Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors O Wise Ones! Help me ID this Savage

I'm looking at a takedown Savage 99 for possible purchase, but the characteristics don't seem to line up with anything and I think it may have had some alterations. I suspect it's been reblued at any rate. SN puts it at 1920. Chambered for .30/30.

Looks to be a transition rifle, it's either an 1899H or a 99F.

Reblue and the forearm has been tampered with.

Shoot. Well no surprise there. Put a schnoble and a sourdough in the same room together with a hacksaw over a long winter and nature's bound to take its course. How hard is it to get a new forearm?

Assuming good working condition, do you think it's worth $500?

I am not saying it is worth it or not. What I can tell you is that most of the ones that I see at gun shows or in the newspaper here in Northern VA are much more than $500. And in less condition than that one in most cases. I bought 2 1899's about 2 months ago. An 1899H and 1899F SRC in 30-30. Both each for $425 and around here that is a steal. I was offered $1K for the SRC about a month ago. It think that one there it would definately sell to someone around here pretty quick. If not, the forearm might goof it up more than the reblue.
Dont always judge what a rifles worth by the internet. A lot of people dont buy used rifles over the net. And if you look at the average 99 collector (not here), you will see that the internet auction sites are not their cup of tea or perhaps best said, "within their generation." I know a guy in Fredericksburg who has over 30 of them including an 1895. He bought none of them on the internet. He dont even think he knows how to use the net. But he is there 30 minutes before the gun show opens and has ads in the paper about purchasing old guns from people.
If you got the dough and want it, buy it. If you paid a little too much than you bought it a little early. Offer much less and see what happens.

If the bore is good, no cracks in the stock, and with a nice tang sight, $500 wouldn't be way out of line for a nice shooter. Not much collector value to it, but given it's an old takedown still in good shooting condition AND it's in 30-30 which has ammo easily available.. $375-$550 off of an auction site at a guess.

Whether to buy it or not is up to you. If you're looking to make a buck, skip on it. JMHO...

Thanks! I'm actually looking for a shooter. I've arranged to meet him at the range to test fire it and get a good look at it. If it's nice and solid I'll probably get it. I've been looking for one for a reasonable price for a long time but I can't really afford a true collector's piece.

Great! Another member to that club.

don't buy reblues- thats a rule

I think the ranks of the club of people who can't afford minty Savages is growing daily. I'm astonished by the prices they're commanding on the auction sites. I guess I'll have to break the rules and stick to the "rats" if I'm going to have any hope of actually shooting a Savage 99 this century.

Cos,

Take a look at this "rat". It is going to Michigan with me this November for a whitetail hunt. 300EG. I get 1-1.5 with it off a lead sled, easy. It was my project gun. New wood and blue. Leupold Vari-X II in 3-9X40 on a Redfield mount. Savage sling with personalized scope caps from Leupold. One is a deer and the other is my initials. Looks better in person.
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/sierpienja/100_1995-1.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/sierpienja/100_2008.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/sierpienja/100_2009.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/sierpienja/100_2012.jpg
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e242/sierpienja/100_2013.jpg

HOLY CRAP,Cos!! Somebody cut an inch off the forearm. If you want a shooter, get one with a little character[bumps,bruises,patina], but not one that,s been cut up for ...... sake!!

No schnabel would make me think twice... I love those schnabel's<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

So do I. Is it hard to get a new foreend?

Couple of places sell replacement stocks.. I think gunstocksinc has the basic stock set for about $75. Needs to be fitted and finished though.. lots of work, but great satisfaction in fixing one up.

I'm rethinking my estimate.. with the forearm cut, $500 seems too high on the auction sites with a reblue added in. You're lucky though, you get to handle it and shoot it before deciding. Shouldnt' post estimates when I've been up all night..

Redoing a rifle will cost twice as much money and will take twice as long as you think. If you are experienced, great. If not, like me, then be very patient and expect setbacks. Mostly in the wood. Proper inletting was harder than finishing to me. Its not a buy it and slap it on deal.

Yeah, but I'm just talking about the forearm.

You guys are a great source of info and have warned me off bad deals before. But the 99's around here have really dried up and I refuse to buy a rifle that can have serious looseness issues over the web. In this case I think I'm going to go taste the pudding at the range and see if there are lumps of proof in it.

the 300f that hd put up would be a much better gun

what lauren said.

I bought a rat for a very good price that had the buttstock cut down. I sunk a lot of money and work into it, and yes its reblued. But its a very fun rifle!

Don't let a reblue scare you away from an affordable shooter. But the rule of thumb for collecting is refinish = 0% original finish.

So Cosmoline, are you on Gunboards as well?