Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Two for the experts, barrels

Curious what you guys think the story might be. First is a 24" Westfield marked takedown barrel in 300 Savage

Second is a 303 octagon 20". Just a cutdown? Any way to know?

* WD-40 included in photo for Gary!

That 24" Westfield looks just like my 250-3000 barrel. I have a bubbaed late G in 300 on the way. I'm hoping the 250 barrel will index. If not it's going to the gunsmith so hopefully it can be fixed giving me a 2 barrel set.

Yep, with the square threads I'd say that 300 barrel was likely made as a replacement barrel for earlier 99's.

Time machines. I tell you it's all about time machines! That's my story and I'm "stickin' toit!"

Dovetails were cut in barrels at a standard location relative to the length of the barrel (special order barrels may be the exception to the rule). If one could obtain these measurements from a 20” 303 octagon barreled gun that letters and compare to the barrel in question it would remove doubt whether it’s cut down or original.

...except for the gunsmith/hobbyist who knew how to read a ruler.

One thing I noticed about Joe's Westfield TD replacement barrel in .22 HP is the knoxform of the barrel is longer than old pre-war TD barrels (that swelled portion over the chamber- an archaic British term). It looks much the same on this barrel, or am I looking at it wrong?

So I have to ask, would Savage had made somebody a TD barrel on request in the 50s or later? Seems to me all they'd have to do is pull a barrel out of the bin before the shank was threaded to whatever they were using for solid frames at that time.

I have one, so the answer to that is yes.. at least into the early 50's, they would redo takedowns.

I think the rate of taper on the OCT barrels .010/inch on a 26"

plab

How about checking for consistent muzzle diameter (..er, dimension) with other short octagon barrels? We discovered that early model 99C's with either 22" or 24" barrel both had the same exact muzzle dimension (i.e. the 22" was not just cutoff from a 24", they were turned with different tapers), and we confirmed that with five different model 99C.

My 26" octagon is .945" at the receiver to .6465" at the muzzle (.6965" at 20" from bolt face)

I've got a letter from the factory, dated sometime in '61, that states their re-barreling policy and prices. Nowhere in that letter does it state that they wouldn't re-barrel a take down. Ergo, no reason a Westfield marked take down barrel would be a problem. Pretty simple for the factory to cut the correct threads and fit the barrel.

I have a 20" and a 24" octagon barrel, both 303's, and they both measure exactly .691" at the muzzle.

I posted these before but can't find them. This the Westfield TD barrel that is identical to Roy's except it's a 250-3000
250-3000 marking

Westfield address

square threads and TD locking groove

The 99G in 300 came yesterday. The barrel doesn't come off. The Utica barrel address is tiny and the tenon for the TD latch is pinned on and there is no "off" and arrow. The blueing on the barrel looks better than the receiver. I will get pics later today or tomorrow. I may just have to have a gunsmith remove the 300 barrel and fit the the 250 barrel. At least I'll have a 99 with a 24" 1 in10 twist 250 barrel.
The gunsmith called late yesterday and the Westfield marked 24" lightweight barrel on my 99DL have the post mil V-shaped threads. He is going to take measurements and photos and email them. I'll post them here when I get them. David

Well another brain fart. It's the Chicopee marked barrel on the 1962 vintage 99DL. Here is what the gunsmith said, "Attached are the photos of the Chicopee Falls barrel removed from the 99 Action. The shank (tenon) measures .930" OAL, .895 OA thread diameter and 14 V threads /inch. It is identical to the older 1895 shank with exception of the Acme (square) thread at 12 TPI. Just imformationally it would be impossible to cut a V thread of 14 TPI ove an Acme thread of 12 TPI on a tenon of the same diameter and maintain usability. Hope this helps. Rod J. Merrel, Wolfer Gun Works.
pic of barrel and receiver.

diagram of 1899/99 barrel threads

Overall of the new 99G 300 serial #4025xx.The numbers match although the wood has been redone. Have no idea why the color doesn't match. The blueing on the barrel doesn't match the receiver blueing either.
overall pic

The thing I found interesting is that the barrel doesn't have the arrow and the word off on the bottom. This pic shows the new G next to a 1933 vintage G that has the markings and the last 3 of the serial number.