Good point, Jeff. Then there's factory finishes that were sprayed on clear lacquer, and in more modern times, sprayed on conversion varnishes that dried quickly and built sufficiently with one or two coats that allows a stock to only spend one day in the finishing dept. Like I said, many ways to skin a cat.
I wish someone had researched this stuff a couple generations ago when there were still some old ex-employees around who could remember the trivial details and possibly also located some old records that I doubt exist anymore. A comprehensive book about Savage lever guns on the scale of Rule's book about Model 70's is probably impossible now. (For example, Rule describes the wood and metal finishing in great detail, and how the processes changed between 1936 and 1964.)
I'll bet there's a bunch of old guys at the Savage factory today who are contemplating retirement who never saw a 99 being built.
Last edited by gnoahhh; 02/23/21.
