Rick, I am not reading 3rd hand sources. I am reading newspaper articles and such FROM 1896 about the National Guard trials. Dozens of articles, multiple newspapers.

There is no indication that 100 rifles were submitted. Why would the committee take 100 guns when all of their testing was at ranges on only single guns? In fact, when Winchester and Briggs-Kreeland were claiming Savage only won by colluding with the panel, one of the arguments they made was that there was only 1 Savage gun made and so purchasing the Savage was tantamount to buying a wholly experimental firearm. That argument made no sense when I read it because Savage would have sold a thousand 1895's by then at least... But if they only had one designed for 30-40 Krag it makes some sense.

PS: that's not to say that every fact I've stated above is 100% accurate. We all know how badly reporters can screw up.

Last edited by Calhoun; 12/09/16.
“The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”.
All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered.
Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com