Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 1899 worth

I am in the process of downsizing. I have a Savage 1899 takedown model that I am thinking about selling. It has been a safe queen as long as I have owned it. The serial number dates it to 1923 from what I have found online. It has a Lyman rear peep sight as well as a flip up sight and a Lyman front sight. Bluing is thin on the receiver. I am pretty sure that the case is handmade and not a factory item. I am guessing that it's value is in the 2K range, just looking for a sanity check.

More pics....

Caliber?

Reality can be found by searching for more than one bid completed auctions at gunbroker.com. It may hurt your feelings but is the best source of unbiased information. GW

I hate to rain on your parade but that front sight didn't come out until 1926 with the introduction of the medium weight barrel. A 1923 rifle would have the lightweight barrel which means the forearm would be later if it has a later barrel. The receiver's serial number is stamped on the forearm near the rear of the barrel channel. It is also stamped on the buttplate and the rear of the buttstock. You have to remove the buttplate to see the numbers. The first three digits of the serial number would be helpful. You also need to post the caliber. The case isn't factory.

Caliber is 300 Savage. The 1923 date came from an online serial number database here

http://www.savage99.com/savage99_dates.html

Nice looking rifle!

You need to confirm that your gun has matching serial numbers on the components as described above. Value is greatly affected if their is a mismatch.

Neat looking case, despite not factory as stated. Nice rifle.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt.../savage-99g-in-300-for-sale#Post12578223
The fact this hasn't sold yet both surprises me and can be used as the sanity check you requested as well.

Gregintenn,

In fairness to the OP, this is the only place I have it posted. Pictures help, and I don’t have them.

I am just a poor salesman, or, I really want to keep it. Even though I have THREE 99Gs in 300. Lol.

To the OP,

You will know what it is worth when you actually sell it. Other than that time, we are all hot air. At $2K, I would expect for you to own it for years. And “years” was meant to be plural. At $800-900, a matter of weeks to months. Just depends on how fast you want to sell....

If it was me, I'd first take it to the nearest Cabelas and hope to find the same buyer who thinks a 99G and 410 barrel without a case is worth $3K.

2K?

Stayin out of this one...

Dogsled,
Looks like you have a nice 99G. And the case is nifty as well, probably meant more to the fellow that made it, but probably doesn't add much value for that reason.
The pics look pretty good, although a crack or a hole somewhere would affect the value.
What is the serial number on the belly of the rec'r?
You type 1923, but wouldn't be the first time someone mis-dated a rifle. I've done it numbers of times.
The reason the serial number/date of manufacture is important is that the 1923 date and the raised ramp front sight don't jive. At least as we understand it today. If you would confirm s.n.'s (rec'r, forearm, butt & butt plate)and that they match that would help. (some 99G's have 3 digits of s.n. stamped on the underside of the barrel as well).You may have a 99G with an earlier raised ramp than previously known.
There are some knowledgeable folks here and add good questions & comments. Sometimes one of the challenges is weeding out the comics, gun snobs and hot air.
The balls in your court. Provide s.n., which match and whether or not the barrel is s.n. marked and we'll go from there.

Thanks for all the feedback. There is no serial number that I can see on the inside of the forearm. I looked on the barrel and do not see a serial number either. I have not pulled the butt plate. The serial number on the bottom of the receiver is 251XXX. My guess at its value is based that on a gun digest book of gun values that is several years old that puts a 99G takedown in VG condition at $1400 with a plus up for peep sight. That said there are about 4 pages of 1899/99 models listed and I assumed the G model since that was the only one that listed a pistol grip and the serial number is in the range listed, so I could be off there. Just trying to understand what I have before going forward.

Dogsled,

I will be frank. If someone offers you $900 for the rifle, I would seriously think about taking it. Above that $, you may find it hard to sell. Even at $900, it may be hard. A takedown model G is nice. But it is in 300 Savage, which is or near the most common cal out there in that model. The case isn’t worth much.

It’s your rifle, so good luck in whatever you do.

RAS

I appreciate your candor. The Savage is outside my area of expertise, which is why I came looking as I said for a sanity check.

Well, Gun Digest and blue books are only a guide. Gives you an idea of potential value, current value could be plus/minus, it's all dynamic. But you're on the right track. Bear in mind perfect condition is rare, medium and lower are more common.
251xxx appears to be ~1923. The raised ramp front sight is still a mystery as they are "known" to have been several years later as noted previously. Could be an early raised ramp?? or the barrel could have been changed at some point?? That's why the s.n.'s are important. May give a clue as to whether or not the rifle has been changed or modified over time.
You can perform searches on gunbroker for example to see current sale prices.
If I was to guess a value now, I'd get my butt shot off 'cause some info is still missing.
I think I can safely say it is more than $500 but less than $1500. Doesn't narrow it down much, but that's where I'm at.

The buttplate shape and marking on this rifle are correct for 1923. A 1923 rifle should have a lightweight barrel. The earliest date I have seen for the medium weight raised ramp barrel is 1926. Hard for me to believe Savage had any of those kicking around in 1923. Look at the bluing on the barrel compared to the rest of the rifle. To my eye the wear on the barrel is not commensurate with the wear on the receiver. The OP states there is no evidence of a serial number on the forearm. The forearm channel would have to be enlarged from the lightweight diameter to the medium weight diameter which would obliterate the serial number stamping in the forearm. I believe this rifle was rebarreled. When was it rebarreled? The OP has not said anything about the barrel address. What is the barrel address? The second picture is the only one that shows the top of the barrel, and the picture is not very clear, but from what I can see it does not look like a typical Savage address. A close up photo would help.