Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Short Rifle or 99 C

I have a rifle that seems to fall in the transitional period between the 1899 short rifle and the 99 C, Serial #2299xx. Using Murray's book as a guide, the serial # falls between the two, it has features of both and isn't stamped with 1899 or 99. Is there a definitive way to tell these two models apart? Here are a few pics.




Sorry about the crappy pics.

Lee

There is no definitive way to tell them apart, short of trying to get a letter. Physically there was no changed to the rifle when it went from 1899A SR to 99C.

Call it whichever one makes you happiest.

You can certainly call that a Model 99C. No one can say it isn't. I have an early 99F in .250-3000 with a serial number in the 249,XXX area that is still marked Savage Model 1899 on the receiver ring. You'll find a real mixture in that era. Your rifle is pretty good looking, what caliber is it?

The Savage Model 1899 stamping continued for years into the 20's. Does not mean the rifle is an 1899.

It's chambered in 303 Savage.The receiver is greying and the wood has some handling marks but it looks pretty good for a ninety year old. Rod put me on this one last spring, it was one that he passed on but I have lower standards

Lee

Rory, I was aware that the 1899 stamping carried over into the 99 but I didn't know there was any that didn't have either one stamped on it.

Lee

The first 99C/99D that I have seen a letter on was in the 232xxx range but I don't know how much earlier they started.

As stated above, there is no difference in the rifles it is just how they were listed in the log book. The change took place in 1920, production was high and Savage made a lot of general changes to the product line over that large serial spread. Some model names changed before others.

As you can see your SR (I think it will letter as a SR) has many of the post-WWI changes...crowned muzzle, grooved butt plate, rear sight and rear sight location.

Thanks Rick, I think I will get this one lettered just to see what it was logged as. My serial # puts it early 1921, same year as 232xxx. I know where there is a SR or C that is 4000 #s earlier than mine, I'll have to get them side by side to look for any differences.

Lee

Looking at your photos I'm now kind of wondering why I passed on that one. It's a good looking old gun.

Rod

Please keep us posted on the info from the letter. From the other letters I have seen it appears that the end of 1920's production might be at a higher (234xxx range?) serial than Murray lists.

Every letter helps.

Rod, it's not pristine by any means but it's a honest rifle.
I'm probably the definition of an "accumulator" because I wouldn't mind following a few of you collectors around and picking up a some of the rejects

The really nice thing about this 303 is that spent cases from this chambers in my other 303, and vice-versa, just as slick as can be. I won't have over work or keep my 303 brass separate for reloading these 2 rifles. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal but the guys that reload for hard to find brass will understand.

Lee

Will do and thanks again.

Lee

Looks just like my 1899A Short Rifle, with a little higher serial #.

I have a very similar rifle in .303 I was thinking was an 1899 Short Rifle, heavy barrel? Serial # is 230063, this one also has no model stamped on it. What do you think?
Thanks Jay

Only a letter will tell.

Perhaps we should define the 1899 SR/ 99C break based on the barrel marking.

Savage Arms Company = 1899 Short rifle

Savage Arms Corporation = 99 C

BillR

I think you've already got it, but if it contributes anything, here is #224,xxx, Savage Arms Corp No markings on receiver ring

Change in address started somewhere around 199xxx. I have two 1899-A's ?(1991xx) that are less than 50 numbers apart. The early one is Company and the later is Corp.. The rear sight dovetail has been relocated on the later as well as the change in the address. The rear sight is the same. This point of change might be different for each model.

Do you think the barrel bin was emptied of old barrels when they started stamping the new address? Another point that could be studied.

There is a point in the log book when the model was changed. We just have not found it yet...need more Savage letters. We have the same issue with the 99-A,B,D,E&F. I think we are okay with the cut-off for 1st and 2nd version of the Model 250-3000 and the Model G. Would have been nice if Savage had changed them all when production started again after WWI...but that was not the Savage way.

Another point that has bugged me is that Murray lists the 1899-A till the change made in 1927. It seems strange to me that Savage would have continued using "1899-A" vs "99-A" when all the others were change in 1920/21. Still waiting to see a letter on one in that time frame.

Barrel address change from Company to Corporation was due to Savage being acquired by Driggs-Seabury wasn't it? Don't know that I'd want to associate that with model changes.

Interesting. Don't know how you have time to dig all this stuff up Calhoun. Hat's off to you.