I have a 99G in 30-30 that was once an 1899H in 22HP.

All work was done for a named Savage employee. The letter states all of it. Savage did all the work.

So just like any other manufacturer of firearms, there can be special inside orders for employees or family/friends of employees.

The issue isn’t whether something is factory or not, but whether if it can be proven to be done at the factory.

A gun won’t be hurt if it was provably redone at the factory. Actually, it could add value. But even without a letter most of us can look at a rifle and have a good idea if it was done at the factory or not. Not 100% of course, but a good idea. Savage had their way of doing things and those ways are often identifiable. Number one being, they did good work.

"...aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one." - Paul to the church in Thessalonica.