Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors New Savage 99 owner

After years of lusting after the ultimate lever action, I got a deal even a Yankee horse-trader (me) couldn't pass up. I recently acquired a 1920 serial numbered 99F Featherweight Take-Down in 30-30. It came with a Weaver K-4 for less than three bills. Well worn, wood shrunk back from the metal, gunked up with what looks like 90 years of lube and dust, but smooth metal and works fine. My big question, is there anyone out there who restores 99's like Turnbull does for Winchester's or Colt's? I can do most of the metal work myself to clean it up, but I'd like to take off the scope, put on a receiver sight, clean everything else up, and replace the wood with something that fits and looks right. Any help would be appreciated.

Photographs?

Yeah... Pics would really help in seeing what you can/should do to the rifle...!!!


Mike...

Turnbull does 99... got $3000-$5000?

http://www.bosesofnebraska.com/

Several here have used these folks.

I only have photos on my home computer. Wifey and I are trying to load them on her shutterfly account, but you would need her password, and that ain't happening. I'll keep trying to figure out some way to post pics.

rewooding is practically impossible,

As mentioned, Boses of Nebraska can do a good job of duping the stock, run you a few hundred. Sounds like you can do the rest yourself.

Something to consider is that you can probably find a nice hunter without the extra holes for $600-$800.

Welcome to the forum!

http://navyogre.shutterfly.com/pictures/8

Link to photos. Thank you all for the suggestions so far. I have done some careful restoration of shotguns, percussion rifles, and military stuff. Hopefully nothing that anyone would call "Bubba-done", I learned from a pretty good gunsmith in VA. I'm pretty confident about the general cleaning, light buffing, and metal finish, but I'd like a pro to redo the case hardening and at least a head start on a nice stock and fore end. Can't help having a thing for curly maple or the like.

I think it will restore nicely, if that's what you're looking to do. I've got a refinished 99F in 30-30 from the same year, only thing I don't like about it is they didn't do a good job on the stock finish.

While I love folks who do a great job on restoring the old trashed ones, I presume you know you'll never get your money back?

"While I love folks who do a great job on restoring the old trashed ones, I presume you know you'll never get your money back?"

I've wanted a 99 since I first saw one, a long time ago. Wanted something with character, not a new one, even though they were available then. Got busy with a military collection and just never found "the right one". This one's clean lines called to me. My restoration will not be to pristine new condition, but to what could have been had this one been more cherished throughout it's 90 year life span. I intend this to be a labor of love and something I can pass down to the grandkids.

That's the best reason to do it..

Here's my 1920 99F in 30-30, reblued and refinished and d&t. Same as yours, it just kind of called to me..

Beautiful. That's pretty much what I had in mind for mine. I love the stock figure, did that come with it or was it a replacement? Thank you for sharing, and inspiring.

Rory, yours looks to have the heavier barrel, and NavyOgre's looks to be a tapered barrel. Is it just my eyes...???


Mike....

Actually, I think the stock finish is what you get when you use tru-oil and don't get it into the wood very well. Most of the figure is just shine from the finish and not the figure in the wood.

I've started stripping and expect it to be a fairly normal piece of wood when it's finished.

Mike, I think that's just an illusion from the picture.

Edit: Yep, it's an illusion. 20" featherweight barrel. I've got a 99C from same timeframe, and that barrel's a LOT heavier.

I'm on the fence with this one. On the one hand, it already has excess holes in it and it is the gentleman's do with as he pleases (and it sounds like he knows what he's doing). On the other hand, it looks like it gained it's patina honestly- every scratch, dent and rub mark has a tale to tell if it could only talk. For that reason I would tend to leave it as-is and hunt hard with it. That's just me, I wouldn't find fault if went in either direction.

Considering the "repaired" damage to the stock behind the tang and by the buttplate, and the bubba work done on the rear d&t, I don't think anybody will care much if it gets a facelift. He can always keep the original stock, and I would suggest doing that.

Amen...!!!


Mike...

As I look for the proper replacement stock set, I will probably repair the existing stock. I learned how to do the military style graft a while back. Cut with the grain on the longer cut, and select something that matches fairly closely, and most folks never notice unless I point it out. If I go so far as repairing the toe and behind the tang, should I graft some smaller slices on to smooth the metal to wood transition? That repair would be virtually invisible. All the tapped scope holes will be filled with blind studs, leveled, smoothed in, and finished to match the receiver. All that will remain are four circles in a line.

Would likee to see before and after pics. That's all way beyond my skills.