Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 serial number ranges

Was just wondering about gaps in the Savage 99 serial number ranges.

We know that 1895's went from 3000 to 8200'ish plus a handful afterwards

1) We have a gap from 446,000'ish 447,601 to 499,999 when Savage moved from Utica to Chicopee Falls.

2) We have a gap in the 800,000's except for 500 or so for reasons that nobody knows.

3) Did the 700,000 series actually go to 799,999 or quit early? I don't recall ever seeing any rifles at 79x,xxx.

4) We have a gap from 969,000'ish to 999,999 as Savage moved from Chicopee Falls to Westfield.

5) Sequential numbering after 1960 went how high? 1,184,xxx is the highest number I've got a record of.

as for number 1... the highest utica gun according to Roe was 447,601

as for number 3... I don't think that 7xx,xxx went to 799,999 but I don't have numbers on what it might have gone too...it does seem like it must be 78x,xxx as I also have never seen a 79x,xxx .. I personal highest is 776,xxx

Thanks for the clarification. My detailed notes are at home so went from memory.

I've got a few at 783XXX but thats as high as they go.

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Rory...

In response to your inquiry #1, Rick 99 sent me this note several years ago:
#1) �Last Utica guns were in the 447xxx range as of Nov. 1946. I think production restarted at Chicopee in 1947 at around 500,000.�-Rick99

In response to your inquiry #2:
Rick 99 wrote, �The last of the 700,000 serials & the 1st of the 900,000 overlap.�
Apparently, there are few (if any) Model 99s with 800,xxx serial numbers.

In response to your inquiry #3, there's apparently a real mess in those years with considerable over-lap of serial numbers:
G= 1955: 75858x(14G), 759100(�early �55�), 76187X(G), 7680xx(17G), 7709xx(23G), 774xxx(G), 9001XX(23G), 903xxx (Rick 99 wrote, �The last of the 700,000 serials & the 1st of the 900,000 overlap.�)

H= 1956: 7817xx(7H), 782xxx(16H), 7831xx(17H), 9068xx(17H), 908.6xx (Rory's), 9097XX, 917xxx, (16H), 917413(17H), 92248x(6H), 92258x(17H), 9286xx(16H),

I= 1957: 7805xx(17I), 7825xx (9I), 91767X(16I), 937114(19I), 942,9xx(6I) 950xxx (I saw it), 9526xx(16I), 954XXX(16I),

In response to your inquiry #4, I agree. I have NO serial numbers between 969xxx and 1004xxx.

In response to your inquiry #5, Yes, #1,184xxx is the highest I have as well... I believe you got those numbers from me, Rory. The following year, Savage went to the "letter" series and began the numbers over again, possibly at about #900xxx. The lowest letter-series number I have is A009045.(see below):

V= 1968: 1165XXX(16V), 1165040(19V), 1171xxx, 1172283(19V), 1184xxx (19V)

W= 1969: A009045 (Jan), A226071 (June), A279775, A296xxx,


However, the Lever Boss Codes continued until 1971 (see serial #A685681):

1969 A009045 (Jan), AO77584, A226071 (June), A279775, A296xxx,

1970 A387575 (Jan), A389783 (very early 1970), A652xxx (Nov),

1971 A667385 (Jan), A685681(27Y) & A693756 (both �early 1971 production�-Rick99), A896887-Oct


I hope this helps...


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

I've got a 10003XX in my data with an "L" date code.

Got it, Joe...

Thanks, ol' buddy...

Didn't we see a rifle with serial number 1,000,001 or 1,000,002 go by a few months back?

Rory I think that was one of those Savage bolt action Commemoratives (10's, 110's) Tom

Aah, might have been. Or it might have been 500,001 - which I just found the thread on.

Don't want to hijack this thread, but I recently acquired a 99f, 300Savage,21 or 22" barrel, gold trigger, checkered stock and forearm. sn#11333xx, with boss code of 19u. I figured it was a 1968. Can anyone confirm?
Thanks

Gary_F, welcome to the forum! U is 1967, and the serial number fits that as well.

This probably affects nothing above but, for record keeping sake...I have a 99R (RS???) with Redfield LH 70 sight, .300 with a # of 6905xx and boss of st(?). 2 late model 99A's one in .243 with a ser. # of A7602XX (n0 boss), and a .250 B0566xx(no boss).

Featherweight

John:

Does Drew have your R info?

Randy....not sure, Why? Is Drew up on the R?

Drew is the resident collector of Savage r,rs information. Tom

Thanks Tom

only collect details on pre-war R and RSs.

Drew

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FJ... #6905xx could have been made in either a 1953 or a 1954 depending on the Lever Boss Code ("LBC"). E = 1953, F = 1954. "ST" is not any part of the LBC.

The LBC is located on the lower, front side of your rifle's receiver, opposite of the side into which your lever mounts and rotates.

The LBC is a number followed by a letter faintly stamped inside a faintly stamped OVAL (not a "circle")... the number is the inspector's number and the letter indicates of year of manufacture.

Savage began using the LBCs in 1949 and began with the letter "A" indicating the year 1949. In 1950, the letter was changed to "B", in 1951, it was changed to "C", in 1952, it was changed to "D" and so on. The final letter used was "Y" in 1971.

The letters "O" and "Q" were skipped due to their similarity.

Your #A7602XX was made in 1971 which may have a LBC of "Y" and B0566xx was made in 1972 (no LBC) according to the rifle's serial numbers.

I hope this is of help to you...


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

Rory,
Re 700.000 range, I have 782275, it's a 99F in 300 sav.
john

Rory,
Re #5. I have 969517. It's an uncataloged late parts rifle in 308. What is latest serial number produced before move to Westfield ?
john

I think you own it, thats the highest I've got in my data, never wrote down who owned it though, now I know.

John, technically that would be in reply to #4 rather than #5.

Is your LBC stamp 1959 or 1960 on the 969,517 rifle? Some of those high 900,000 numbers were used on the early 99E style rifles, but the LBC shows 1960.

I own a 99F rat in 243 that's serial number 981,xxx - but I'm firmly of the opinion it was restamped. The LBC is 1957.

Here's what Rick99 wrote to me several years ago:


�Ron, I think the cut off point for 1959 (end of lever safety F's and EG's) is at about the 968000 range. There are higher 900,000 serialed rifles (lever safety receivers) but they were used to build the 1960 99-E and the 1960 99-R. The new 1960 F and DL had the tang safety and were the start of the 1,000,000 serial range."

"The 1961 99-E was in the 1,000,000 serial range. It has the lever safety but no counter window."-Rick99

"So you see again in 1960 the overlap of production using the old and new.�

I passed on an E in 300 Sav for $400 back a long time ago, didn't know it was an early E cause it had a schnabel forearm. It was a 900's E and I haven't seen one since. Wished I had picked it up.

#3..."783235, shipped 5/29/1957. Last recorded one made (per John C)."

I think it is the highest serial though maybe not the last to ship.

The balance of the early receivers were used to make the 1960 E and R's. Which leads to the next question...has anyone seen a 1960 "R". They were shown in the 1960 catalog but I do not have one in my data that I am sure of. The serial would probably be in the 968xxx or higher range.

Thanks Rick. I've never seen a 1960 R or any E with a schnable forearm.

Hi fellows, I have a 99R # 834,9xx I sent pics to Calhoon some yrs.ago. He said there had been a couple R's in that range spotted over the years. I've had it since the early 80's. My question is, how much is a gun of this rarity worth? It is not original, has been customized. As far as I know the configuration is original though. I'm the culprit who customized it(in my defense, I knew nothing about 99's at that time) The configuration is exactly as it was when I got it in the early 80's(83 I think). Has jeweled bolt, Original stock, case hardened rotor(not brass). I sent for a factory letter and it says it was shipped in 1955.

Welcome.

You might get more responses starting a new thread and posting some pics. The pics are easy using postimages.org.

What modifications did you make to your gun? Should have already been drilled and tapped and had sling eyes.

Recoil pad? Refinish? Carved the stock? Inlay a compass in the stock? So many things that people do to them..

Pictures would be needed. And this is a collector forum, so any prices you get are likely prices that a collector would pay for a 99 - there might be hunters/etc out there who would pay more.

300 post war R's aren't exactly rare or unusual. The 800xxx serial number makes it somewhat rare and may be worth a small premium to a small number of actual collectors that have a hair for a 800xxx rifle. However, most collectors are more concerned with original condition than serial numbers.

Pictures would be useful but still, not exactly sitting on a gold mine.

Yes, it was drilled and tapped from the factory. I refinished the stock, rejeweled the bolt, checked the side panels, rechecked the forearm and grip, put a Macasser ebony tip on the forearm, pachmayer flush mount swivels on it, and reblued (properly) it! I think last time we talked you told me you weren't fond of customs, but you thought It looked nice and said if the wood was original(which as far as I know it is) it had some of the nicest wood you had seen on a stock rifle.

I realize that collectors are more interested in condition. I apologized in my first remarks about messing with it. I got it at a show and somebody had hauled it around in their truck rack with no rubber on the hooks and gouged it through the checkering about a eighth inch deep and I just couldn't stand that. Hence the refurbish. I would think it would be more than (somewhat) rare since there were only 502 made to begin with in that serial range all of which were supposed to be EG's.

I'm not too computer savvy, I have tried to send a couple of pics but they wouldn't go through. what is postimages.org?

To be honest, and I presume you don’t want us to lie to you..

The guns made in the 800,000 range have rare serial numbers, but the rifles in that range are exactly the same as the hundreds of thousands of rifles in the 500,000 thru 700,000 serial number ranges.

If it’s redone/modified, just having an unusual serial number is unlikely to add much to the value. Depending on quality of work, probably $800 or less. Likely sale would be to somebody looking for a cool hunting rifle.

Thanks so much for the honest reply and yes it is what I was looking for. By the way, did you ever find that saddle ring you were looking for? I looked back through my correspondence with you and boy does time fly it's been 8 years! Thanks again!

The last I saw sell was a like new R, $850 plus auction fee and shipping.

The value of one not original is only known by the person buying it.

I’ve seen regular 99R’s in 300 go for $1600 in the last couple years. Prices have come down from that insanity, but it’s still tough to find any functional 99 for under $600.

Rory, we've talked about it in a different thread, but just to document it here ref your #4. I have a 99E SN 969806, .308 win, LBC M (1961) with 20" Chicopee Falls barrel.

Yep! Got that one. And I have a box for another like it.. tho can't remember if it has a date on the box.