1st, intro. Hi I'm Brian. Just found the site today and never dreamed there's such excitement over these old savages.
2nd, I'm such a tease, no pics right now and the gun is at home so I don't even have serial #'s, but I WILL bring it with me tomorrow and take some pics and list the patents and serial #'s
3rd, So I got to talking guns with a buddy the other day and started Googling for info on my Savage (what I thought was) Model 1893, 30-30.
I think I'm wrong about the model but we'll find out tomorrow.
Any way what I know is I have one of my grandfather's (or great grandfather's, I forget) rifles.
It's a savage lever action 30-30 looks like a 1899. I do remember it having the 1893 patent date stamped on it, has the remaining shots indicator . Generally in decent shape, action works fine, some pitting in the bore, shoots ok (IIRC low and the the right, I need to sight it in.)
Here's the thing that's baffling me, and I know it can't be answered till the pics and #'s are here, it has a half octagon-half round barrel .
Oh great and wise Savage Arms aficionado's can you shed any light on this gun for me. I know you want the #'s and pics but we have to wait till tomorrow, sorry.
You can rule out the 1893. Not likely to be a 1895 in that caliber so that leaves an 1899 C if a standard production rifle. 26 inch bbl was std, rifle butt stock w/o a pistol grip, uncheckered.
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed-unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." James Madison
Welcome, Brian. Congrats on 1) having a family heirloom rifle, 2)having the ultra cool 1899C, 3) in .30-30. Very cool that it has been handed down. Get us some pictures!
If you're right about it being a 1899C how many were made and what kind of value does it have, and NO it is NOT for sale no matter what the answers are, I'm just curious.
I sold off a few heirloom guns many years ago and, short of my kids starving, I will not do it again.
When ever I talk guns with my dad I get all excited, he's got a decent collection, some I've grown up with, and many more that he says I've never seen. He's cagey like that and teases me all the time with statements like, "Why do want to know what I've got, you'll get them all one day." I usually reply,"Why can't I enjoy them now with you, I guess I'm greedy I want to play with your guns AND have you around, too."
Some of the ones I remember are a Winchester '94 in 25-20, a 22 Hornet semi auto (was my favorite squirrel gun as a kid but it's been so long I don't even remember what brand or model) and some kind of huge and very heavy cap and ball muzzle loader, that he says unfortunately disappeared from the family farm after my grandfather died.
Of the early standard models, the saddle ring carbine and the 1899C are probably the most uncommon. It does bring a premium because everybody loves a half-octagon barrel, and the ones in 30-30 are popular.
Value will depend totally on condition, and alterations and if it has any special order features. Somewhere between $400 and $1200 probably. Just my opinion..
Some of the ones I remember are a Winchester '94 in 25-20, a 22 Hornet semi auto (was my favorite squirrel gun as a kid but it's been so long I don't even remember what brand or model
The Winchester may be a '92 if it is in 25-20. Is it possible the semi-auto could be a 22 magnum in stead of a 22 Hornet? Just asking.
Everything you now do is something you have chosen to do. Some people don't want to believe that. But if you're over age twenty-one, your life is what you're making of it. To change your life, you need to change your priorities.
Some of the ones I remember are a Winchester '94 in 25-20, a 22 Hornet semi auto (was my favorite squirrel gun as a kid but it's been so long I don't even remember what brand or model
The Winchester may be a '92 if it is in 25-20. Is it possible the semi-auto could be a 22 magnum in stead of a 22 Hornet? Just asking.
You may very well be right about the Winchester, the .22 is definitely a Hornet. I'll call my dad later and ask what model it is. The more I try to recall it the more I think I'm wrong about it being a semi auto, now I'm thinking it's a bolt action.
They say when you get older your memory is the... wait what was I saying?
I dug out the Savage, here's the barrel stamping:
Savage Arms Co. Utica, N.Y. U.S.A. Pat Feb. 7 '93. July 25 '93. Oct. 3 '99. Cal..30
The second 9 in the Oct. 3 '99. is obscured like maybe a defect. I'll bet that's why I was thinking it's a 1893.
30-30 stamped on the receiver end of the barrel.
The serial # is 23.1XX. Stamped across receiver bottom in front of trigger guard.
It's in better condition than I remembered and, as far as I can tell, all original with no mods and not drilled for scope mount.
probably nicer than average 1899C... it does look like it may have seen a little cold blue touch up over the years but hard saying for sure from the pics (and back in the day this would have been thought of as really taking good care of the gun despite what collectors might think today). Also, the head of the stock does look pretty oil soaked... don't saturate the mechanism or barrel of these guns in gun oil thinking you are preventing rust b/c that oil soaks into the wood and makes them both dark and soft. Lots of ppl have started storing their guns with the barrels down b/c of this...
2)What finish would the stock have had originally? (It looks to me like there's some varnish or shellac on it)
3)Any special care tips?
4)Would you shoot or hunt it? (I know that's a personal preference, I already know my answer: I would bang the crap out of a supermodel, antique and classic cars, bikes, trucks, planes, etc. were made for driving. So along those lines I'll probably shoot it, but not hunt it.)
5) If you were buying (as I said I'm not selling) what would you pay?
1) Yes, schnabel means "beak" in German. You can see the resemblance of the schnabel forearm to a beak.
2) Not sure exactly what was used. When new they did have a shine to them, yours looks pretty good actually for a gun that was used.
3) www.oldwestsnakeoil.com is good stuff to hit your stock with once or twice a year. Not too often, but it will help bring a dried out stock back to life.
4) I'd definitely shoot it, it's not a safe queen. The biggest risk to that is getting a crack behind the tang if it doesn't already have one. If the thought of that bothers you, then don't shoot it.
Nice rifle, especially given that it has family history. Enjoy it!
For some reason when my dad gave it to me he implied (or I inferred) that it's not a very good gun.
It's nice to know that I'm wrong, but in a good way. Usually when I get values of anything mixed up it's in the other direction and my silk purse is usually a sows ear. An old wore out crappy sows ear at that.
It makes me wonder, though, if pops thinks this wasn't one of his better guns then what's he got stashed away.
Now that I'm learning more about it I may have to order the factory records for it. Does anyone mind posting the contact info for me?
I'd be stoked to find out that my great grandpa bought it new, and being from upstate NY I'd guess (or hope) there's a fair chance he did.