Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors A shift in the collection

Did you guys start out intentionally targeting certain guns? Were they for hunting or did you start in Savages collecting? Was it always an investment or how did you start?

My beginning was a single 99 in .375 for hunting. Ammo was $25 a box back then, big money by $7.99 30/30 ammo standards. But I was convinced it was 3 times better so I kept it. Killed alot of big stuff with that gun. John/saddlering now owns that same 99.

Went through a bunch of hunting guns looking for things that fit and functioned well for me, but landed back on the lever action Savage as my favorite. I think the lightbulb moment was when I realized other cartridges were available and if I wanted to, I could probably hunt other stuff with different 99's if I bought some. I'll admit it, I learn slower than some.

As I learned more about them, I found they were becoming a little bit collectible. Not Winchesters yet, but moving up. I found a little 99EG 250-3000 still in factory grease and bought it for $600. While researching it, I landed here. Since then, you basterds have cost me a small fortune!

Now that I have more than I need to hunt, I target certain models and calibers in nice shape to set aside. But I started as a hunter.

What about you, what's your story?

I pretty much started rifle hunting with a Marlin 45-70, I took my 1st deer with a 12gage, than a rem 742 06, had to buy my own rifle when the Marlin got bought! Im left eye Dom. but right handed so lever guns and single shot rifles are what I hunt with! Killed alot of deer with that 45-70, than got the single shot bug, than to make it harder the Black powder sharps ect. One day i picked up a Win.1886 light weight 45-70 made in 1901, took alot of game with the old girl, one rifle I wish id never have sold! My 1st 99 was a Saddlering 303 per my handle on here. Caught the bug from here owned 48 1899/99s at one time, have owned around 70 and alot of rare ones have come & gone! down to 4 now, and dont think they are going anywhere, hope not! Med. issues and life got in the way of my collecting, so that faze is over, did look at 2 99s today, but just looked! also anyone looking for a 410 savage 99 barrel I know where one is nice shape but I think been reblued All there for $250.00 PM me and Ill tell ya where! not mine!

I just started accumulating them after my vintage Harley bug died. Then one day I realized I had most of the models and most of the calibers and decided I needed at least one of each. Now according to my idea of what constitutes all the models and all the calibers I have at least one of each. Could this be mental illness?

I can't remember how young I was when the gun bug bit me, but my mom says I was still in diapers when I would point a finger and make shooting sounds at the cowboy shows on TV. I started out a bolt gun deer hunter in the mid-60's (milsurp Mauser sporter) which coincided with my first foray into semi-serious smallbore shooting, again with a bolt gun (M52 Winchester). I remained a bolt gun and single shot guy until nigh onto 40 years of age when I inherited my Dad's collection of Savages. God only knows how hard I had tried to talk the old man into giving up on those fool things and get into "better" stuff. (Mind you, I came of age during the early post-mil period and recognized them as being tinny junk and had little use for one. I also bought into the tripe about junk post-64 Winchesters too. All that served to prejudice me against the "second rate" Savage rifle.) Thank God he had better sense than to listen to me, although the bolt guns and Martini's started showing up in his house more and more.

As I was disposing of Pop's stuff, I took a hard look at those Savages (all EG's and older) and couldn't help but see the innovation and workmanship present in them. The seeds were sown at that point.

Do I venerate all things Savage? Not by a long shot. Have I made a spot for the 99 in my heart? Need you ask? Have I forsaken all else for the Savage lever gun? That is to laugh.

Truth be told, if not for you bunch of swell fellas I may have lost interest and moved on to the next Big Thing a while ago. Your enthusiasm is infectious, and feeds my interest. It's rather a lot like a pendulum- entropy will slow and eventually stop every pendulum no matter how frictionless it is made, but with a little impetus applied it can swing forever.

On the other hand, I've been getting the British roadster bug again...



Edit- Yes, I've got insomnia tonight.

Well after obtaining my 99 F, checkered straight stock model I decided this is what I would collect, sold off everything else to have funds available. 10 years and I still only have the one, seems a little uncommon down here LOL I would be happy if I could just find one in 22 h.p.

Johno

Back in 2004, a good friend of mine gave my wife a 99E in 243. Never held a 99 before that. If you look at my first post here on the 24, it is inquiring about that gun.

My wife only uses that gun for hunting. She has killed some respectable bucks with it. Never missed and recovered all the game. That friend was special to both me and my wife. Unfortunately, he is on his last legs now. His hunting days are over and it kills him not to be.

Basically, from that time on, I started collecting them. Have a couple now.

I've been a fan of the 99 ever since I saw an EG in .300 that was owned by a buddy's father back in the fourth grade. I still keep in touch with him and he still has his dad's 99. That rifle has not been shot in nearly 50-years and I seriously doubt it was shot much before that. Since then I've acquired a small collection of 99s and other Savages such as 19s and 23s. I too like old bolt guns and have a major weakness for 1903 Springfields and Krags. In that vein, and with my interest in Savage, someday I'd like to find a nice "Lend Lease" era Enfield. Savage made a ton of these for the Brits and they represent a major contribution on their part to the effort in winning WWII.

First deer rifle is one I bought myself in 1978. A Win 94 in 30-30. Oldest son has it now. Didn't really collect, just hunted.

Found my first 99 in a local shop 8 years ago or so and thought is was cool. A 99F in 300 Savage. I no longer have that 99F, but it is still my favorite of all of the 99's for hunting purposes. I still use one.

I still basically just hunt, but now I hunt in style....

Im just a gun nut !not specific to any brand,just like leverguns most of all. still got some guns i had when i was 12, got a bunch more since then!

Just been offered a near mint 1950's 99F in 250-3000. "Problem" is it has brown synthetic stocks. Metal is pristine. I'd love to have a set of those stocks to play with on another rifle, but then what, mismatched wood on a mint 250? What a conundrum.

Roy, I thought non-typical stocks were what you liked to work with. Synthetic brown ought to be an easy start for an all weather gun. If the price is right, you have options. Tom

Yeah, the stocks are great and I'd love to play with them on a different rifle, but what do I do with a mint 99F in 250 with no wood? It's not that I don't have wood I could fit to it, it's that the gun deserves better than mismatched wood, due to it's great condition. I guess custom wood is about the only option for that nice a barreled action. The price isn't a giveaway, but it's fair considering what it is.

I would never consider altering the 250 by making it an all weather rifle due to it's high condition. It must remain as good or better than it is now. The only way it could get better would be custom wood, and I really don't know if I want that project right now. I'm busy with work all summer and would be tying up $1000 until winter, then I'd have to spend a bunch more for custom wood, not to mention the time to fit and finish.

May pass on this one. The seller says it'll be on GB this weekend if I don't buy it. Look for it.

Relative's in the Catskill's,N.Y live on a 400ac. farm since 1949.Uncle's,cousin's,Father all shot 300Sav,EG's & F's.Once in a while saw a 94(32 Spec)or a Marlin 35Rem.Bought my first pre-mil 308F for $165 in the summer of 1976 and shot my first buck with it that Nov.

Would you sell the .250 sans the stocks?

Right after I first started deer hunting at 17, I borrowed a 99C in 284 from a friend's dad for several years. That went away when they moved, and that was it. 20+ years later I was helping my mother-in-law to sell off my FIL's guns, and tracked own this place to get info on this funky engraved, checkered, reblued, rebarreled gun in something called 250-3000 that dated to 1899.

Then I picked up an EG rat to hunt with.

Then I picked up an 1899A for fun at the range.

And one or two more in the next 10 years. And it's all YOUR guys' fault. Totally. Except my wife doesn't believe that.

PM sent.

[quote=Calhoun 99C in 284 [/quote]

That's a good start.

I'd LOVE to get my hands on that sucker sometime again. Might have to get hold of my highschool buddy, at one time I was told it was pawned off by his brother, but years later I heard he had it. Probably rusting in a closet somewhere.... GRRRRRRR!

Being from Kansas there was no deer season till 1964 so center fire hunting rifles were not common. My dad grew up hunting but took an interest in collecting Winchesters when I was around 5th grade. The Gun Digest and American Rifleman soon became my go to books and I was soon hooked.

1st 99 I remember seeing at a gun show was a 300, RS, recoil pad, Zeiss scoped in early D&T'd Stith mount. That was the 60's. Still have it and a few more.

At that time there was little info on the Savage levers...and little interest. Finally found the Murray's book. Had to read through it 3 or 4 times before things started falling into place. Later found the Gun & Knife Forum and other people with the same addition as me. Those were the days when the serial numbers ended at 566,000 in 1950 (Murray). How were we to know if a 99 qualified for C&R???

Then started the 24HCF and the search for info. I enjoy owning and shooting 1895/1899/99/pre-WWII .22's/pistols, etc. but I think the hunt for info has been the most interesting and enjoyable part for me. For as much as we have learned here there always seems to be something new to look into.

Thanks to all, old and new, on the "24" for helping me with my addition.

Back in 1966, I attended the NRA Annual Meeting in Chicago, if you can imagine such a thing. My interest at the time was mainly Winchesters, but an organization of collectors had a display of special order Savages. I was aware of 99's, as I read every Gun Digest and other book I could get my hands on, but this was the first time I had seen one with checkered cheeks in the flesh. I was hooked. Over the next few years, I always had a Savage or two, but still was enamored of Brand W. Finally, I realized it was not going to be fun to be pursuing guns I could not afford, particularly while my daughter was in college. Trapshooting and deer hunting consumed my time and finances; then, at the Missouri State Trapshoot, Bass Pro had a booth, with several 99's, including a deluxe of some kind WITH CHECKERED CHEEKS! I phoned my wife to tell her what I wanted to do, and to my surprise, she encouraged me. Picked up a first year .250/3000, deluxe wood and checkering. That later letter to the corporate secretary of Savage, J. DeP. Lynch. I was and remain hooked.

My fascination with the model 99 started in 2006 or so when I held my first winchester 88. It's a long story........take care. John

Dave, that Savage display might have been by a collectors group from California.

like gnoahhh i was born shooting. as far back as i can remember i was fascinated with lever guns. my first rifle was a 45-70 springfield and the first deer i killed fell to a slug from a model 24 savage 410. i became aware of the 99 when i met my wife's grandfather who had a 1899 in 250-3000.
wasn't until about 10 years ago i got my first as a f model in 250, then it was a f in 284, then a eg in 300, then.............
i still love anything in levers.

My dad started collecting Savages in the early 80's because "I can't afford Winchesters or the darn stuff you like" he would grumble as we stalked the gun shows. He would smile now to see how the tables turned.

"I can't afford Winchesters" ...been there.

That's funny! As a kid I remember my dad lusting after '99s. He couldn't afford those! The only rifle in the house was a heavily "sporterized" Westinghouse Mosin Nagant that was left to him by his Uncle Chuck. It now belongs to my son.

My interest in Savage lever guns was rekindled when I met Jeff Cooper at Graf in West Germany in 1987. He spoke highly of them too. Bought my first one, an 1899A, in 2002. Then I had a fascination with takedowns. An 1899H and 99F followed. Then a 99A Saddle Gun. I know, post mil crap! I finally ended up focusing on 1895's. Many have passed through here...

My "walking around" gun is a fruitwood stocked 99H in .303. According to David's book it's a V1-2. Love it!

I still can't afford any of them. My kids' inheritance has suffered.

Doug

No collection here. Just an accumulation of hunting rifles.

99's have been with me for a long time. I prefer EG's but own a few R's also. The 250-3000 is my favorite caliber.

Steve

This is about when it started for me.
The year before I tagged along with my Dad on a deer drive, he and I were standers in a creek bottom watching a snow covered wooded hillside. A string of deer came thru, Dad drops to one knee and rattled off a few shots, 99F (pic) a deer dropped. THAT was the coolest thing a 10 year old had ever seen! Then I was a hunter/hunter. Time goes on and hunter/shooter. More time and shooter/collector where I'm at now.

I'm somewhat anti Winchester. They are like what a buddy of mine used to say about Mustangs, opinions and your lower backside; everybody has one (my apologies to anyone possessing one of those three items). Winchesters, nice but a bit pedestrian. Savage 99, now thats one hella rifle!

I don't know,,, I could see myself filling a safe with Model 54's. (Anybody know of an affordable M54 .22 Hornet? )

Another anecdote about The Old Man, which actually set him on the road toward Savage. 1956 (I was going on 4 years old and this constitutes one of my earliest memories), and Mom had given Dad "permission" to buy a deer rifle with the income tax refund check, so he wouldn't have to continue borrowing a rifle to hunt with. As luck would have it a LGS had been flooded by the Susquehanna River and was having a big water damage sale. There on the rack, side by side, was a Savage 340 .30-30 and a Model 70 .30-06, both new but with a water mark halfway up their butt stocks. He had $60 to spend. The 340 was discounted to $40, the M70 to $60. He wanted the Model 70 so bad he could taste it but it would suck up his entire stash with nothing left over for ammo. He opted for the 340 instead, and had enough left over for two boxes of ammo and a hunting knife. We all walked out of that shop with smiles on our faces, got in the '50 Ford sedan, and stopped for ice cream cones on the way home.

Later, we went to the local gravel pit to "sight in" the new rifle. Mom even went along. The target was an empty one gallon gas can at what was probably 50 yards or so from the Ford hood which was the makeshift benchrest. I remember being Holy Hell impressed by the loudness and the fact that he hit it the can- this gun was truly the most awesome thing going in my young life. Perhaps it was a subliminal instigation for my current infatuation with things .30-30, and Savages?

I gave my nephew that 340 a few years ago, but I still have the knife, and the two tattered boxes of Remington ammo are sitting on a bookshelf. Geez, I'm getting a little misty eyed from remembering Pop and his 340 proudly posing beside the first deer he killed with it as it hung from our back porch. Somewhere I have that pic- if I can find it I'll scan it and post it.

Growing up poor, my grandad, who was actually "just" the old man next door that adopted me, built everything he could in his tiny woodshop. Any and everything was recycled, including wood, nails and screws. One Christmas he and my mom decided to go all out and build dad a real live locking gun cabinet, out of NEW wood. You remember, the kind everybody used to have with glass front doors made of plywood, usually oak, in this case birch, probably because oak was too expensive.

Dad was so proud of that case. I remember he had the old 30-06 Springfield, a sporterized Krag, his deer gun was a Marlin 30-30, mom's Mossberg 22LR, and his Remington 511 22LR. No shotguns for us, we were a blacktail deer hunting family, and birds were too small to be worth hunting for.

I remember sitting on the floor rummaging through the gun cabinet, dreaming of when I was old enough to hunt for myself. I went through the drawer underneath where the ammo was, taking cartridges out and rolling them around in my hand, pondering what I could kill with such things. I could look at the guns too since dad always left the key in the door lock. Even though we and most everyone we knew was poor, nobody stole anything then, so the lock was more in the way than anything.

There was one box of ammo in the drawer that dad didn't have a gun for. It fascinated me with it's Grizzly Bear on the front, and the name of the cartridge sounded positively lethal. It was something called a Savage 250-3000. I used to look at those cute cartridges and that Grizzly Bear, and dream of hunting both someday. I imagined what I could shoot with a mighty 250-3000, my imagination fueled by that big bear on the box!

I never knew anything about Savage 1899's or 99's then. But the seed was planted, and germinated in my teens.

I would love to look up from my loading bench and see one of those Grizzly Bear Boxes full of cartridges in the mighty 250-3000, just to remind me of a much simpler time, and dreams I had as a boy. Maybe I need to go shopping for one.

Do it, Roy. They're expensive, but it's only money. I have some ammo boxes from my formative years, duck decoys my elders used on the Susquehanna River, and other such memorabilia displayed all over my place. My ex-wife considered it junk and banished it from plain sight. Yet another reason...

My dad had a local woodworker guy (circa 1966) make him a solid walnut gun cabinet with glass door. Holds seven guns, two drawers below, and cost him a whopping $60. I have it setting in my bedroom today, with guns in it of course- all of my dad's guns I still have and a couple of mine. Secure? Nope. But my landlord lives downstairs and he's home all the time (he has put an honest to god 8,000 miles on the Yukon he bought in 2002), and is even better armed than I am.

Gary, you keep your landlord in the basement guarding your guns? Dang, I need to get me one a those.

That was my job as a 10yr old(early sixties), to run out an set up the water jug's at 40-50yds.My Father & Uncle's would whip out their 300 Savage's and 180 Corelokts, demolish the jug's ( open sight's)and almost alway's had their buck's hanging the next day.

Maybe in our striving and hoarding, we've lost sight of some of the simple things. I think I'll ponder that a bit...

Indeed.

Shot my first buck in 1976 with a pre-mil F 308 with a William's foolproof and a few thereafter.Scoped rifle's were nonexistant.How time's have changed.Now everyone is bent on shooting 1" group's.

You know what they say about the man with one gun. To that I'll add that maybe it enriches our appreciation of what we have and how we use it. Or at least it makes for better memories - perhaps even better experiences.

Nope, scopes aren't necessary.....but plaid and blue jeans are.

Funny how everyone has gotten into the bench rest game, even if they had no intention on doing so.

Winchesters are fine, but they are like Schwin bikes were when I was a kid. You paid an awful lot more for just the name. My first store bought bike was made by AMC - the bowling ball company that also owned Harley Davidson. They made cheaper Schwins. I rode the krap out of that bike. My next store bought bike was actually a John Deere. That's because my Dad worked for Deere and got a good discount. It was a 10-speed and I swear it was built as stout as their combines!

99's without sights are good to go as well.....

That would be AMF for the Harley's.

AMF, sorry, I stand corrected. Pardon me but it was 6:00 AM out here and I had no coffee. But it's still the bowling ball company!

My dad bought me my first Model 99 when I was 16 years old. (1967) Prior to that I used my dads Winchester Model 94, 32 special..I worked in a department store as stockboy in 1967 and was taking rifles out of the box and putting them on display. When I opened the box for this Model E 300 Savage, there was a hairline crack in the stock. When I showed the crack to the store manager, he told me to re-package it and send it back to Savage. I ask him if he would consider selling it at a discount price. He told me since I worked there, he would give it to me for $75.00. Well, my dad ended up buying it for me and I used this rifle for deer hunting for the next 35 years. Still have it today, still has the tang crack, and still has the Sears "Ted Williams" 4X scope on it that my mother bought me.
I didn't purchase my next 99 until 2008 at a gun show I was at. It was a really nice EG in 250-3000. From there I became addicted and have about 65 today. Was able to find every caliber and a lot of nice originals going to gun shows and auctions in Pennsylvania. Haven't bought one in about a year, but still looking and still have the itch..

Cheers

Joe

[quote=S99VG]You know what they say about the man with one gun.

I have one gun. I don't think I have shot anything, with anything, but my 250, bought it about 20 years ago. I have a bunch of other guns too, just haven't shot anything with them, Joe.

As soon as I shoot something with a gun I lose interest in shooting something else with it and go on to something else.

Well, if all goes well I pick up a 1922 Springfield I've had on layaway this afternoon. I may go shoot something with it. Now if I'd just snagged an 03 NRA Sporter back when I had the chance...

I always wanted an 03 sporter. I went by Springfield Sporters once, about 25 years ago. They used to say they had hundreds of thousands of military guns. The day I went by they closed early. Called them last year and it sounded like they were barely in business now. Wanted a Martini action and he said he didn't think they had any. When I talked to his Dad years ago, he said all of the rebar in their parking lot was old rifle barrels, Joe.

I just checked Springfield Sporters website and it looks like they are still in business. They are only opened on Friday and Saturday. All sales from the show room need an FFL. They said a C&R covers most of their stuff. Show room pics show hundreds of military arms stacked, Joe.

I just a week ago picked up the most common 99 in my collection, an EG in 300. Took awhile to find a good one, albeit with sling studs. Seems they were popular because they were used! I've had real nice EG's in 308 and 250-3000 but never a great one in 300 until now.

Still looking for a 99E in 250-3000. I see two available now but both average shape and been D&T.

Would like to get an 1899 30-30 of some persuasion or another to compliment the barrel band I hunt with.

Going to look at an uncheckered EG 300 Monday that would look nice next to my checkered EG 303.Kinda gravitating to those pre-war tomato stakes lately.

I first fired my grandad's SRC in .303 in 1952 when I was 9...at midnight on New Years Eve everyone in town shot their rifles up on to Jackson Mountain outside of Lonaconing Maryland...people lived up there, but apparently came to town or hunkered down behind whichever car they had up on blocks. I'll never forget how beautiful and deadly that rifle looked. It was originally owned by my great uncle who was a mining engineer in New Mexico, killed in a bar by a co-worker. Another great uncle took the train west to avenge the murder (Scots family) but the guy was already in jail, so he came home with his rifle...after a circuitous journey through my family, it ended up in my gunsafe, and will go on to one of my grandson's when the time comes. The other Savages in the safe came later. My only other rifles are old .22's and a Steyr-Mannlicher Alpine Carbine with a set trigger in .270 that I bought at the Rod and Gun Club on post in Bamberg, Germany in 1970....it took its share of deer as well.

I know some consider it mundane, but I'd like to find a 40/45 in .30-30. I have one in .30-06 and would like another one in a different caliber. I always figured the EG was like the 94 Winchester and 36/336 Marlin. A good honest working gun, which is not saying anything negative lest you think that honest work is a less than honnerable pursuit.

johnsavage, I'm an old Marylander. My family settled in Monkey County in 1721, I knew two Savage brothers, another John and Alvey, they have both passed now. I think their father owned a sawmill in the Boyds area. Any relation? Joe.

That was a long time ago.

That's certainly one pissed off looking bear! I'm not so sure I'd go up against him with a .250!

Right in the throat patch, lights out.

Why don't I just put this out there that I'd like to buy a box of that ammo.

Fireball

If you get the Western bear box in 250 it won't stop their as Winchester's bear box in 250 has the bear down on three legs with an uplifted paw. Kinda like 99's and potato chips. I speak from experience. GW

Well stink.

Yea, the bear is pretty cool, but this one happens to be personalized. Just for you Fireball.

Living in New Jerseystan long guns are the only practical guns to collect.

I started with 12 gauge riots guns and have tried many
The keepers are now:

Riot Guns
Remington 31
Winchester 97 Solid Frame
High Standard 18-7 Deluxe old dark walnut
(The high standard might be sold soon)

Winchester pre-64 70's


Ithaca's


Old Savage 99's one needs to go