Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors 1899-D Military questions

Went to a local gunshow today. One dealer had four or five very nice 99s in various calibers, one with A engraving, all takedowns except one. He had the first 1899 D that I've ever seen in the flesh. It was apparently one of the 1915 batch, serial number 168XXX and it had a wooden handguard. The rifle was an honest 90%. Good blue on all the metal and only a few handling dings on the wood work. Except for the factory markings the only other marks were a three digit number stamped on the tang of the buttplate. His other 99s were all priced in the 12 to 16 hundred dollar range. The price on the 1899 D was just a couple of buck short of ten grand.

Is that a reasonable price? I thought the others were on the high side for what they were, so I'm assuming the D is over priced as well.

Any education you can give me would be appreciated.

I haven't seen any Montreal Home guard rifles that have sold for anywhere near 10K. Can't blame owner for trying but I bet he will have it for many years. The three digit number on the buttplate is referred to as a rack number and is correct. There were an estimated 800 MHG rifles but the exact count hasn't been done.
BillR

Here is the only known ( to me ) pictures of MHG's in period pictures. Along with a close up of their hat badge.

Here are some detailed pictures of an original sling.














And I also have a hat badge/

[img]http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j312/99trix/badgepb-1.jpg[/img]

Blair

Nice pictures! I like the badge.

If I recall, one sold on gunbroker not too long ago for just over $7000, I think. If anyone else can remember, please correct me if I'm wrong. I know a guy who has had one at the North Dakota gunshows for a couple of years that he is trying to get between $5-$6000 for. I would like to have it, but haven't come up with that kind of cash yet!!!

I had to buy a complete rifle to get the sling. Both Mad Dog and myself tried to get the fellow to part with just the sling and it was no go for Joe, but his answer to me was yeah no problem and he quoted me the same price as the rifle and he said he would throw in the rifle for free!

cant beat a free rifle

While I'm familiar with rack numbers (my primary field of collecting is British military) I thought the MHG rifles were also unit marked, i.e. stamped MHG. I only had a few minutes to look the gun over but I don't think I missed any markings. This one had only the rack number. Was the batch produced in 1915 made for the MHG? Did any other Canadian units get issued 1899s?