Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors BillR, ran into a W.F. Sheard 1899 yesterday

Gray 1899A, pretty worn, had "From W.F. Sheard" and "Tacoma, WA" stamped on the receiver if I remember correctly. Was worn enough to make it hard to read. Serial number was 69.223. Rear sight was a blank, front sight looked like a standard blade, so no Sheard sights on it.

Thought the info might be interesting to anybody who may have one, found an old thread where BillR said he had one.

Also ran into a Savage 1895B with serial number 8186. Since I think Callahan has said 8200 was the highest # in regular progression that's a very high number.

I wonder how many Savage 1899s were ordered by Sheard with that marking. Mine is an 1899H TD in 303 but it was ordered with an extra 25-35 barrel ... which I don't have!!
Thanks for the info ... there are likely more out there. I did see an 1894 38-55 half round button mag Winchester with the same marking a few years back.
BillR

Good question, I've heard he stamped all the guns he sold through his store so I'm surprised we don't see more.

He did but only John can tell us how many rifles were shipped to him. Give him a call and see what he says. I'm thinking that he won't say much as anything other than the cost of an individual letter is breaking his rice bowl. Can't say as that I blame him but it would be nice information to have.

I have a Savage 22 (forget which model?) stamped W.F.Sheard.

I know my brother the "DICK" has a few ,also some marked Browning bros. Don

I have a complete receiver drilled and tapped with some big dents in the sides. Was thinking about having a machinist turn it into a cutaway to use in my display. Is it too valuable to do that? The action still works and the magazine still turns. David

Wouldn't think it's that valuable if it's got dents and d&t.

Gut it. Repair the dents then put it back together and build something extraordinary.

Some time ago I had a Winchester 1886 stamped "W F Sheard Livingston, Montana" just behind the front sight. It was an early 40/82.

That would be a great use of the receiver Skid.
But David. To me your display has a value far beyond money. And I'm sure you have a great amount invested in it. If you feel that a cutaway receiver would add to your display then that would be a valuable use of it to.

Skidrow, I have an aftermarket 22-250 barrel. Wonder the circa 1903 frame could take the pressure?

Can't really give any worthwhile advice as to that. Even Savage wouldn't do work on the early square bolt rifles before serial 90,000. They'd either replace it or send it back stamped "salvage" from what I've learned. I will refer you to Calhoun who has one that was rebarreled to 250-3000 if I remember correctly. It was found that the square bolt receivers would sometimes crack in the corner. I can say that in the '50s Savage would rebarrel 303s to .300 and 250-3000 but they would re-heat treat the receivers. On the other hand, you could have that 22-250 barrel re-bored to a lower pressure cartridge like 38-55 or some such.

The one I have is a family heirloom that was put together back in the 50's as a 250 Savage, and I only shoot medium handloads out of it - and not very often. It was done by a gun designer/builder who very well may have heat treated it as he reworked it, but I have no idea if he did.

But the 22-250 has a higher pressure rating than a 250 Savage or 300 Savage. No way would I recommend putting it on an early receiver. I'd stick with anything from 1920 on..

I definitely want to put a cut-away receiver in my display but I'm just not sure I want to do it to this action. It would be pretty cool with a Manlicher full forearm in 38-55 and a 20 inch barrel. I don't go in for custom guns much but could make an exception for this one. All of my 99's are pretty unmolested with the exception of about 3 that have recoil pads and a 99G .300 tack driver with a Bushnell scope and the required four holes in the top of the receiver. David

,I have 6 spare recievers ,no internals ,if we could find a way to get 1 to the US you can have it

norm

Several years ago I bid on a pair of 99 receivers on Gunbroker. Didn't realize until after the auction closed that they were in Canada. Told the seller to hold them while I did the import paperwork. Took me a while to figure out how to handle it and while doing that time went by and of course as usual I was procrastinating. Two weeks after the auction closed they showed up in the mail. On the other hand, it probably never happened.

one just never knows with customs

norm

If i wanted a display receiver ,i would reload a 303 with a case full of red dot and stuff it in a old brown junk rat 303 and put a long string on it !!!! lot more style then a chopsaw !!!!!

Sir, I would welcome a Youtube video of said adventure.