Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Any quick way to tell how a gun left the factory?

Hi guys,

Is there a quick way to ask anybody at Savage if a particular 99 left the factory in a particular configuration?

There's a 99R I'd like to get, but want to make sure it left the factory as a 99R. Will factory letter say what grade/model/caliber is.

It's 300 Savage.

Is it possible this is a

Serial number is 344541 or 34451. Seller wouldn't outright state the whole serial number and the picture he sent was a bit blury.

Just trying to make sure it's not some .300 savage that someone pyt R wood on.

34451 was made in 1903, 344541 was made in 1935, R's were made from 1932 to 1960. The pre war R's had a double grove cut around the forearm tip. By the serial yours would be a pre war R.

It sounds like factory letters nowadays take a few weeks. And not sure #340xxx is in the ledgers. So nothing faster than the forum here.

You could request better pics and a typical 3-day no firing inspection period. ?? (post pics here for opinions)

Meanwhile do your homework to determine originality based on specs below.

Savage historian at Savage isn't quick. Would take weeks, probably, and cost you $65 or so.

In THIS case, ask him to remove the forearm and see if the forearm has the serial number of the receiver stamped on it. The buttplate, buttstock, forearm and receiver should all have matching serial numbers stamped in them.

Also, for this serial number range - on the front of the receiver under the forearm should be stamped letter(s) or number. In the case of the 1930's 99R, that number most likely would be an 8. Most of them had their model letters (G, EG, T) - for some reason they stamped 8 on 99R's in the 1930's.

I'm up to four weeks now waiting on two letters on 1895,s!!!! no way in hell there that busy after the $65 rate hike !!! to damned bad that the savage worksheets couldn't have stayed within the group ! shure do miss JTC !