Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Thoughts on this 99 in 38-55

A fellow I work with is selling this 99 and asked me to help.

All he said was that it was a 38-55 and had an octagon bbl. He is in the country so cell service is sketchy. I can get more info this week at work or even try to get the rifle in my hands.

I don't want it but would like to see him get a fair sale price. 99s are out of my wheelhouse, thus the posting.

It’s in a desirable caliber but unfortunately someone has scratched on a depiction of a moose on the stock. Not a collector grade but if the bore is good it will make a decent shooter. Savage 99s/1899s are scarce these days at the gun shows I have attended. Just a guess as to the value, I’d say maybe $600. Prices are usually higher in the US. To the right buyer you may get more. At auction it may go higher but usually the auction house keeps 25%. Good luck with the sale.

I had an 1899 38-55, fair bore, no tang crack but the fore end had been sanded down and I sold it for $600 Canadian, three years ago.

Nick

That'll go for over a grand all day long.

Thanks .... Just talked to the owner. He's going to bring that rifle in so I can get a good look at it.

It's in Canada so that has to be considered. Anxious for one of our North of the Border folks to chime in. Looks like mad_dog is busy rolling asphalt.

US dollars? Might fetch more there.

Not sure what the conversion rate is, but even 38-55s in horrible shape bring more money than one would expect. Especially if the bore is decent.

Since shotgun states started allowing straight walled case rifle calibers for deer, the 38-55 has had a mini resurgence in popularity where the case length is ok. People are dusting off their 38-55's and .375's and getting out with them rather than shotgun slugs/sabots.

That would be the route I'd go.

I had to take some time to think. IF, I were in the market I would probably go at least 1000. I really want a half octagon, so I would pass on that one unless I got it cheap.

























41000,

I got that rifle in hand yesterday. Not bad for a rifle 113yrs old. Very fine tang crack. Bbl not cut. Has swivel loops added. No pitting on metal. Bore has some.small amount of putting but is still shiney. No extra holes in the metal. Bluing still on bbl. Receiver silver.

Estimates here in Canada put it about $1K as well. Looks like there is 10 boxes of ammo with it as well. 2 factory. 8 handloads.

I'll get some pics up over the weekend.

Hello! Aren't we really speaking of a "defaced gun" with home art. I'm no Savage Expert by any means, but also not believing some special rule for Savage rifles according some sort of special crude art dispensation. It's always interesting to see rifle pix, even at the expense of conjuring "what might have been". But unless the precept of "restoration" as positive value effecting, it's a considerably flawed gun.
My definite take!
Best!
John

I agree .... The folk art does not add to the value in any way. One 99 collector type fellow in Canada valued it about 33% less with the added art.

Question?? ..... Was the rifling shallow in the these early guns? The bore is shiny with some minor pitting but the rifling doesn't looks as deep as what I would see in a modern bbl.

We are but, in my opinion at least, it's a little different for one chambered in 38-55 as opposed to say an EG in 300 or an an 1899A in 303. The high end collector isn't going to be interested but shooters certainly will be. I look at it like a nasty tang cracked stock. I usually save the original stock just in case, but replace the stock and finish it to blend it into the rest of the gun as best I can. I've seen 38-55s in unshootable shape go for above 900$ USD. There just aren't a lot of them out there and ones in good shape bring a lot of money.

[img]https://i.imgur.com/mO4pZOKl.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/rvrihQkl.jpg[/img]

Here's the bore. It's not near as dark in person but it's hard to get good pics. Rifling is defined.

SuperCub - not a Savage expert, or even close to one, but I think you did very well. Some would ding it for the folk art - but personally I don’t mind those types of things (to a certain degree) as it is a part of that rifle’s history. Since you got the ammo with it I’d say you did extremely well - now to take it hunting!!

PennDog

Gun like that instantly throws the let's go hunting switch in me. Good score. Time to clean and oil check the zero. Berry fed b bears in a month or so?.mb

Check under the butt plate for a note?

LHS