Bought a 99 yesterday, serial number 714xxx, 300 caliber, 24" barrel, redfield peep sight, pistol grip stock, all originla finish, sling eyes, case hardend steel spool, counter, under butt plate and on the wood & forend marked "EL10" What does "EL" Mean? Is it a RS or EG? Im so confused and am trying hard to learn Savage! TIA, PAUL S

Going to be either a 99R with a fat and wide forearm with rounded end, or a 99EG with a thin forearm with schnabel tip. Possible that it's a 99RS with a Redfield, but more likely it was added after market. Any chance of pics?

The EL10 is just the assembly code, stamped on each piece to ensure they were matched up at the end. Since everything was hand ground and fitted, parts didn't necessarily swap.

Welcome to the 99 club!

Forend is wide, drilled and tapped with markings over to the side. will try to post pics soon. Thanks

Welcome to the 99 jungle is more like it!

Paul...

Welcome to the Forum.

Without knowing the Lever Boss Code on your rifle, it's difficult to say whether it was made in 1953 or 1954 due to a "mixing" of serial numbers during those years.

Savage began using what we call the Lever Boss Code ("LBC") in 1949. The LBC begins with a number (the inspector's number) followed by a letter which indicated the year of manufacture. In 1949, the letter used was "A". In 1950, they went to "B", in 1951 to "C", in 1952 to "D" and so on to the letter "Y" in 1971. The letters "O" and "Q" were skipped due to their similarity.

Apparently... and for unknown reasons, some rifles were pulled off the assembly line and set aside. Then, later, they were put back on the line and the manufacturing process was finished. This created a situation wherein the rifle's serial number may not accurately ascertain the year of manufacture for SURE. Thus, we can fall back on the Lever Boss Code to determine the year of manufacture if the rifle has one.

All the Model 99s (to the best of my knowledge) manufactured from 1949 through 1971 (inclusive) had Lever Boss Codes inside a small, lightly embossed OVAL located on the lower front side of the receiver opposite and just above where the lever rotates. Often, the OVAL in which the LBC is stamped and the LBC itself are so lightly impressed that it requires a magnifying glass to see them... and then, some of the OVAL and/or the LBC may be too lightly stamped to be fully determined.

Below are excerpts from my records. As you can readily see, your rifle's serial number could fall in either 1953 or 1954. However, if you give us your LBC, you can then be more certain of the year of manufacture.

E= 1953: 6664XX (19E), 694,7XX(19E) 699XXX(19E), 709xxx(?3E)-my rifle, 7237xx(20E) 724xxx(20E), 8351xx(?0E),

F= 1954: 686489(19F), 695xxx(19F), 704960(13F), 7184xx, 727303(13F), 747330(14F), 751488(?3F),7567xx(5F), 835192-lettered by John T. Callahan-shipped from the factory on 8/13/54)


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Some pics. The LBC is 1/2 struck and I cant make it out? Allso, where can I find sling hooks? I might take the old gun out this fall for deer and will be needing a sling. TIA Paul S

Well, it's definitely set up like a 99RS. Nice gun.. Finding original hooks is very pricey, but here's a site where you can order reproductions, they ain't cheap either.

http://www.dixiegunworks.com/produc...12&osCsid=t9qp1rcgftl3esajm7ickrtk71

The most efficient way to put a sling on it is to replace the eyes with QD studs. Just don't lose the eyes in case you decide to convert the rig back to cash!

Private message sent. Click on the flashing envelope next to "My Stuff". You have a very clean Savage. I bet it is very accurate all

OK:

That is a very nice rifle.

But...is it a RS or an R with extra equipment?

lets not overwhelm him on the first day lest he lose interest.....

Very nice rifle. Most likely an R with an added sight as there were few RSs post war but with Savage "never say never." Still a very nice gun. A letter from John may or may not provide your answer. Records were kind of pithy during that period.