Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Thoughts on early TD 1899 38-55. New to forum

Good evening, All! I'm glad I was able to find this group. My father and I enjoyed collecting lever guns. I lost my father last Memorial Day weekend and I would appreciate any information that could be provided by members as I think I have some interesting Savage's. One of my favorites is what I believe may be one of the first TD rifles in 38-55. I know pictures are helpful but the rifle is 90 miles away and I will post pics when I can take better ones. This it's a 26" round barrel, serial number 72,862 which makes it a 1906 mfg. date. Perch belly stock, round counter window. I have emailed Savage records for history several months ago, but no response yet. Any input is appreciated. Thank you in advance. - Scott

welcome to the fire pull up a log and enjoy. Not one of the first but close TDs started in the 70,ooo ser range June 1906 . I have one in38-55 ser707xx its fairly rough but thats a long life for a ranch gun,, yours is probably September or October,

Norm

I'd put 72,8xx as Nov. or Dec. of 1906 from my research, in fact I have data on one that's a couple digits off from that which lettered as December. But that doesn't mean his would. Sales seemed to be awfully slow the latter half of 1906.

Your rifle would be a model 1899A style 2 (2nd variation, in other words) with a perchbelly stock. The earliest 1899A's didn't have the perchbelly.

Center of the West Museum (centerofthewest.org) has the ledgers now, Savage Arms won't have any information on your rifle. They also have the Winchester and some other ledgers. For $75 they can do a letter on the gun - or if you have a number of guns you'd like to get info on, consider something like the $250 Firearm membership (Bison Circle) which gives you 2 factory letters and 10 searches. A factory letter comes as an letter embossed with a stamp, the searches have the same exact information but will come as a PDF that you can print. That gets you info on 12 guns for about $21 apiece. AND.. you can buy more letters/searches at a reduced price once you're a member if you have more than that.

Thanks for your input guys! A question for either of you. When shooting new 38-55 255gr ammo, the primers back out of the pocket. Are early 38-55s .377 diameter and not. 375? I haven't slugged the bore but I'm thinking that could be the issue. I have 100 Barnes Originals in .377 diameter to load. Gun shots great! I also have an 1899H 22 Hi-power 1915 mfg. I well look into the Cody museum as I have some WinchestersI would like info on a well. A 1910 TD 1886 in 33 WCF, and a 1907 1894 26" OCT bbl 30 WCF. I shot data for Barnes and Nosler Ann's look forward to sharing my knowledge and talking with you again.

38-55 headspaces on the rim, and excessive headspace could be the reason primers are backing out. An easy way to check is to load a round, put a piece of thin solder wire (not over .040") between the bolt and case head. Lock it up, then measure the thickness of the compressed wire. Compare that to the protrusion of the fired primer.

Thank you for the tip Cracky! I have bore scoped the barrel and rifling is clean all the way to the chamber and crisp. Your technique is quick and easy, I'll give it a try.