Looking at a Savage 99 22hp takedown in excellent condition. The rifle is in the 123000 range. The rifle has a slot milled in the bottom of the barrel near the front sight. The bottom of the lever has two holes drilled and tapped. Does any one know what the purpose of the slot and holes?
Barrel groove is probably for some kind of crossbar for sling attachment. Never seen holes on the lever before.
“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
Thinking of some type of homemade contraption for who knows what. You would not attach a sling to the lever. Or would you?
"...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.
Wonder if it was something a handicapped person used. I have had people with disabilities come to me, they come up with some of the weirdest ideas, but they work for them. Never know.
If you don't like Robert E. Lee, you won't like it on this ranch. JGM
The rifle is 98% plus other than the slot and threaded holes. I am hardly a 99 expert but I guess any collector value is lost. I almost bought it today for $1000 because of the remarkable condition of the piece. It locks up tight and the bore looks perfect. I think it is a 1899H because it has a straight stock and a 20" barrel. Any idea of what the gun is worth?
The rifle is 98% plus other than the slot and threaded holes. I am hardly a 99 expert but I guess any collector value is lost. I almost bought it today for $1000 because of the remarkable condition of the piece. It locks up tight and the bore looks perfect. I think it is a 1899H because it has a straight stock and a 20" barrel. Any idea of what the gun is worth?
It was almost worth $1000 today.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
My first impression is that the groove in the barrel looks like it's the same blue as the rest of the barrel and the holes in the lever look like the same color as the rest of the lever (which should be case hardened, which from that picture it does appear to be to me - I think a true 98% gun would have bright enough case colors that they would show up even in a poor picture) so I think it was re-blued, but from just those two pictures it's really hard to tell.
Yeah, I was wondering if it had been reblued myself. It may be the picture but the tint on the barrel looks like a hot salts blue job and the lever should be color case hardened. Can you post better pictures?
"The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle." John Stapp - "Stapp's Law" "Klaatu barada nikto"
The more that I think about it, it would be unlikely that a rifle that old would be in original near mint condition and be for sale at a gun show. It is a beautiful piece however. I might give it a second look tomorrow. I was hoping that the modifications were factory options.
I was thinking reblued lever and barrel also, but the small pics are hard to tell.
“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
Winchester messed with making the model 94 a semi auto by putting a pivot on the front of the barrel. It had a flapper (paddle) with a hole in it for the bullet to pass through, that went over the muzzle. When it fired the muzzle blast pushed the flapper forward moving a rod back to a toggle that pulled the lever open, then I think springs returned it. But he had to cut away most of the lever, the rod attached to the very front of the lever, in front of the trigger finger. I'm pretty sure that is not what you have there, but, that's what it reminded me of, Joe.
Wow! Joe, that is something I didn't know about the history of the 94. I guess that I'm a "babe in the woods" when it comes to collectable firearms and their history.
I owned a 99 one time that had the same kinda notch in the barrel! If I rember right it was a nice 22HP, I wondered about it, I fig maybe the owner had a bad hand or arm and rested the notch on a rest, limb ect to steady the barrel to fire it! I tried it and it wouldnt try to slide off like a round barrel would! the one I owned wasnt reblued at the time I had it!
Wow! Joe, that is something I didn't know about the history of the 94. I guess that I'm a "babe in the woods" when it comes to collectible firearms and their history.
Carl
I have every American Rifleman from 1948 to date. I read it there, and it's the only piece of Winchester history I know. Every time I buy a 99 I have to ask these guys if it's right or not. If I live long enough and pay attention, I may learn something, Joe.
I just walked in the door with my new to me 99. I know that I paid too much and the gun is not original, but It was love at first sight. I own 4 other 99s and none compare with the action smoothness and crisp trigger pull of this one. It may have been reblued but you can tell that the lever is case hardened. Can anyone help me identify when it was made?
