Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 serial numbers

Yep, true enough. I've had it for something like 46-ish years, almost always use a scope instead of the tang sight or the folding rear sights... and the deer didn't know the difference. Just haven't done much off the bench with it, so the session earlier this week reminded me about all that.

-Chris

I found this rusted solid in my Aunty's basement. I asked her if I could have it. After showing some of my family the work I'm doing to it I found out that it was my grandfather's till he gave it to my father and he the left it at my grandparents house and when they passed away my aunt grabbed it. Its marked with a C on the lever.

All of the blueing came off while removing the rust pits. I'll be engraving the receiver once the butt stock and stack are done. I've also cleaned and plan on using the original bushnell scope.

Wow!

The butt stock has had some slight fire damage as well but I'm not picky. I'll just carve out the chared stuff.

Does anyone know what year the .308 winchester was chambered in the 99? I'm trying to narrow down what this is chambered in and I know that I can load and easily eject a full magazine of savage 300 but I don't know if there are similar rounds for this year. I think it's 1952.

308/243/358 requires a receiver with a serial number over 900,000. Earlier receivers won't fit the longer 308 family of cartridges in the rotary magazine. 1952 would be just 300 Savage and 250 Savage rifles.

***!!! Do a cero-SAFE chamber cast to determine the correct cartridge!!!***

Thank you so much. I'll do that.

If it's a 1952 Savage 99 with a 600,000 range serial number, it can only have left the factory as a 250-3000 or a 300 Savage.

If you can't read the stamp on the barrel... I doubt the barrel is any good. But all you have to do is slug it and see if it's a .257" bore, or a .308* bore.

I'm going to pick up a slug on my next trip to sportsman's. I know I have to get it figured out before I shoot it. I was just getting antsy and wanted to send a few down range. I hope the barrel works well enough. Did all of the barrels have stamps?

My clumsy thumb hit 1952 but I meant 1951.

Yes, all the factory barrels would have the cartridge stamped on the left side in front of the receiver. There should also be a barrell address on top of the barrel about halfway down saying SAVAGE ARMS .. CHICOPEE FALLS .. etc.

You can see "300 SAV" right in front of the receiver on this early 1950's 99R.




From 1946 to 1954, 300 SAV and 250-3000 were the only choices available in the Savage 99's. Anything with serial number from 500,000 to 770,000 will be one of those (and the handful of 800,000 serial number rifles that exist). From 900,000 on they could handle 243/308/358, then over 1,000,000 you start seeing 284's, then with serial numbers starting with a letter you eventually get 22-250, 7mm08 and 375.

PS: If you have an old fishing weight around, that can work for slugging the bore.

The 1895's and early 1899's had the caliber stamped either as part of the barrel address or on top of the barrel near the receiver ring. The caliber is also part of the barrel address on some of the really late rifles (1980's)

Thank you for your guidance. That helps a lot.

This may sound silly but I haven't hunted since I was a child so I haven't really hunted yet. This information you provided gets me one step closer to harvesting my first deer. Thanks again. I'm going to slug it even though I'm almost certain it's a 300 savage.

I'll finnish engraving and dialing in the scope by next year so I can hunt then. I'll post updates here when it's done cause I wanna show it off to people who like the 99s.

Hello...I wanted to ask if anyone may be able to give me some details about a mark on my recently acquired model 1899?
It's a carbine, just less than 20" barrel, chambered in 30-30, sn# 2756XX. The website savage99 says that the manufacture date was 1925, based on the sn#. The stamp on the top of the barrel reads, "Manufactured by Savage Arms Corp. Utica, NY USA," and over the chamber, "Savage 1899 model." The internal rotary mechanism is brass, along with the chamber indicator, and the front sight and rear butt plate are consistent with the date of manufacture given by savage99.
However, there is a very small "K" at the front of the lever boss code area. There is no sign of any circle, partial or otherwise, and the typesetting of the "K" appears much different from images of later, typical lever boss codes. Is this a technician's mark, from assembly? Does it indicate a special run from 1925? Perhaps for a specific retailer?
Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

You have a second version Model 99-H. Yes, production was 1925. The K is just an inspectors mark which was typical on earlier rifles.

There should be a second address line: "July 25,... June 1, 1909". Correct?

Is your stock walnut or non-walnut?

Welcome to the Fire!

Thank you, Rick!
Yes, the second line is there, just as you typed it...I didn't include it earlier for brevity's sake. The stock appears to be walnut, and original. My guess is that the rifle stood in a closet (or a series of them) for most of Its life. The butt plate has a shiny halo around the top curve from where it must have been stood up, leaning against the back wall of a closet, while that curve was pressed into a carpet or rug. The rest of the plate shows the expected patina of air-exposed metal. All the screws are pristine and the bluing of the receiver and lever are likewise, pristine. And there is no indication of pooling of oil or cleaner residue in the bottom of the action.
I have an M-1917 s&w 45ACP, built in 1917. It has been continuously fired, cleaned, and maintained since my grandfather 'got' it in the Army during the 1930s. That gun has wear and tear, this 99, doesn't.
Do you have any idea what a model like this is worth, or any resources where I might find a ballpark appraisal? Is there any kind of standardized valuation for 99s of this vintage-given that condition is always the determining factor?
Thank you, again!