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Joined: Aug 2005
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Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,756 |
We've long known that Townsend Whelen and other gun writers gave input to the 1930's 99R and 99RS, a flier from that time states it. Is the 1899 that Townsend Whelen had customized the basis for that input? Looks a lot like a prewar 99R to me. The rifle was given to Col. Whelen around 1915 by Pascal De Angeles, then sales manager of Savage Arms Company. The gun was originally a 303 Savage in takedown, Whelen complaining it ''would not shoot worth a hill of beans''. He sent the rifle to AO Niedner who fitted the 250-3000 barrel with a 1-in-10'' twist; according to Whelen ''screwed in solid''. He had the arm restocked by Griffin & Howe and fitted with a Belding & Mull telescopic sight. He mentions that this is the first rifle he ever shot which achieved quite a number of minute of angle groups--that is 10 shot groups--''for that was the only kind of groups we shot in those days''. ![[Linked Image from amoskeagauction.com]](https://www.amoskeagauction.com/120/enlarged/435.jpg)
“ 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
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,756
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,756 |
Townsend Whelen's writeup for Savage on the 1930's 99RS. ![[Linked Image from savagefest.net]](https://www.savagefest.net/SavageFest_Midwest_2009_Rory/99RS_Writeup.JPG)
“ 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
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,756
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,756 |
If only Savage Arms had listened to his preference for a 1-10" twist in a 250-3000 rifle.
Sigh.
“ 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
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,553
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,553 |
When did Savage switch rear sights from that Marble's peep sight to the Redfield? After the War? A friend has a 1950 vintage 99 RS with a Redfield aperture sight. He bought the rifle used in 1963 for $75. I see the price new in the 1930s was $71.50.
NRA Endowment Life Member, G.O.A supporter
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 563 |
That pic actually looks very much like mine, that I described in the other thread....
Except for the G&H sidemounts, and the Weaver K2.5.
-Chris
Last edited by Ranger4444; 08/21/20.
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Joined: Nov 2013
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,495 |
I don’t know about prototype but certainly had influence.
"Every day above ground is a good day."
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Joined: Oct 2005
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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"Rhetoric is no substitute for reality." -Thomas Sowell
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Joined: Sep 2019
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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That sure is a handsome rifle. Very nicely done hunting rifle, seems to me.
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 43,756 |
When did Savage switch rear sights from that Marble's peep sight to the Redfield? After the War? A friend has a 1950 vintage 99 RS with a Redfield aperture sight. He bought the rifle used in 1963 for $75. I see the price new in the 1930s was $71.50. They switched to the Redfield 70LH before the war, towards the end of 1938.
“ 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
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,046 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,046 Likes: 2 |
“Only accurate rifles are interesting” Col Whelen
"...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.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,934
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,934 |
The rear peep sight is actually a Lyman, the Lyman 30½ is the one listed in the catalogs for the early RS, they took screw in apertures, the one shown on Whelen's rifle might be a 29½, they had a small flip down piece so you had two different size apertures, they could not take other apertures.
Gene
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Joined: Mar 2002
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2002
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"...there was a very-well-done cross-bolt repair made during the period Col. Whelen was using the arm..."
Given the quality of smith's that he used I would have thought they could have made the cross bolt a little less obvious.
Rory, at first glance it sure looks like a pre-war R/RS.
Savage...never say "never".
Rick...
Join the NRA...together we stand, divided we fall!
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Joined: Aug 2005
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Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Aug 2005
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Writeup says it's a Lyman 30 1/2, Gene - though I can't tell from the pictures. Definitely an obvious crossbar repair, he should have sent it back to G&H to get fixed. But considering how much he probably shot it, it looks pretty immaculate otherwise. ![[Linked Image from amoskeagauction.com]](https://www.amoskeagauction.com/120/enlarged/435-3.jpg)
“ 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
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