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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92 |
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740 |
Pre-WW2 99R's in 303 are seriously tough to find. So unusual that I would consider sending for a letter to find out who it was sold to and confirm it was originally in 303 ($25 is all it costs for a letter). Now to lay out the facts... Not dinging the gun, just stating the facts. Buttpad is aftermarket. Sights are replacements. Sling studs are aftermarket. Can't see all of the grip cap, but that looks like a replacement also. The side holes... MAY be factory for a Weaver T-7, but there's no way to prove it was done at the factory. And the odds are that they aren't factory because more were d&t aftermarket than at the factory. I've got 2 guns with the Weaver T-7 side mount holes and I wish I could prove they were factory, but I can't. But on the other hand... nobody can prove they weren't done at the factory. So it's been changed for hunting purposes, but it's a seriously classy hunting rifle in a unusual model/chambering. It's even one of the really early 99R's with 3pt checkering.
“ The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92 |
I knew the butt pad and grip cap were aftermarket from the get go. Glad to know about the rear sight. I think I will send off for the letter. Thanks!
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92
Campfire Greenhorn
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OP
Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92 |
I knew the butt pad and grip cap were aftermarket from the get go. Glad to know about the rear sight. I think I will send off for the letter. Thanks! and swing swivles
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740 |
I added this to the thread on Weaver T-7 mounts. Getting a string of rifles with very similarly positioned holes there.
“ The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 16,076
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 16,076 |
Long as you can find ammo, it is a damn fine deer rifle.
Classy to boot.
It also looks as if it's been well cared for.
A collector gun it isn't.
I doubt the drill and tap are factory.
I'm sure the recoil pad isn't.
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92 |
My reasoning for factory d and t are: 1 screws are rounded as the tang screws. 2 chamfer of hole the same as tang 3 came from unknown source, if aftermarket, no filler screws would have been used, or would have been of more common square head design. I've seen guns where tang peep has been installed then removed and square heads used because they were redily availabe. Between round heads and same thread chamfer as the tang, I'm incline to belive it's factory. As stated above I'll send for letter to find out for sure, hopefully.
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92 |
4:co-location of holes as evidenced by Calhoun.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,491
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,491 |
The side holes... MAY be factory for a Weaver T-7, but there's no way to prove it was done at the factory. And the odds are that they aren't factory because more were d&t aftermarket than at the factory. Do we know of any factory letters that denote side mount D&T? My 1899H 22HP w/ Weaver T7 does not.
"Every day above ground is a good day."
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,740 |
Do we know of any factory letters that denote side mount D&T? My 1899H 22HP w/ Weaver T7 does not. My understanding is that nobody has seen a letter showing a factory d&t with T7.
“ The Savage 99 Pocket Reference”. All models and variations of 1895’s, 1899’s and 99’s covered. Also dates, checkering, engraving.. Find at www.savagelevers.com
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 14,585
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 14,585 |
The S-7 (later T-7) mount was not cataloged till 1937. So maybe they would be on rifles mid-1936, or in the 355xxx(?) range at the earliest. Savage stopped recording info in the log book at serial 372100. That would be less than 20,000 rifles that were in the range of serials that might have been D&T'ed and logged in the books. To date, we have not seen a rifle that has lettered as factory D&T'ed in this range.
The 5Savage rifle was made 1933 so very unlikely that it is factory D&T.
Savage...never say "never". Rick...
Join the NRA...together we stand, divided we fall!
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 92 |
I recieved my letter today from Mr. Callahan, and it confirmed that It was originally shipped as a 303 to G. Sommers and CO, no address given. Also it was not recorded as having any holes D and T'd on the side of the reciever for a scope mount. I was hoping I had the one that could confirm those hole locations as being factory. Oh well, it's still a pretty neat gun, also from the first year the R's were made. Thank you for all your help and I hope I've helped add a bit to the knowledge base here.
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,491
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,491 |
Thanks for the follow thru 5savage! You still gotta nice rifle... enjoy it.
"Every day above ground is a good day."
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