Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors What I don't know about the 99

Seems like we have some people here that might be able to answer this one.

I live (currently) in Kansas - and I spent 3 years looking for a model 99 at gun shows and never saw even a one, so I gave up.

I haven't owed a 99, and they fell slightly odd to me, but boy do they have a following.

So what's the deal, what don't I know (volumes).... Why are they so loved?

And why coudn't I find one!

Spot

As the desire for high quality 99s goes up, does does the desire for any 99. They are more widespread in the northeast.Check online auctions or just check in here from time to time. If its a good one, it won't last long. Plus, with our moderator residing in your state, he may be snagging 'em before anyone else gets a chance. Don't get discouraged, they made a pile of these rifles, they're out there. When you hold your first 99 in your hands, you will find out why they are so desired, and why we are so crazy over them. Why do I like 'em so much, several choices of caliber to suit various needs, the cleanest lines of any rifle ever made, my old man hunts with one, and its literally a living legend. And they don't make 'em any more. Only the luckiest of hunters totes a 99 into the woods.

seems to me the 99's were more prevelant in the east,south and west.I'm from Wi,and you see few here.From what I've been able to piece together,the Savages were more of a mail order item in the central states.
The 99 started out as the 1895 and was (is) a hundred years ahead of it's time.The tube mag levers won't let you use spirepoint bullets for fear of fireing on recoil....sooo shooters in the know would choose a 99(my opinion).
Savage quit produceing the 99 a few years ago,that coupled with the notion that a rifle that was made after the one million serial number is "inferior", started to create a demand.
Some of the posters here are looking for true collectors...the rifle must be AS NEW.Those are hard to find and command a premium.Some are looking for shooters,and are happy to own them(much more affordable).Then you enter things like models,caliber,rareity and an expanding base of buyers and it's a sellers market.....

welcome and good luck.....you will find a thread at the top of the forum "ordering a Murrays",that will expand your knowledge as well.

I live in KS and I've not found many that have not come from other parts of the US. I think the 99 was more popular in the timber areas. KS had little use for rifle since we didn't have a deer season (no deer) till the 60's.

As a shooter the 99 was superior to its biggest competitor, Winchester 1894/94, till the Win. 88 was introduced. The 99 was also available in equal and superior rounds (.250 & .300). But being the new kid on the block and a little higher price, sales were lower. As for being hard to find you have to remember that by WWII Winchesters had sold 3 94's to every 1 Savage 99. As a collector rifle the 1895/1899/99 was produced in over 20 variations which make it more interesting. There seems to be a real surge in interest in resent years. Articles in magazines and talk on the forums has increases interest and prices. People are always looking for a reason to buy another gun and it appears that the 99 is becoming the hot item at this time.

By the way, the most important point, they shoot very well. Somebody forgot to mention that.

Take care,
RAS

" why are they so loved?" When and if you ever get a hold of one you`ll
soon find out what most know. There are a lot of guns out there but only
one true "classic" and that`s the 99.
You better hurry up and locate one as they are going the way of the
Buffalo.

yah cant but help but smile when yah work a 99's lever, they are THE American hunting rifle, they had alonger run than almost every other american hunting arm, true the Win. 94 sold more rifles and has lasted a bit longer but they are in to different leagues even if they are both lever actions. the 99's are a far better designed rifle. if yah have a 99 there is no doubt in your mind that it is a hunting rifle.

like others have said, get your hands on a decent one and you will immediatly understand why they are so loved

And let's not forget that a substantial portion of folks are fond of them due to memories.. Parent, grandparent, mentor or friend that used and hunted with them, and maybe having that heirloom in their safe.

And you can't put a price on that part of it.

So do you guy's consider the Win 88 in the same class as the 99?

I've never worked a 99 lever, I think I'll go take a look at one. I need to go read that thread mentioned above.

Good info thought, I need to do some research & hands on.

Spot

Begone you blasphemer, no where near the same class. Les

The 88 Winchester is a POS...
So was the model 100 Win.

Savage 99s have something no other lever gun has...........CLASS!!!

OK, that settles that....

SO the first time I ask look at what i find... 99 in 358 Win.... especially not one that looks that good.

I really have no idea of the history of 99's other than the little I've read. I'm pretty entrigued by the following, I'm now wishing I had worked a lever.

I do like the 358 cartridge alot, I had a BLR but picked up a winchester short action 358 or late.

Are specific 99 chamberings more attractive than others - I'd love it if people didn't care for 358's.

Spot

358's are about thee most sought after 99.

Better buy that bad boy if it is what you are looking for, couple of guy s here will buy it out from under you. Not me, it has an after market buttpad, a year ago and it would have been on its way here tommorrow. Les

What I ment was that the 99, as a hunting rifle, was chambered for the more modern high velosity round (.250 & .300) while the 94 was not. The Savage 99 was chambered for the .308 family starting in 1955 as was the 88 (the major hammerless lever competitor in these calibers) Is the Win 88 equal to the Savage 99...not in my book. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I guess the value of the 99's have jumped considerably in the last few years (my 23rd edition puts a 99F at about 500).

I did get a chance to work a 88 but didn't like it, I need to get a hold of a 99 and check it out.

Spot

I just bought a 99 "F" in .243 . Lever boss code H (1956) . First year offered by Savage . Love it!!
The Win . 88's had a problem with not being reliable in the extraction department also .
Savage 99's - the most sophisticated lever action ever designed . The man was a genius!! Came out in 1895 , one year after the Win 1894 and was way out in front with features not found in any current design . (1) Hammerless (2) cocking is done as the breech block is closing , not opening , (3) no silly a## tube under the barrel to alter the barrel harmonics ,(4) who can forget the rotory magazine with a visable window on the left side of the frame indicating how many shots are left in the magazine. The first in a lever action design .(5)And of course the curvatious(did I spell that right?) , sexy lines .-- Stunning!! (6) And the sophisticated and cutting edge calibers that Savage introduced , available in a lever action .

These are some of the reasons why I am a Savage 99 owner . Hope it helps .

Rick99; Actual intro date for win 88's (308W) was 1955.can't say whether they beat Sav.to market with it or not..Had a new one in 243 for Deer season 10/56..have come to prefer the 99,especially since an 88 in 358, 95% or better will get close to 2K nowadays... Lyle

Lyle,

You are 100% on that date. Thanks for the correction! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />