Savage 99 looneyism defined: Purchasing a shotgun because it resembles a Savage 99.... if one squints hard enough.

The Savage 99 is a 1939 EG in .300 Sav.

1927 Lefever Model 2. 'Long Range Field and Trap' 12 ga Single barrel, top lever break action. This model Lefever is a bit uncommon and even better, undervalued.

Makes perfect sense to me. I once had one of those Lefevers (actually made by Ithaca) too, but mine was a .410, so not so much resenblance to a 99.

My nitro special 16ga sxs carried the Lefever name, also a Ithaca. Had that same roll stamp on it.

You take very nice photos!!

Just sand the checkering off the shotgun and they will be a much better match . Or, sell that first model EG and buy the standard, "tomato stake" issue EG and you will have a nice match too.

Boltman,

I have the bench belt sander fired up. With the 80 grit belt, it won't take but a second to follow up on your first suggestion. Pics to follow. <grin>

Savage and Ithaca must have used the same vendor for grip caps. They are interchangeable.

Holy crap. I have the same ones. although my 99 is a 1954 EG in .300, the the LeFever is identical.

Polarisjeff,

I was at the range yesterday to zero my 99s for the upcoming deer rifle season. While there, I shot the lefever for the first time. The X-full choke smoked the thrown clay targets when I hit them. Had to switch to scatter loads to up my percentage. It is a nice carrying/shooting shotgun and I'll take it out for grouse a time or two this fall.

Do you hunt with your Lefever?

I haven't for quite a few years now. But when I did, buckshot kept nice tight patterns and brenneke slugs would group 3" @ 100 yds 1" high. But with slugs it sure kicked.
The story on mine is that when my Dad was much younger he was hunting with his group and the firing pin broke. One of the oldtimers there took it apart, took an old steel crib board pin and filed it down to match the old pin. That was 65 years ago and that crib pin is still there and still works.

Enjoyed hearing the history on your Lefever. One pleasure of old time firearms is trying to obtain their history.

Reading these, I think I will break the old girl out this fall and put her back to work. That thing has so much history, I think it is time to make some more.
And of course I will have the 99EG as usual.

I have a Savage mod 440 over/under in 20 ga. double triggers, mod and Imp. cyl..in excellent shape and it looks much like your shotgun..I'm not much of a shotgunner, but I do really love this littl Savage shotgun and I can really pop upland birds with it.

I bought this minty Stevens 5100 20 gauge SXS for just such a reason. That plus the condition and Chicopee Falls Address. LOL!!!

Really nice Stevens.

By the photos, I would not call it minty. To me, minty is something that went from factory box to gun cabinet. That one has condition, used in the field as designed and well cared for afterward. There looks to be a hunting history in that piece.