So, we have two people (1 is me) that has shot this gun and demonstrated that it is damn accurate, especially for a lever gun. Refine the wood so it cosmetically is better looking. Then what makes this gun not superior in function to the pre-war guns? In fact, if it is inferior as so many say, what makes this gun inferior? Surely the latter 99's were made of the most up-to-date metals.
It all boils down to personal preference. If you like your gun, that's just cool beans. Guns (not ONLY Savages) that were made in the period of MAJOR competition had to cut corners wherever they could. Quality suffered. You've got stamped parts where they were once machined. You have wood either without any embellishments OR ugly fugly pressed checkering. Almost NO hand fitting (inletting) of wood to metal. You just can NOT compare the quality of ANYTHING from yesteryear where pride in craftsmanship mattered. You are talking for the most part to a group that enjoys the finer things in life and prefer NOT to own an ugly anything.