Which calibers/models are most common and which are the scarcest?...of Savage factory production not wildcats.

Also, I wonder how many collectors/shooters have one of each...Thanks, Tree

The most common is definitely an EG in 300 Savage. There is much debate as to the least common.

I'd venture a guess that no one has an example of every variant.

I've heard a rumor that the 99T in 22 HP is the least common.

There have been books written on this topic.

There are some that are never seen. The fellas that study such things being the only ones that might know about them. One I find particularly scarce is the D takedown in 300 Savage. Only seen this one but I know of others around.



The early 99E's aren't often seen either.

I have a D takedown in 300 with a 26" 410 barrel. It's for sale. I put it on the classifieds a few months ago. It's too much trouble posting there considering that the add essentially disappears in a few hours. That is, it falls many pages down in a few hours. I should probably put it on gunbroker but I don't like them either.

I've held a rumor like that.

Not counting factory prototypes, the pre war 30-30 R has to be on the short list of rarest...

Not catalogued though, they were apparently made as special orders. If you get into special orders, there's a lot of one off specials. 99R's in 303 probably rate up there as one of the more uncommon varieties.

Obviously any non-MHG musket is way at the top of rare catalogued rifles (remember the MHG's weren't catalogued either ).

A few special grades are way up there for rarity - Monarchs, Premiers, etc. Any 1899 engraved with G style engraving.

99T's in 22HP, 99EG's in 22HP, 1899 SRC's in 38-55, 99DL's in 250-3000, 1960 99E's with schnabel tips, any 99C with double diamond checkering, cut checkered 99DL's in 284, etc..

I'd have to say the later 99Es would have to be on the "long list" for most common.

I probably won't live long enough to find the T 22hp

I think theres a lot of us on that list !!!

So do they wear a takedown barrel or solid without the cut?

I have seen one 99T in 22HP, but it wasnt pretty. You dont hear much about 99Ts in 303 Savage either.

I got lucky and found one recently. Cute little bugger but not mint.

Roy, does it have a takedown barrel? I know some of the solid frame 22hp did have curious on the T

No it doesn't. Has a T on the front of the receiver.

Every 99 in 25-35 that I encounter, which isnt very often, looks like a train wreck

Drew had 2 crispy 303 T's. One had unbelievable wood on it.

I tried to buy one of them when he sold a bunch of his guns a few years back, but he wouldn't part with them.

I wonder what became of those guns?

How about the checkered F from the late 30’s cant be many of those

As far as I know, every standard 99 in 22HP with an original barrel is wearing a takedown barrel whether it's solid frame or takedown. 1899's in 22HP also, but that's obvious since the only catalogued 1899's in 22HP were takedowns.

Not many made and I think one in 22HP would beat out a 99-T, 22HP.

For this quiz I think you first have to list all the variations before you can put them in order. Who wants to take that project on?

I'll start.

99EG in 300 Savage.

Next.

First you have to define what constitutes a variation.

That's a tough question right there.

But you're looking at 57 basic models, and 140+ variations of them. Add in different cartridges, and it's much higher.

Most rare catalogued? Okay.. 1899D musket in 30-30. It was catalogued and there's no reason it couldn't have been made. I think a count of zero known to exist might win the rarity contest.

Most common? 99EG in 300. With 99C or late 99E in 308 possibly going as high.

A correct checkered F in 22 HP sold on GB last year. About 2K if I remember correctly.

Probably the only one they ever made.

Nope, theres one in the vault, .I was drilled and tapped for the early cross drilled weaver rings,to bad but is what it is.

How about an 1899-A, short rifle-heavy barrel circa 1921. 20 inch crowned barrel in 30-30.

Wouldn't that be a 99-C with a shorter than standard barrel?

Got an SRC in 25-35 and almost bit on an SRC in 38-55 once, I think that one went stateside to Dick IIRC.

My 1895 SRC is being buried with me.

Got my R's in 300, 250, 303, 308, 358 and still missing that 243R.

You would never know that the tomato stakes in 300 were the most common for what I see them selling for on GB these days, have people gone nuts?

Yes, yes they have. I can pick up a nice prewar 99RS in 300 for less money than I can buy a restocked 284 for. It's crazy times out there.

Still after the 99R in 303, and of course the 99R in 243. And the cash to buy them with...

The most scarce 99 to me is a 284 PE, LOL off the subject but just had to comment.

I think my hardest to find 99 was a SRC in 32-40. Still lookin for a 25-35 with a nice bore.

I bought a Spiegel edition in 303 Savage. That has to be a little on the uncommon side. Would love to find a Mossberg scope and mount for it. That is really rare.

Maddog
Epps wants $1494 CDN plus 13% tax for a new reproduction Winchester 1894 38-55 carbine (plus tax = $1575). I think a vg 300 Eg at the current prices is a bargain compared to most new stuff.
Bill

Bill, they're hitting $1200 for a 300 EG in the U.S., it's a mad house, a mad house!!!!

Wasn't to impressed with Epps, emailed, phoned for weeks and nobody could tell me if my Weatherby in 284 Win was even in the shop or even accepted it from the post office, then all of a sudden it shows up at my door with a work order inside saying they did the bolt recall but yet the bubble wrap I sent it in hadn't even been taken off.

Not a factory type, but at times it seems the most common 99 to find are those that had the butt stock cut for a kick pad, the receiver drilled right throuh the Savage roll stamp for a scope mount (maybe even for multiple mounts), a redone stock with an 1/8-inch of varnish slathered over a heavy handed sanding job, and with stripped out screw head slots and holes. I'd add Marbles compasses and Redfield 102 sights but frankly those features only elevate the desirability of such specimens in my estimation.