Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 99 Lever Curvature

Are my eyes playing tricks with me?

It seems some levers have a pretty sharply rounded curve whereas there are a few that have a gradual slight curvature.

Am I perceiving something that is not there, or is there truly a difference?

Back when I originally posted this question about lever curvature, I didn’t have any good examples to illustrate the difference I perceived.

Thanks to the post about King engraving, here are some examples showing the curvature difference.









Back to the original question, what are the reasons for the difference? Were the different curvatures offered simultaneously, based on model variant? Was the flatter lever replaced by the more curved lever? If so, when?

Can one of you esteemed historians fill me in?

Early 1899's used either no curve or very slight curve on pistol gripped guns.

Then they went to a slight curve like in your last example.

Then when the Model 250-3000 came out in 1914 with a pistol grip cap, they went to what would become a "standard" pistol grip curve. Like on the Dodge guns.

Hey Fireball, are you holding on to the straight levers for a reason? Would one fit a 900,000- 1000,000 serial range? I am a potential buyer of one. Your thoughts, Alan

The key words are "Early 1899's". Most other models had pretty standardized levers.
It is also key to know what you are looking for. Some of those older levers curved or not are difficult to find.

"...straight lever... Would one fit a 900,000- 1000,000 serial range? "

All 99's were pistol grip in that serial range. Are your numbers wrong or are you wanting to put a straight stock on one?