Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Is my 99 original? (Pics Added)

Greetings All,

Having been a hand loader and borderline rifle loony for some time now, I have long known of the 99, but never had the pleasure to own one. That has changed.

My FIL was big into shotguns and trap shooting, but showed little interest in rifles. I didn't even know he owned a rifle, much less a 99.

Long story short, he pulled this thing out of the closet and decided I should have it as he is to the point that he can no longer shoot (not that he shot it anyway).

Last night I wiped the dust off, took the forend off, cleaned the bore, waxed and conditioned the wood, and shined her up. I dare say it is as near a 100% rifle that I have seen. Absolutely spotless. Bore is pristeen. Not a scratch on the wood. Bluing is beautiful. Gun is mint.

The only "rub," there's a Williams peep sight on it. From what I have found here, it seems that this is a Chicopee Falls 1950'ish (5518##) production. I actually like peeps, but would prefer this rifle to be original.

My question is was this drilled and tapped, or could the Williams sight have been placed where some of the old Lyman tang peeps I've seen on some of these other rifles? The peep is at the very rear of the tang and theres another hole with a "blank" in it about 3/4 of an inch forward of the peep.

Secondly, if this has been drilled and tapped, how much does that decrease value?

Not that it matters I guess. I have already ordered a 300 Savage die and plan to hunt with this rifle this fall. I've never been the type to buy a Cadillac and only drive it on Sundays... A rifle such as this deserves to be in the Michigan deer woods. It has waited 60 years for its chance at a big woods whitetail.

Any thoughts?

Sounds nice...

The tang was factory tapped at the rear. If you can post some pictures it would really help...

Mike...

I was hoping you would say that.

Pics coming tonight.

The Williams sights were originally made to fit the screw holes provided by the Savage factory in the tang. Later production of Williams sights were made to fit the receiver screw holes that were intended for scope bases immediately behind the rear of the bolt. The cocking indicator was covered by these later sights and I found I had to drill a hole in the underside of the sight base for the indicator to rise into. These sights would have been early in the production change over. Don't know if Williams ever changed the sight to accomodate this issue or not.

Well, being it's 551,8xx, that's going to make it either a 99R or a 99EG. The 99R's were factory d&t for a scope at that time and had a rounded forearm, the 99EG's weren't d&t and had a schnable forearm.

However.. I believe there were a few EG's in the 550,xxx range that were factory d&t. Sounds like yours isn't one of them.

So, since your's isn't factory d&t it sounds like it's probably a 99EG.

Now, the rear of the receiver on a 1909 through 1959 Savage 99 has 3 holes. 2 holes for a tang or peep sight, and one hole which holds a cocking indicator. Here's a pic of my 1952 99EG with a peep sight and no extra holes on top. There ARE extra holes on mine for the side mount, but the top is correct.

As you can see it is a scnable forend.

Pics don't do it justice. She's a bute.

93EG?

Factory drilled and tapped for the peep?

ITs a pre. Mil EG, factory D&T looks nice, now go bust a deer with it for your buddy! John

Looks like a real nice rifle from the pictures!! If you want to get an original rear sight and put it away for later, you can do that and still use the peep for hunting. Can't fix the sling stud holes in the wood, but hey, the rifle is for hunting right??

Congrats on the rifle!!!

Mike...

Forgive my ignorance, is that "pre-millitary" 99EG?

Glad to hear it is factory D&T'd.

Been a long time since I've hunted with irons. But there's NO way on God's green earth that this thing is going to be scoped. And yes, I am planning to use it as my primary deer rifle this winter.

Now, to start working up loads. This is going to be fun!

Mike, I didn't realize they didn't put sling studs in these. Oh well, I'm darn glad it has them. And yes, this rifle's days in the back of a closet are over.

pre-mil is pre-million serial number. In 1960 the serial numbers of the Savage 99's hit 1,000,000. Pre-1960 is the same as pre-mil.

Very nice rifle, I'd hunt is as is once you get a good load.

Pre-Mil is for pre-million serial number, which would be rifles made before 1960.

Let us know how she groups. I think that you just might be surprised at how accurate these lever 99's can be!!

Mike...

Don't know where you hunt or what but you won't be in to bad of shape with that sight set up in the Eastern woods. Nice rifle you got there.

It certainly has its place. We whitetail hunt in the Huron National Forest (NE Michigan) every year the third week of Nov. Shots are rarely in excess of 50 yards, and hardly ever over 100 yrds. This rifle is going to be just the ticket.

It is a very light hearted laid back camp. The kind of camp where you're just happy to have been there - deer or not. Toting this classic will be a joy.

Could it cost me a WT at dusk bc I don't have the light gathering capability of the 4200 3-9X40 Elite on my .30-06? Yup. Is that offset by the fact that I could kill a WT with my FL's classic rifle in a classic chambering? Yup.

Where is that die???

Very nice rifle you have there. Your FIL must really like you! I am working on a 664,0xx Model 99 that wasn't stored properly and it is a mess but cleaning up pretty good. Is yours chambered in 300 Savage or 250-3000 or something else. Good luck with it.

300 Savage.

i shared this rifle with the campfire in 2008. the pics are no longer hosted. i could take more. but as you can tell, from the remarks, it's in good condition. quite good for the age.

i shot this rifle at the range a couple times, but have never hunted with it. other interests prevailed and now i find most of my time spent in following a dog around the uplands.

i'm considering selling it. prices seem to be all over the board. there's a small shop here in my small town that offered me $500. now, given that i don't have to ship the gun and will have cash in hand, would you folks agree this to be a good starting point on price?

For a gun in that condition I'd be looking for $600. Gun shops never pay retail of course but you should go for more than $500.