Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 serial numbers

The serial on the bottom would have been stamped after the receiver was made and before assembly. The new "Series A" serial on the side was added after the rifle was completed. As this rifle was started late 1968 and completed early 1969 it has ended with two serials. The one on the side would be the correct number to use. Since it has the LBC it might have been an error in double serial numbering it. I wonder if the 1181xxx serial is logged as a completed rifle?

This is the first I've seen stamped with two serials. I wonder how many more were made like this? This is what keeps the subject interesting. Always something new.

Calhoun and Rick99
Thank you for the information. I was confused about the two sets of numbers.
In 1966 my wife bought me a 99C for our first Christmas together.
I was in the Army in Colorado and used that rifle to hunt deer and prairie dogs. When we moved back to Michigan, I traded that rifle in on a Remington 1100. I always regretted getting rid of that rifle. Even more so after my wife passed away. It took me about 3 yrs to find another 99C that was not all beat up. I am happy to find out that this rifle is from approximately the same era.
Again, thank you for the information.

I have acquired another Model 99 and hope that someone will be able to assist me in determining the Date of Manufacture.
Caliber: 300 Savage
LBC: 4, I have studied this with magnifying glasses and it is definitely a 4. There is no circle around the stamping.
Barrel length:24 inches
Brass Rotor
SN:5036**
Thanking you in advance for your help
thom

The 4 isn't a date code, just an inspection stamp. Your rifle will date to 1948, which is one year prior to the start of the lever date codes.

Calhoun,
Thank you for providing the information. I really appreciate your taking time to help.
Thom

I have a Savage 99 serial number 521883. I believe it to be manufactured in 1948-49? There is no lever date code on the rifle that I can see. I was curious, however, when the brass rotor changed to something else. The rotor in my 99 is not brass.

After the War brass was in short supply so several guns were built with steel rotors. They are usually case colored as well.

Looks like it should date to around the end of 1949, maybe beginning of 1950. Look on the front of the lever and above the serial number for an oval stamp with 1 or 2 numbers followed by a letter. If the letter is an A, then 1949, if it's a B then it's 1950.

Don't have my notes with me, but think that's maybe a bit early for case colored rotor? Maybe not. There are some plain steel ones that pop up after the war, though.

Like I said, no lever code is on the rifle. The rotor does not appear to be case colored, but rather plain colored steel. Interesting variation, the rotor being steel. Thanks!

Oops, yeah, no date code. Not always a dependable thing.

There are some very early 1899's in the first couple years that seem to pop up with silver colored rotors, don't know if they are steel or some type of pot metal. Then we have some that show up after WWII, then we have a fairly big batch of steel ones that are case colored in the early 50's.

Two of my 99s have the steel rotor, one is a 99EG and the other is a 99R. They both have the same LBC which is "D"

How do I know what model my savage is, i.e. EG or F?

The 99F is marked on the right side of the barrel, they were introduced in 1955 the EG was made from 1935 to 1960 and has the schnoble tip forearm.

Rups63, your rifle will be either a 99EG or a model 99R, they were the only models made at that time. A 99EG will have a thin forearm with a Schnabel tip, the 99R will have a fat and wide forearm with a rounded tip.

EG it is! Thanks!

Hello, just got my Granddaughter her first hunting rifle (that makes 3 generations of us with a 99 as first hunter).

300 Sav, 21" bbl, rounded for end, lever safety, fore end has a "W' or 'M' pattern checkering, round counter (looks like brass, have yet to confirm it is not just some varnish or dried oil).

Has scope screw holes, front bead site, filler in the rear site slot (raised bbl ring for this), has a tang mounted Redfield peep, smooth finished bolt.

Unfortunately, it has also been reblued, including the lever (sad). Looks good though, the refinisher shouldn't have used shiny finish clear coat. Too thick as it takes all the grip out of the checkering.

That made it easy to cut 2" off the stock and mount a Limbsaver/Simms butt pad. Left her with ~12.5-13" LOP (need to remeasure it).

Shot 5 rounds through it. @ 25 yds got ~1.25" group from prone. Didn't get back to shooting it again this trip, more in the future. Shooting Win 150 gr (of the Fed/Win/Hornady ballistics, Win is the worst). Grand daughter sot one round said it hurt. She doesn't know she is getting it for Christmas. I took a picture of her with it. That will be in the cleaning kit she gets under the tree. She's a bright girl and will have figured it out.

I will see what it takes to have it rechambered. Make it the same as Mom's tang safety A.

Serial: 7716xx; lever code 236.

Thanks!

That would be a Savage 99F, barrel should actually be 22". Nice featherweight.

Don't rechamber it, the internals are too short to handle a 308 length chamber. The internals changed starting with serial number 900,000. You're pretty much stuck with 300.

If you reload, try any medium load with a 150gr or 180gr bullet and it should kick a lot less than the factory 150's. Still kills deer just as dead, too.

Good job!

Thanks!

I figured that the Hornady would be the 'off the shelf' go to round (if it shoots it well). And she can shoot it well! Priorities....

She will not hunt with it this fall, but next fall. Plus, a birthday scope will come her way.

I may have to look into a 3 lever case hardening deal. It's just such a nice detail on these rifles -- sets the tone (yes, pun intended).

I measured the bbl at the muzzle end of the receiver ring -- an it is a fraction over 21", so if 22" includes the breach end, it would be ~22". Any idea of year(s)?

Rifle should date to 1955, that lever code of 236 is almost surely 23G. Barrel length does count as the entire length, so 21" to the receiver is about right.

Got a gentleman here on the campfire who case colors levers, give him a bit and he'll probably speak up. It does add class to the rifle.

Always fun around the campfire!