Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors need of education

how could a fellow tell the difference, if side by side, a model D with a 22 in barrel was beside a model F with a 22 in barrel? I've belonged here a while and have almost exclusively lurked as my Grampa told me I was suppose to listen twice as much as talk because I had 2 ears and 1 mouth.

The D has the 'standard weight' barrel which is actually quite heavy as compared to the light weight barrel on the F.

I have only seen one D in my life.

The 1920's 99D has a much heavier barrel. The 99F has a featherweight barrel.

Was there a difference in the front sights also?

At least early on the 99C / 99D had the rocky mountain blade sights like on an 1899A and the 99E / 99F had the integral sight like on an 1899H.

How bout along in the 1926- 1929 era? didn't Savage go to a heavier barrel on the F?

Yes, in 27/28

But it still wasn't heavy like the D

Think of a modern varmint barrel.

Heavy

The early 99 C is the solid frame version with the heavy barrel. I used one to do a lot of prototype testing leading up to the final Lightfoot scope mount.

I believe it is the most accurate 99 I ever owned.

Yes, a heavy barrel will compensate for the forearm torqueing-aim-point-wrecking two piece stocks.

99D with the heavier barrel will be more accurate than the 99F, all else being equal.

Ok guys, thanks for sharing your knowledge. I would never have thought of that heavy a barrel on a 99!--cb

Heavier than an SRC barrel?

Murray said the 99C had a heavier barrel than the other models. I took measurements on a number of the heavy barrel rifles and they were all the same including the C. More later my laptop battery is about to go dead. David

There were two distinct barrel types before 1926. A, B, C, D and SRC's (SRC's weren't available after 1919) had the heavier barrel which had been around since 1895. The 1899H was introduced in 1904 with a 20" lightweight barrel and an integral front sight base. The 1899 250-3000 was introduced about 1914 with a 22" lightweight barrel. About 1921 the A,B,C,D were re-designated in Savage's advertising as Model 99A,B,C,D's and continued with the heavy barrels. The 1899H and 1899 250-3000 became the 99E,F and G with the lightweight barrels in various lengths. About 1926 (I have a 1926 vintage 99G 300 with a medium weight barrel) Savage started making all the models with the lightweight barrel. The Model's 99C and D would have been the same as the 99E and F since all of the 99's now had the same barrel. The C and D aren't cataloged after 1926. For a full discussion of the barrel's see my book pages 67 and 68 and Figure 5-14.

"need of education" and BOOM, there it is^^^^^^^^^^^^

Forgot to mention that the 99H was introduced in 1922 with the heavy barrel. Savage started producing the 99H with the medium barrel in 1924. It was the first rifle to have that weight barrel. I have another 99G with the lightweight barrel that was produced in 1925 so probably the first production of the medium wight barrel in the other models was 1926, The 99H was the only model produced with the 20" medium weight barrel until the introduction of the 99T in 1925. The models A,B,E,F,G, and K had 22 or 24" barrels depending on caliber. But with Savage never say never. Rick Edmonds provided me with the info on the 99H for my book. David

A picture or two is worth a 1,000 or 2,000 words. Mr Royal, I managed to make it to the Riverton, WY. gun show Memorial day week end of 2016, met you, and purchased your book. A shame I can't remember all the detail in it and have to come to this excellent forum to get you to remind me of where to look. Thanks for the guidance.--cb

I made an typographical error in the Christmas eve post. Too much Christmas cheer maybe. The 99T was introduced in 1935.
The catalogs often referred to the medium weight barrel as a lightweight barrel. Murray repeated this error a few times. But maybe it wasn't an error in their judgement since the medium weight barrel was "lighter" than the old rifle (heavy) weight barrel. David

Light, medium or whatever- I think that Savage hit the perfect length/weight barrel with the 99T. After lugging one around for a bazillion hours in the woods this past year I'm now a believer in the handling qualities of a 99T (with receiver sight, of course)!

Forgot to say, "you're welcome" Loggerhead. I seem to have an inclination to be a teacher. Maybe because of the eight years I was an instructor in the Army Reserve.
Gary I should probably hunt with my 99T, T7 and 3/4" Weaver scope. David