Some confusion reading this forum pre-1mil vs post-1mil..

read a recent post concerning the value of pre 1mil and post 1-mil...as being greater..but the poster followed with a comment that the machining and metal were unchanged. Is the lever safety of greater value, the tang safety of lesser value...is it the quality of wood used for stock, the brass rotory mag? In a nut shell....what's the "magic" of 1-1,000,000 as opposed to 1,000,001? TIA MK

The serial number is a little misleading. In 1960, Savage's operation was moved from Chicopee Falls, Mass. to Westfield, Mass. This was also the year that the Model 99 reached the one million milestone, hence the "pre" and "post" one million remarks. All of the guns serialed below 1,000,000 were assembled and finished in Chicopee Falls.
 
 In 1960, Savage made a few changes to the 99 (tang safety) and began to introduce cheaper versions (the 99E). Some would argue, and rightly so, that features from the cheaper versions began to find their way on to the main line versions of the 99 (pressed checkering, poor quality wood, excessive grind marks, etc.).

The pre 1 mil. rifles had several differences to the post 1 mil. rifles. The pre 1 mil. rifles are closer to the original design of the 1899/99 . the fit and finnish is better than the post 1 mil. rifles and the post 1 mil. rifles are where they started with the impressed checkering. As far as value is concerned usually the pre 1 mil. guns are worth more ,but there are differences as to model and caliber which have a great influence on value.
 
 snowchaser

it is a low 1 one million sn# made in 1960 (M10) with a barrel made in Chicopee, brass rotory magazine, hand checkered furniture with a tang safety. I find this stuff very interesting. My hunting parner was given a 1923 made .300 model 99 over Thanksgiving which sparked my interest in my Savage 99F.

The 1960 rifles are transition guns. The Mod-F and the new DL had the tang safety but still had good wood and Chicopee barrels. The Mod-EG and the Mod-E were left over parts and were basicly pre-1million rifles. The EG was dropped and the E became the real E for "economy" rifle. Your Mod-F is only a couple hundred numbers from the beginning of the Westfield barrels.
 
 Rick....

Rick, my recent purchase was a model E in 308, 20 inch Chicopee barrel, lever safety, lever boss stamped with an M, and a plated rotor. Is M '61 or '62 DOM? Did they just chop the EG barrels to 20 inches? Its a cute little thing and I couldn't pass it up at $ 225!! Thanks in advance ,Mark

Birddog65,
 
 You are correct, the "M" is 1961. I think I earlier implied that "M" was 1960. The cut-off of Chicopee barrels was early 1961. Your Mod-E is one of the new style. What is the serial range?
 
 Rick....

Rick, it is a 10274xx. The quality still seems to be in this rifle. When did the Chicopee barrels run out, and action quality go down?? The only thing wrong with this gun is that the safety is a little loose , and it rattles when the gun is moved. I haven't taken this one apart yet , so I don't know whats up with that

Birddog65,
 
 I was told they stopped around 1,022,000 but guess what! As there were no 20" barrels used till the new Mod-E was made, it don't seem that these would have been made at the Chicopee plant. Murray shows the Style #9 Chicopee markings used till 1,094,xxx but I have record of Westfield by 1,042,xxx. Either way, yours is an early new style Mod-E. The Model-E continued in production through 1984. The quality of the action was not in question, only the wood and surface finish.
 
 Rick....

Rick,
 
 F.Y.I. - I've got a Model F, Serial # 1,042,1xx that has a barrel that doesn't fit any of Murray's listings. The barrel is marked... (top line.. SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION / bottom line... WESTFIELD, MASS. U.S.A.)
 
 Since types 8 and 9, both have "CORPORATION" I would guess that this would be an early Westfield product following the old way of barrel marking. Then at a later date, they dropped the "CORPORATION' and just listed Westfield- Any thoughts on this?
 
 Gary

Gary,
 
 Sounds about right. We can call it a STYLE 9 1/2. The same thing happened with the early 1899's. Thanks for the info.
 
 Rick....