Strike part of that.. neither the 99A nor the 99E switched to a 22" barrel in 1980. They'd both switched to 22" several years earlier.

You'd think I'd reference my own book... grin

But I still think it was most likely a leftover 99A barrel from early on. Just a few years older than I thought.

“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