Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Lever boss code?

I have an EG, s/n 507650 in .250 and would expect a lever boss code of "A" but it is an asterisk *. Any information on this mark will be appreciated.

With that s/n should be 1949 with LBC A. Is the asterisk in the oval circle or just by itself? Is it an asterisk or something similar? Is it where the LBC is normally found?

There is no oval so it stands alone 1/8" above the junction of the lever.

I have an EG #504,2xx that letters as Jan. 26, 1948. It has an asterisk where the LBC is normally found. I suspect your rifle was made in 1948.

That would seem to explain it, a late 1948!

we know that just prior to stamping with the A in 1949, that Savage stamped with an *. As I recall, we generally consider this an indication of a 1948 rifle but can't recall for sure if any determined that with certainty.

Savage started producing 99's in Chicopee Falls in early 1947 with serial number 500,000. They were up to serial number 520791 when they started stamping the A lever boss code at the beginning of 1949. I have EG's with serial numbers 5027xx and 5070xx that both have the *.

I think I've seen other, earlier 99's with the * stamp, so I wouldn't start calling it a 1948 stamp. Then we'll end up with 99G's that people swear dates to 1948.

I think that date refers to a ship date. The serial would indicate a late 1947 production. The "*" was used from the start of Chicopee production (May 1947) until the letter date code was added in 1949. I've also seen the "*" used on earlier pre-Chicopee rifle as it was just an inspectors stamp.