Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors quick ? -"EG", does it stand for economy grade?

Don't think I've read whether the "EG" stood for "Economy Grade". I was wondering, since this model was introduced without checkering. When they stopped the EG, the 99E came out and it was clearly marketed as Economy grade. ... guess I'm just curious.

There wasn't anything utility about it when it came out. The 99G was the deluxe takedown, the 99R/99RS had been introduced as the premier hunting rifle, the 99K was the showboat. If anything, the EG had a pistol grip feature not shared by the 99H/99A/99F at the time.

Anybody have a price list for '35-'38, be interesting to compare the price to the other models.

My take (guess) is that it was an "Economy G" since the essential difference was no TD feature and no checkering at the start.

Feb. 1, 1937 prices:

99A $47.00
99G 54.75
99EG 47.00
99F 51.00
99T 53.00
99H 44.25
99K 78.75
99R 53.50
99RS 64.00

Ammo in Savage calibers $1.38 - 1.74 per box depending on caliber

One of each, please.

Adjusted for inflation the prices are cheap compared to today's rifles.
$740.69 for a 99H up to $1,318.18 for a 99K.
Could you imagine buying a rifle with the quality of a 99K for only $1300??

I can imagine it, then reality steps in, Joe.

Only a 23% hike from an RS to a K? Surprised they didn't sell more. Expected it to be double or more.

But prices show it to be no more "economy grade" than the 99H or 99A.

Thanks for the prices, Jaaack!

I think that EG stood for EG and nothing else.

Well, if the folks here don't know, then nobody knows.
I'll just say it must stand for an "Excellent Gun".

Works for me! But you do daylight an interesting question. What was the method used by Savage for designating different models of the 99?

The catalogs at least in the 20's called the H the economy grade rifle. I thought maybe EG was a cross between an E which had just been discontinued and a G. The E because the EG was a solid frame and the G because it had a pistol grip and grip cap. Sort of a solid frame G which is what it evolved into when they added checkering. David

David, that makes perfect, logical sense.

Every now and then I do make sense. But not according to my wife.

Bingo!

What you're describing is an economy grade G (no takedown) which is what I said. I think.

Somewhere I read that the letter codes for the 99 was to expedite ordering over the telegraph via Morse code. Is this true?

If so, did the Morse code itself influence the 99 letter code?

The Savage 1899 model names such as 1899A, 1899B, 1899C were created by Doug Murray when he wrote his book based on the telegraph codes used to order the configuration.

The 99's all had models designated by Savage. In fact, that in my mind is the best spot to use as a switchover from the 1899's to the 99's.

The exceptions in the 1899's would be some of the 1899 models such as the 1899CD, 1899A2 Special, 1899 250-3000, Leader grade, Monarch, etc. Those names were given by Savage and not by Doug Murray.