halfway out of the magazine tube and on the lifter assembly. Continual forward movement of the breech bolt chambers the shotshell.

Pressing the Trigger (37) causes the Sear Trip (35) to move forward, compressing the trigger spring which in turn pushes the sear forward, thereby disengaging itself from the hammer. Freed from the sear, pressure from the mainspring plunger pushes the hammer for- Below center: Breech bolt, slide assembly, and operating handle bar as seen from inside the receiver.

The large rectangular notch near the center of the image is part of the slide assembly that interlocks with the operating handle bar. ward, striking the Firing Pin (7) forward into the primer. When the trigger is released, the pressure from the trigger spring pushes the sear trip and the trigger back to its position of rest.

Even if the trigger isn’t released, the sear trip spring automatically pushes the sear trip forward, causing the sear to reengage the hammer and preventing the hammer from following the bolt forward if the action is worked. Unlike some older shotguns like the Winchester 97 or earlier Ithaca Model 37s, the Savage 167 is incapable of slam firing. Unlike its predecessors where the Safety (33) is integral to the Trigger Guard (66), the Model 167 has a tang-mounted safety that is convenient for either hand.

A leaf spring provides the tension for the safety and a linkage pin goes into the safety bar itself. When the safety is moved to the rear, the linkage forces the safety bar rearward where it prevents the sear from moving. Moving the safety forward to the fire position moves the safety linkage forward, compelling the safety bar forward where it disengages the sear and allows the sear to move. Operation of the slide lock and slide lock spring assembly.

The slide lock is controlled by a stud located on the left side of the hammer. When the hammer is cocked, the stud is rotated to its rearward position which pushes the Slide Lock Spring (28) and the slide lock up and against the slide assembly, preventing the slide and breech bolt’s rearward travel. When the hammer is forward, the stud on the hammer is rotated 1/4" away, disengaging it from the slide lock spring and detensioning the slide lock. The slide lock drops clear of the slide assembly and the unfet-

Above center: The breech bolt, slide assembly, and operating handle bar while inside the receiver. tered action is freed for opening. While the breech is locked, pushing the slide lock button up causes the engagement surface of the slide lock to pivot down, disengaging it from the slide assembly and allowing the action to be unlocked. Spring tension from the Slide Lock Release Spring (41) provides the energy to return the slide lock to its position of rest.

For disassembly, as with any other firearm, keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, finger off the trigger, and make sure it is unloaded. Close the empty action. The Savage 167 is unique among pump Below center: The safety (vertical bar beneath the wire slide lock release spring) in the disengaged position, freeing the sear to move. For clarity, the slide lock has been removed. action shotguns in that the trigger guard group is attached to the Stock (75) and the two are removed as a unit.

Remove the Trigger Guard Screw (1) from the receiver that is above the trigger guard and then use a punch 1.25" long to drive out the Trigger Guard Pin (48). This allows you to separate the receiver from the trigger group and stock. To remove the trigger group from the stock, unscrew the Buttplate Screws (73) securing the Buttplate (74). Use a large flat screwdriver to remove the Stock Bolt (76) and its washers (77 and 78). The trigger group may now be separated from the stock.

To disassemble the trigger guard group, detension the hammer by releasing it, taking care to catch it on your thumb to ease it forward. After driving out the Hammer Bushing (70), lift out the hammer, mainspring plunger and mainspring. Unlike its predecessors, the Savage 167 does not have Lifter Screws (72) and the pivot pins for the lifter are cast integral to the trigger guard. Since the lifter is pressed on and its removal could warp the lifter, removal is not recommended. Remove the trigger spring.

This removes pressure from the sear and makes removal easier. Drive out the Sear Pin (69) to remove the sear. Remove the Trigger Pin (68) to remove the trigger and sear trip assembly. The safety is secured in place by a circlip and its removal allows the safety and the safety leaf spring to be taken out. The safety bar that blocked the sear may now be lifted from the trigger guard group. This completes disassembly of the trigger group. Rack the forearm back. Insert a small screwdriver beneath the rear

1 Trigger Guard Screw 2 Ejector Screw 3 Firing Pin Retractor Plunger Pin 4 Firing Pin Retractor Plunger Spring 5 Firing Pin Retractor Plunger 6 Slide Assembly 7 Firing Pin 8 Breech Bolt 9 Firing Pin Stop Pin 10 Extractor Spring (Left) 11 Extractor Spring (Right) 12 Extractor Spring (Left) 13 Extractor Spring (Right) 14 Extractor Plunger (2) 15 Extractor (Left) 16 Extractor (Right) 17 Shell Stop Spring 18 Shell Stop 19 Top Rib Support Screw 20 Top Rib Sleeve 21 Rear Sight 22 Front Sight 23 Extractor Pin 24 Extractor Plunger 25 Ejector Spring 26 Extractor Assembly of the operating handle bar assembly tail and pry it slightly up.

This disconnects the operating handle bar assembly from the slide assembly and allows moving the slide 27 Slide Lock Release 28 Slide Lock Spring 29 Slide Lock and Spring Stud 30 Slide Lock and Spring Assembly 31 Safety Spring 32 Safety Spring Plunger 33 Safety 34 Sear Adjusting Screw 35 Sear Trip 36 Sear Trip Spring 37 Trigger 38 Trigger Spring 39 Sear Trip Pin 40 Sear 41 Slide Lock Release Spring 42 Mainspring Plunger 43 Mainspring 44 Cartridge Stop Pivot Screw Nut 45 Hammer 46 Cartridge Stop Pivot Screw 47 Cartridge Stop 48 Trigger Guard Pin 49 Receiver 50 Magazine Spring 51 Barrel 52 Magazine Tube 53 Filling Block Savage 167 (Speci ications subject to change without notice) 54 Magazine Tube Yoke Screw 55 Magazine Tube Yoke 56 Magazine Plug 57 Lifter Pawl Pin 58 Lifter Pawl 59 Lifter Assembly 60 Magazine Tube Adapter 61 Magazine Follower 62 Operating Handle Bar Collar (Rear) 63 Operating Handle Bar Assembly 64 Operating Handle Wood 65 Operating Handle Bar Collar (Front) 66 Trigger Guard 67 Trigger Adjusting Screw 68 Trigger Pin 69 Sear Pin 70 Hammer Bushing 71 Lifter Spring 72 Lifter Screws (2) 73 Buttplate Screws (2) 74 Buttplate 75 Stock 76 Stock Bolt 77 Stock Bolt Lock Washer 78 Stock Bolt Washer assembly and breech bolt back and out of the receiver.

The breech bolt is pretty conventional in that it has two extractors (15 and 16). To remove either extractor, depress the Extractor Plunger (14) and lift up the extractor. Allow the plunger to go forward and tip it out of the bolt. You can reach in with a dental pick to pull out the Extractor Spring (12 and 13). The firing pin is held by the Firing Pin Stop Pin (10) that is in the back of the bolt.

Driving the firing pin stop pin out allows the firing pin retainer, firing pin spring, and firing pin to be removed from the breech bolt. This completes the breech bolt disassembly. The Ejector Assembly (26) in the Model 167 is secured by the Ejector Screw (2) found on the left side of the Receiver’s (49) exterior. Removing the ejector screw allows the ejector assembly to be removed. Afterward, use a punch to drive out the ejector pin from the ejector assembly.

This allows the ejector plunger and the Ejector Spring (25) to be removed for cleaning and inspection. The final item that may be removed from the receiver is the cartridge stop. Unlike most other shotguns, the Model 167 has only one cartridge stop and the lifter assembly when lowered prevents more than one shell from exiting the magazine. You may have to make a special screwdriver to secure the Cartridge Stop Pivot Screw Nut (44) in place while loosening the cartridge stop pivot screw.

Removal of the latter allows the former to drop out of the receiver and the cartridge stop to be removed from the receiver. This completes the receiver disassembly. To remove the Barrel (51), unscrew the Magazine Cap on the end of the magazine. With the Operating Handle Wood/forearm (64) moved slightly back, rotate the barrel 90 degrees clockwise and pull it away from the receiver. Unscrew the Magazine Plug (56) screw and afterward lift the magazine plug out.

This gives access to the magazine spring and the magazine follower, which may now be removed. The operating handle bar assembly and operating handle wood may now be pulled straight out of the receiver. AG