Yea, I get all that. And I appreciate "new" claims as much as anyone.
But an unsubstantiated claim is still a claim.
Most of the new things we learn start out as a claim.
Salesmen samples, 100 muskets sent to NY trials, Shah of Iran... it's not until we know about something that we can start investigating.
1) I knew Savage had catalogued "U.S. 30 cal" in the 1895 catalogue, but to the best of our knowledge never mfr'd any or sold any in 30-40 Krag. The transition musket seems to indicate the receiver would need changes for those.
2) I don't think anything but 303 Savage was catalogued in the 1897 catalog, have to look when I get home.
3) In the 1900 catalog, Savage said "SAVAGE rifles can also be furnished to take the 30-30 smokeless cartridges, if so ordered".
4) Never seen an 1899 catalog, not sure what it might have.
5) Savage 303 ammunitition was 303 caliber and 30 grains of smokeless powder.. so need to be sure that very early entries might not be referring to Savage's own cartridge.
