Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Not an RT, but what is it?

Yesterday, a Model 99 sold on GB. It was advertised as an RT. Here is a link to the listing: https://www.gunbroker.com/item/999144556

It's definitely not what we know as an RT.

Based on the serial number and the "C" LBC (photo #25) and the fact that the receiver is not D&T, this is clearly a 1951 Chicopee Falls receiver of the type used for the EG. It's hard for me to tell, but the buttplate (photo #32) looks more like an EG buttplate vs. the wider R buttplate. Is the forearm (photo #12) a 1950s R forearm? And finally, by 1951 I would have thought that any leftover Utica barrels would have been used up, especially 22 inch barrels in .300 Sav. But, we are talking Savage here.

I asked the seller if the assembly codes matched, but I received no response.

Whatever one wants to call it, it is a neat little rifle.

I saw that one too.

Can't add anything you haven't already stated.

Not an RT as we know them though.

It's a 99R with very weak forearm side panels. Refinished or factory flaw? In the picture below you can see how the forearm is wider than the receiver.

Has the flat topped studs that Savage was still selling at that time.

Slight revision...

Hadn't noticed that it's not d&t (which Jaaack clearly said). Or that paperwork is for a 99T.

Forearm still looks sanded/refinished to me where it meets the receiver.

Factory trying to provide a 99T like rifle to replace a customer's 99T is maybe possible.. or a 1930's 99R type?
Screwed up 99R possible.
Swapped forearm on a 99EG seems most likely.

Buyer got hold of me asking what it was. If he checks the numbers/codes on the parts, I'll update here.

And there is your answer. Put together.

Anyone have any further thoughts on the 22 inch Utica barrel?

Left over T barrel. What else could it possibly be?

That gun should have a 24" Chicopee barrel on it.

Edit: I suppose it also could have been an H barrel that they put on the barrel band carbines in 1940, but that is really starting to split hairs. Why is that barrel on a 1951 Chicopee receiver with Rish wood?

That....is a mystery.

1st choice - employee built rifle. There are a lot more than we know floating around.

2nd choice - bubba rifle. If so, somebody went to a lot of effort for this ??

Last choice - special order. If someone produces the order menu card for such a thing it may be considered.

New owner got hold of me.

Serial numbers on stock and buttplate match. 1951 date code on lever, case colored rotor.

At this point, it appears to be a special order from 1951 attempting to recreate a 99T? Maybe an employee made gun.

I could see somebody sending in a 99T that'd been damaged and asking for a replacement, and Savage slapping an old Utica barrel with a rounded end 99R forearm and shipping it back.
Not sure why an employee would make this rather than just take a 99R, unless he really wanted a 22" barrel.

Thanks for the update Rory.