Hoping to get some info on savage muzzles. Over the years the crown was changed from a 90 degree or flat to a rounded or hunters crown. Wondering about when that change occured? I have a 99b sn 202074 that has a rounded crown but every earlier rifle I own has the 90 degree. On the carbines they were always rounded? The only short rifle I have now is the cut away made 1905 and it has the 90 degree. Also the crown is always in the white if memory serves with the exception of some of the newer production wondering what that exception is?
You guys that have larger extensive collections wondering when the transistion took place between the two and also wondering what your carbines wear?
Info not found in Murray's. Thanks Chris

My 1899 38-55 carbine has a rounded crown. I have a pic in my book showing the muzzles of early 1899's which I'm not allowed to put on a public forum before the book is published. My 1911 vintage carbine has a distinctly crowned muzzle but less curved than the 1895 that I posted a photo of in the thread about the 1895. I've got to review some things about the book today but will get several of the carbines out later if I have time and post a photo of the muzzles. The short rifle's muzzle is almost flat with a slight bevel on the inside and outside the same as the 26" round barrel rifle. David

Thanks David
This is a good topic and something that deserves a little attention. Don has a large supply of savage leverguns all standing muzzle up that would be easy to dig up info there. Steve has a good number of carbines I would think Rick has a great deal as well. What is the rifle that has the blued crown?

Good questions Chris. Lots to try to understand about the early years.
John

This photo shows the muzzles of 5 SRC's. They are left to right: my new 1895: 1899F 38-50 1904; 1899F 32-40 1909; 1899F 303 1911; and 1899F 303 1919. There is some variation in the amount of crowning which is probably due to the hand finishing of the individual rifles. This reasonable proof that all SRC's had crowned muzzles. David

Thanks, so still wondering about the transition from flat or 90 degree to rounded and with all sr carbines being rounded what did the 1899 h have for a crown flat or round? What about the short rifles?
In my head wondering why the sr carbines had the rounded crown? There must have been a purpose as the others had flat crowns?

Short rifles had a flat crown.

I have seen other makes of rifles with flat crowns. You got to wonder if it was something that entered into the market place at a certain time as, so to speak, improved technology. You know, kind of like the short fat magnum cartridges of a few years back; once one maker has it everyone has to have it. Though I do have to say that a good muzzle crown is infinitely more practical than a short fat magnum.

Some interesting experiments concerning shapes of crowns and damaged crowns were recently conducted via some pretty secure scientific method and published in the journal of the Cast Bullet Association, with some attendant debate on their website (if you wish to follow up). Basically, a lot of what we have taken as gospel for so many years may in fact not be all that important.

Thinking out loud maybe the shorter carbine barrels crowns were rounded to aid in the sliding inside a scabard? Still think there must have been a defined line that is was changed on all rifles?

My earliest (1907) 1899H lightweight has a crowned muzzle. The latest 1899A short rifle (1911) has the flat crown. The 1899B or 99B (It's right at the transition form 1899 to 99 designation) has a rounded crown. It was made in 1920. That's as close as I can get since I don't have any 1899A's or 1899A SR's in between those years. I do have a 1916 vintage 1899B with a flat crown.

I believe all of 1899's got rounded crowns around serial number 193,xxx - along with the other postwar changes.