Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 1895 rifle in 303 Savage

I think in my opinion that Savage did use some barrel's made by Marlin for the early 99's. My understanding is a barrel is not proofed until it is fired. They don't fire guns until the barrel is installed.So no M or JM would be on unproofed barrels. Take for example, one of the members has an 1899 that was shipped in early January 1899. Was Savage making thier own barrel's in 1898, and if so where were they made as the factory didn't start making Savage 1899 until the 1st of Jan,1899. Callahan told me in one of my letters, he suspects that Savage received a lot of spare parts from Marlin when the new Savage factory started up, and the contract with Marlin ended.There would have been no need for Marlin to keep any 1899 parts at their factory, as they had no need for them. I don't understand the thinking of the members here that Savage just threw away any spare parts of the 1895 rifle, because the came out with a "New" model 1899, when every part in a 1895 will fit on a 1899.

Are we sure they were proof marks though back then?

Kinda like the MP stamps, they're a mystery to me but none the less your theory does make sense. We just can't prove anything!

Blair, if you letter the other 1895 ask JTC to verify the first date on this rifle. Also ask if there are other 1898 dated rifles on that log sheet. As Sept 1898 is about a year later that any other received date I have seen I'm wondering if there were other, if it was a clean-up rifle...etc.

Chip, Mad Dog,

I don't think we have seen any M or JM marked 1899 barrels but that does not mean that they couldn't be Marlin made barrels that were not addressed or marked and shipped to Savage after the 1895 run was completed.

My early rifle has a small "S" in a circle stamped on the bottom flat of the barrel in front The proof marks we see on later rifles are in view and were not used till years later. Makes me wonder if it is a proof or just an inspecters stamp.

I have one that was accepted and shipped on same day. October 28, 1898. It has both M and JM marks. It is 26" oct. bbl. #815X...........Dick

Dick, I knew you were still around here, it just took a good 1895 thread to bring you out!

Well Rick, thats two of them now, first I've seen. At first I thought maybe Blairs was a typo but then Dick came up with one as well. Interesting why they would be accepted and sent the same day. I'm thinking like you and they were left over rifles.

There is a slotted screw head on each side of the globe that lines up with the pin. Does this mean it is adjustable for windage? Thanks

No, thats just the hinge screws so it can be folded up and down.

Can you take pictures of the gun?

Send them to me at maddogcanadiangunnutz.com

Yea, Joe. I'm still here. Only 3 more to go .....Dick

My rifle turns out to be an 1899 B even though my post show 1895. Do all early 1899 rifles have the same stamping on top of the barrel? I really appreciate your help.

No they don't, yours is a very early stamping and close to the 1895 stamping but different.

You seem interested in the 1899's, a good book to get on them is Doug Murrays "The Ninety Nine". You can find how to order it at the top of the forum page in "Misc" info.

Who are Rick and Bill? Is the oct. barrel with the transitional address rare? Thanks for answering my questions.

No, the barrel address is not "rare", it's just what they used on earlier rifles.

Savage used 19 different barrel addresses on their lever action rifles up to 1977.

Rick,
I think you already have this info but to be sure: I have 1895 serial 5513 accepted 3/11/96 and shipped 12/14/98. Octagon barrel in cal 303, original consignee Col. A. Simm. No address given. Had to be one of the latest shipped rifles I would think. Any reason why they would hold this rifle in inventory so long ?

John, I was looking for 1895's accepted in 1898, I've got lots of data on rifles shipped in 98.

Yours is the latest shipped I've got on record now though, the previous highest I had was Nov 5, 1898.