For the kind folks contributing to this thread, and anyone else:
1. Serial Numbers on receiver, forearm, butt-stock (under butt plate) all match, including scratched on the backside of the butt plate. I am not sure if the latter is �normal� but might be in the case of a �special order� that received a little extra fitting attention. All other markings are as expected. Yes, I checked before I posted. If not genuine expertise, I might have assumed at least some sophistication from someone that had a copy of Murray�s book on hand for several years before he bought the rifle in question.
2. As to �cold scrotums�, I have only experience with my own. So on scrotums I gladly concede expertise to those with obviously much broader, hands-on, experience.
As to wood shrinkage on 100+ year old firearms, I own enough to have an opinion regarding observable variation. I did indeed consider your picture before expressing my opinion to the effect that I am not sure you are right. I�m not sure you are wrong either. In any event, you may note that I bought the firearm assuming it had been fiddled (in addition to being scoped and sling swivels added) and have begun seriously questioning this conclusion only on looking carefully in good light and with aid of a bore scope and magnifier. As I said, if refinished, work quality is a lot better than most I have seen and the firearm was in very good shape before being refinished. Rifling is as new.
3. Refinished or not, with the rifle in hand, I assure you that neither in terms of gross contour or smoothness or surface appearance is the right side of cheek-piece sanded more or less than the left. With the rifle in hand, I would subjectively characterize the bluing as a �high luster blue,� but considering how color sensitivity and balance vary in digital cameras and in display monitors, I don�t know how, except perhaps on surface texture, one can confidently say what several of you said from afar. I don�t have another same period Savage with still unworn enough finish to make meaningful direct comparison. But I do have a couple of mint Colts and a near mint Winchester from the period. The blue is a little bluer (less blackish) than the Winchester and a tinge less �plum colored� (purplish) than the Colt. But I can not imagine drawing such distinctions from a digital color photograph unless two or more differing weapons were side-by-side.
4. Price or value from my view isn�t the point except as it may lend credibility to the seller�s story). For those that are historically literate and absolutely have to know (so they can laugh or cry), multiply the number of terms actually served by FDR (including the fraction of the last) by 100. This will get you within a sawbuck. The sticker price, which was way too much in my mind for a probably refinished rifle was better than 3 times this amount. I NEVER MENTIONED PRICE IN THE TRANSACTION. After you have done the math (and first perhaps consulted Wikipedia) you might consider the credibility of the inferred brag relative to my claims and the pictures. Married or not, it�s nice you know both your parents.
5. Thanks to the several of you that recall previously seeing �authentic� M1899�s with at least plated levers. The Seller referred to them as �chrome plated� though because of Savage catalog entries I am referring to them as �nickel plated.� Appearance wise, they are like a high condition Nickel plated colt from the 1920�s, so I am guessing at nickel, I think Blair made a plausible observation about bolt polish but is wrong because the high shine is visible on ordinarily invisible bolt surfaces, including areas of unpolished roughness. Looks like plating to me. And it�s not silver. If done later, the plating could of course indeed be chrome.
The comments on plate thickness (particularly as it might influence the bolt) are interesting. Here I can only comment that the action of this rifle displays a lot more slickness than a mint 99 in the safe from the mid 1950�s with less shake and rattle than this rifle and a couple of older, more worn, 1899s. The trigger on this piece is wonderful without being overly light. Before or after leaving the factory, I�m pretty sure this trigger was honed by an artist.
As to �option availability� the list in Murray on page 5-21 in consideration of patent dates on the same page would suggest AT LEAST until 1913 and Murray�s notes on the 250/3000 model indicate that it specifically bundled together many of the most popular �options.� The serial number on this rifle dates it to 1916/1917. I think it likely the �Nickel Plated Trimmings� were available �Special Order Features� when the rifle was made.
6. The intriguing thing for me is that our �Savage collector authorities� who are so insistent on �originality� have not [yet] said exactly what Savage meant (at least as late as 1913 - kudus to Murray) when Savage printed literature said you could order a M1899 with �Nickel plated trimmings.� Without a pretty good understanding of such information voids, it seems to me that more than one original piece has been falsely dismissed by the �expert�.
