York Gun Show Acquisition - Savage 99

Bertfish · Dec 20, 2014

I've been on the look out for a nice Savage 99 for a while now. While the York Gun Show was far from the best gun show I've ever been to I did stumble upon this beauty which followed me home. One of my criteria was that it be in a non-Savage caliber and this one is in .30-30. I'm no expert on these but based on cursory internet research of the serial number she dates from 1913.

Any Savage 99 experts here that can chime in and tell me what I've got here? My points of concern are the rear sight (original or replacement, it is marked as being made by Savage) and the butt plate (curved plate is correct but what is the phantom hole in the top with no corresponding screw hole in the wood?).

Several people stopped me on my way out the door to comment on the rifle. I took a gamble at $625 on the gun. Did I do good or did I get hosed? For better or worse she is nice looking and at the very least will make a good deer rifle. It shows appropriate wear from being carried a lot and shot a little.

Also scooped up what my buddy says is 6mm Lee Navy ammunition. Can anyone confirm that based on the photos below? I paid $5 for the whole thing so I'm not too worried about that gamble. Cases are stamped with an overlapping R and C and 1899. Clip is stamped with the same overlapping R and C. Does that stand for Remington Cartridge?

On a side note this is the first in-person use of my C$R license and the dealer I bought it from shaved some money off since he didn't have to jump through hardly any hoops to sell me the gun. Whole thing went swimmingly.

Jimbob2.0 · Dec 20, 2014

I don't think you did bad, my father bought a similar gun in a takedown a couple years ago, though someone had buggered the buttstock. I forget what they called them in the day, Alaskan or something. Crescent but and heavy barrel, the heavy barrel in particular couldn't have been a common option in the day.

He ended up offloading it to get lightweight for hunting with.

People poo-poo non savage calibers in these guns but .30-30 and this action fit well and they are great guns.

54rndball · Dec 20, 2014

Check out the Savage collectors on 24hourcampfire.com They can tell you all about your new rifle.

iH8DemLibz · Dec 20, 2014

I like the schnabel fore stock.

And if you really like it, the price does not matter.

Alea Jacta Est · Dec 20, 2014

Looks pretty good from where I'm sitting.

My first 99 was a 30-30 from AK. I never dated it. Fella I worked with was going through a divorce and owed my money ($25.00 to be exact). He asked me if I'd take the gun in lieu. I said sure. It did 10 (more) years of deer hunting in PA and then left the fold. Posit unk ATT.

Good luck. Grats.

somd_mustangs · Dec 20, 2014

iH8DemLibz said:
... And if you really like it, the price does not matter.

Bingo.

JTH20 · Dec 20, 2014

Rifles look great, I think you did well.

Btw, I think the ammo is actually .256 (6.5 mm) Mannlicher

http://www.rathcoombe.net/sci-tech/classics/mannlicher-1895/classic_mannlicher.html

Bertfish · Dec 21, 2014

iH8DemLibz said:
I like the schnabel fore stock.

And if you really like it, the price does not matter.

I agree with you there, just makes me feel a little better to know that I love it AND I paid a fair price :lol2:

Hopefully shooting it the weekend after New Year's with a buddy. The bore looks dirty but in great shape. Hopefully today I'll get time to clean it up and see how it really looks.

Jimbob2.0 · Dec 21, 2014

Bertfish said:
I agree with you there, just makes me feel a little better to know that I love it AND I paid a fair price

Hopefully shooting it the weekend after New Year's with a buddy. The bore looks dirty but in great shape. Hopefully today I'll get time to clean it up and see how it really looks.

I wouldn't worry about what you paid for it, these have gone up a lot lately and it isn't exactly a common model. Especially if it isn't tapped for a scope. Nothing more than honest wear on that gun, and frankly you don't see 100% mint in these. Back then people didn't have the luxury of collections of safe queens, if they had a gun it got used, and the Savage 99 was targeted squarely on the meat getting hunter market. Everyone's grandfather had one and used it well!

I used to buy takedowns for $400 to $500, now I cant fin one for less than $700 or $800. Havent really been tracking solid frames but assume they are increasing as well

Bertfish · Dec 21, 2014

Jimbob2.0 said:
I wouldn't worry about what you paid for it, these have gone up a lot lately and it isn't exactly a common model. Especially if it isn't tapped for a scope. Nothing more than honest wear on that gun, and frankly you don't see 100% mint in these. Back then people didn't have the luxury of collections of safe queens, if they had a gun it got used, and the Savage 99 was targeted squarely on the meat getting hunter market. Everyone's grandfather had one and used it well!

I used to buy takedowns for $400 to $500, now I cant fin one for less than $700 or $800. Havent really been tracking solid frames but assume they are increasing as well

No tapping for a scope which is yet another reason I was drawn to it. Saw two or three others at the show that were beat to hell or bubba'd in the $700 range which also propelled me to it.

Overall I collect things that I like and this is one I feel like I was drawn to

Jimbob2.0 · Dec 21, 2014

Bertfish said:
No tapping for a scope which is yet another reason I was drawn to it. Saw two or three others at the show that were beat to hell or bubba'd in the $700 range which also propelled me to it.

Overall I collect things that I like and this is one I feel like I was drawn to

No tapping (early guns that weren't tapped from the factory obviously) is a big plus, it cuts between 1/2 and 2/3s off the value of a Savage 99 (basically any collector value). People don't like to face it. As probably 80% of more of these guns got tapped for scopes when they became popular and affordable in the 40s on.

Its a good find, take care of it

rseymorejr · Dec 21, 2014

Just out of curiosity, Why were you specifically looking for non-Savage calibers?

BlackBart · Dec 21, 2014

Walking in I had a good feeling, saw a guy leaving with a pristine looking 1917 slung over his shoulder. No idea what he paid but once inside my heart sunk seeing all the junk they wanted retail for. :sad20:

Bertfish · Dec 21, 2014

rseymorejr said:
Just out of curiosity, Why were you specifically looking for non-Savage calibers?

I'm not a fan of having to purchase may different types of ammunition. If the only calibers in the world were the NATO and USSR standard calibers I'd be fine with it. I already have a pristine pre-64 '94 Winchester in 30-30 and wanted a nice Savage 99 in the same caliber

rseymorejr · Dec 21, 2014

Bertfish said:
I'm not a fan of having to purchase may different types of ammunition. If the only calibers in the world were the NATO and USSR standard calibers I'd be fine with it. I already have a pristine pre-64 '94 Winchester in 30-30 and wanted a nice Savage 99 in the same caliber

I'm just the opposite. "I don't already have one" is a prime reason for me to buy a new gun!

BlackBart · Dec 21, 2014

Bertfish said:
I'm not a fan of having to purchase may different types of ammunition. If the only calibers in the world were the NATO and USSR standard calibers I'd be fine with it. I already have a pristine pre-64 '94 Winchester in 30-30 and wanted a nice Savage 99 in the same caliber

I agree with your philosophy. .22, 44 and .30 cal (several) pretty much sums up everything I own. LOT easier to load for. :thumbsup:

Bertfish · Dec 21, 2014

rseymorejr said:
I'm just the opposite. "I don't already have one" is a prime reason for me to buy a new gun!

To each his own my good man. Certainly nothing wrong with your thought on the subject, I just prefer to buy different types of guns but not different types of ammo

tdt91 · Dec 21, 2014

I see its a lever gun but dont see a tube mag. Is it a single shot or a carbine and I just dont see the tube mag?

Bertfish · Dec 21, 2014

tdt91 said:
I see its a lever gun but dont see a tube mag. Is it a single shot or a carbine and I just dont see the tube mag?

It is unique in that it has a rotary magazine which is loaded by opening the action

budman93 · Dec 21, 2014

that is a sweet rifle. I'm jealous. :thumbsup:

York Gun Show Acquisition - Savage 99

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