Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Tom Gillman custom build 99 savage

I have a mod.99savage rifle that I believe was built by a man by the name of Tom Gillman that is a beautiful piece of artwork. what I am looking for is anyone that can tell me anything about him or his workmanship and anyone who may have known him personally. So I can put a better idea of an insurance value on this rifle.

A Mannlicher 99. The only other one I've seen is in Ken Waters "Pet Loads."

Mannlicher [img:center][/img]

Maybe I should have said Mannlicer style stocked 99.

Back in the 1960's, Fajen used to list mannlicher style 99 forearms as an available option in their catalogs. But not nearly as nicely finished as the Gillman built rifle.

I can't wait to hear more about the Gillman 99, pictures?!!

There are other mannlicher 99s out there..., just sayin'

this stock is hand made hand checkered out of a birdseye maple with a walnut inlay. I have to work today but I will try to post some pics this evening.

Roy, I didn't know those old birch stocks could be made to look that good. I'm not a custom fan but they didn't hurt the looks of that 99-E one bit...sweet!

i have been trying to download pictures but i don't have them posted on a web site. How do you post pictures?

Easiest is to get a Photobucket account, upload them there, then there's a field where you can click which will copy the link to the picture into memory. Then come here and paste that link.

Why did this song pop in my head when I saw that rifle? LOL

This I hope will get some attention but these pictures really dont do it justice! But this is one fine piece of work! And the fact that it is a 225 win.cal. has really had me puzzled since savage never made one in this cal. as far as I can tell from all my research, if anyone can tell me more I would greatly appreciate it. Thank You!

AFAIK, the only rifle that Savage ever cataloged in 225 was the 340V.

I understand that this was not built by savage because the barrel is not stamped by savage so that is what makes me believe that the whole gun was a custom build.

Well given that everything has been irreversibly altered on this rifle, it no longer qualifies as a Savage 99...., but....

That is one extremely cool variation on the 99 theme!!

I can't wait to hear how the 225 win cycles through the rotary magazine, and then, of course how does it shoot!!

I'd like to see how the forearm is mounted to the barrel, while You ever have it apart.

the swivel of the sling mount threads into the barrel.

Is it held on by just that single screw?

It is a thing of beauty, me thinks.

Yes. but the end slides into the end of the action with a good snug fit and the screw holds it good and tight.

Note how far forward that screw is, Mike. Is the ferrule on the barrel dovetailed into the barrel, or is it swetted on?

PS How long is the barrel?

Sorry I haven't replied sooner I am away from comp. for periods of time. But to answer your question, the swivel of the sling threads directly into the bottom of the barrel. The barrel length is 18inches long. I'm also trying to find out what the twist would be or how I can find out.

To measure rate of twist: draw a straight line on your cleaning rod from end to end- magic marker/Sharpie works well. (Confirm straightness of the line by sighting down it and catching a reflection of light and comparing. Light travels in a straight line.) Then fit a tight patch onto the rod and push it into the bore. Note where the line on the rod intersects with a witness mark on the end of the barrel. Make a hash mark on the line on the rod at that point. Carefully and slowly push the rod into the bore, allowing it to turn with the rifling, until it makes one full revolution, ie: the line comes around to the witness mark on the barrel again. Stop, and make another hash mark on the rod. Withdraw the works from the barrel and measure the distance between hash marks. Voila- rate of twist.

Note: A lightly oiled bore makes things easier because when I said a tight patch, I meant it. You don't want the rod/jag slipping inside the patch and giving a false reading. Do a couple readings to guarantee accurate results.

VERY NICE RIFLES. LOVE THE WOOD.
STEVE

Beautiful rifle. Fireball, I like your style of comparison.

I Have a 1899-A S/n 1006xx
Started life as a 30-30 then was sleeved to a 225
Posted this years ago, may have been on the old G & K forum
But everybody felt the pressure would be to great for the action

Over the years reading this forum I understand that the receivers pre S/n 90,000 were weaker and they improved them from that point on
Am I correct? in thinking this

I have a box of factory ammo and a bucket of brass Dies & projectiles
Whats the thought of you good people, should I tie it to a tree and give it a shot

The change at 90K was from the square back bolt to rounded one. That was to eliminate receiver cracking.

The significant change came somewhere around 170K when they started heat treating to handle the .250-3000 pressure. I can't find the exact SN change. Our dear departed lawyer friend was the expert on that one.

You might load them down to the .22HP range. Hodgdon's states that if they show a load using H4895 then you can reduce to 60% of the max load.

You could even load them down to .22LR or .22 Hornet range too for plinking loads that are more fun than enough.

Cheers
I Stand more informed
Must look at a reduced load when I get time

I have been looking for any 225 win ammo or loading components I can find! If you decide to get rid of it I can help!