Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Pick this one apart

1903 model 1899 A(?) in .303 26 inch barrel ser# 30.409

pick a apart the new parts or the old parts?

All of it. Lol

Looks like original barrel ,with new sweated on front sight. Stocks are also new , maybe butt refinished , but front of later vintage to serial number. How' s the bore ? If not too new then move evidence of barrel not being replaced. Any signs of wrenching on barrel or receiver? Barrel is transitional since laking 1899 Patent date. Forearm is a T ' ( I think ). It is an 1899 A , but for the front sight and forestock .

Lots o' pickin apart to be done there.

In the end it's a tour de force in gun restoration/customization which puts it squarely in the realm of being an elegant shooter. To that end, what's the bore like? Therein lies its most endearing feature if it claims to be a "shooter".

Whomever did the woodwork was quite skilled. Perhaps the old girl was abused in an early life such that someone needed to rescue her, or maybe it was a case of "Pygmalian".

Old girl has had a tummy tuck and a boob job.

Not necessarily a bad thing pending on what you started with...

I realize that for the hard core collector this may not be what they are looking for but I wouldn't be ashamed to be seen posing with that old girl with a nice buck in the proverbial hero shot.

However, personal preferences dictate that if it were my rifle it would wear a period tang sight and a simple bead front sight in a milled slot [ sweated ramp sights don't move me.]

The rear sight is drilled and screwed on with two screws.

Fit and finish on the forestock looks to have been very well done. At this point, as others have said, it all boils down to what shape the barrel's in. If it's a good barrel, it ought to be a shooter with the peep sight on it.

Hard to tell from photo but the bore is clean and shiny.

nice sharp edges, i would put it in my cabinet, over next to the marlins.

That's harsh.

just call me a lever gun slut!

I’d pass....

There are two kinds of collectors: those that prize completeness, originality, and condition above all else for theirs is a world dominated by value as much as nostalgia. The other kind is the guy who is respectful of all which drives the first group but who looks at his collection as functioning tools also and is capable of ignoring imperfections that would drive the purist nuts.

I keep saying we need a "Like" button.:)