Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors bausch lomb savage 99

I am looking for a set of mounts for a Savage 99, anyone have one that they are willing to part with??? TIA!!

I don't but there are a bunch of B&L mounts for sale on Gunbroker. I'm leaning the same way with a 57 EG, but instead of the B&L mounts I'm using an older Leupold Adjusto base and rings. I can't decide to go with a Balfor or a Balvar 2.5 to 5. I swear B&L's names for their scopes sound like they come straight out of Norse mythology!

I assume that you are looking for the adjustable "Bal-Var" mounts.

If so, there are 3 different styles of B&L "Bal-Var" adjustable bases for the Savage 99.

1. The earliest style is a 2-piece set with the front base installed via the factory d&t holes and the rear base installed via the factory d&t holes for the front tang peep sight hole and the rear scope mount hole. This style can use either the plunger style or clamp-spring style rings.

2. The next style is a 1-piece base that uses the factory d&t holes, not the tang peep sight holes. This style can use either style of rings.

3. The final style has a 3-pieces, 2-pieces in the rear and 1-piece in the front, using the factory d&t holes, not the tang peep sight holes. This style can only be used with the clamp-spring style rings.

Also, FWIW, the "Bal-Var" bases were all made by Kuharsky Brothers in Erie, PA. After B&L stopped cataloging them, Kuharsky Brothers marketed them under their own name. Either Kuharsky Brothers or H.E. Gibbs made a clamp-spring style ring set that is unlike any cataloged by B&L.

After Kuharsky Brothers stopped production, Fred Warren from Cleveland, OH, had hundreds, maybe thousands, of the less common "Bal-Var" style bases made. Back in the 1980's and 1990's, Fred was probably the largest dealer in the B&L "Bal-Var" bases and scopes, bigger than the better known H.L. Gibbs in Amsterdam, NY. Sadly for firearms enthusiasts, Fred's passing in 2012 took a living reference away from all of us.

Baltur = 2.5x
Balfor = 4x
Balsix = 6x
Baleight = 8x
Balvar = 2.5x or 5x, like the Weaver KV
Balvar5A = 2.5-5x
Balvar8A = 2.5-8x
Balvar24 = 6-24x target/varmint scope.

The Baltur and Balfor came in 2 styles, with and without belled objectives. Baltur/Balfor had straight objectives, while BalturA/BalforA had belled objectives.

Arghh... Someday I'll learn the names of all those Norse gods! Do you have a preference? Thanks.

Can you tell from the photo which model this is? It is variable, but low power, and has a very low range of variation. Something like 1-2.5 or 1.5-3 maybe.I'm guessing it is among the first variables, and can't find much info about it.

Old Balvar 4 I'd guess. 2.5-4X No markings on it? Later ones had lettering on the bell.

Does anyone have a preference for a particular model of these scopes?

Balvar = 2.5x or 4.5x, B&L's answer to the Weave KV.

Early, 1st style, 2-piece bases and plunger-style rings that were intended for the Baltur, Balfor, and Balvar without a belled objective.

I don't care for the later Balvar5 or Balvar8 with the tapered crosshair reticle, as they taper to such a small/fine size that they are hard to see in low light. I think that they are interesting historical items, but not terribly practical for serious use in the field.

Thanks! That's the one that caught my eye, no pun intended.

I have a later model on a Winchester. I find them to be of very good quality; especially for the price you can still find them for.

A later Balvar 5A or 8A with a later-style one-piece base and clamp/spring rings.

Though I loathe to say it, that is one nice looking Model 70.

There's nothing wrong with a bit of diversity.

If it makes you feel any better, I own more Savages than Winchesters.

Those old B & L scopes were the favorites of my cousins and uncles in the 60's.. Most were mounted on model 99's.. Mine went on a model 54 Win.. and is still there today..

It was said "tongue in cheek."