Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors Savage 99 proof marks

Hi guys, Im a brand new member here (thanks for allowing me to join!) I just purchased a Savage 99 250-3000 takedown yesterday serial number 1887xx (1917 I believe). Its a little rough. It has been drilled and tapped on the left hand side of the receiver. The butt plate and forend share a different serial number than the receiver but I picked it up for what I thought was a reasonable price. The thing that has me intrigued is that there are 5 proof marks right below the 250-3000 caliber markings on the LH side of the barrel. Ive included a pic. Any info would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks again!
Jason

THOSE LOOK LIKE IMPORT PROOF MARKS

On the NRA museum website I found a list of proof-markings. A couple that appear on the gun look like they could be Belgian and or British but that is all I have found.

Wonder if it was a lend-lease gun from WWII??

Yep, same thing as one of my Stevens 425's, lend lease.

That makes it a Great Score in my book!!

..likely may be lend/lease.

Looks like mostly British proofs to me. I have seen a bunch on military rifles from US and Great Britian.


I recently helped a buddy of mine research and confirm an M1-Garand lend-lease that he bought, that was loaned out to the Brits, and then actually made it back the US.

It was all complete, original, and had been left alone. That rifle fetched about 3K at the first gunshow he took it too.


Dave

Too bad this one is in the shape its in, being drilled and tapped I almost didn't even buy it. The forend and butt plate have matching serial numbers different from the receiver and buttstock.

From what I can find, The walking Lion with the PV is a Belgian proof meaning Nitro proof.

I believe that means smokeless powder.

And the top one could be an E, or H or more likely an R, which is a proof stamp for rifles, I believe.

So pretty sure they are all Belgian proofs. The last two are final proofs.

How about a pic of the receiver showing scope mount holes?

^Yes it is an "R"

I have a Winchester model 69 factory scoped model .22 that was a lend lease gun, it has a "crown" and "arrow" that appear to be the same as yours. Since I am not near the gun or my scribblings on the matter (I researched it a number of years ago) IIRC the crown was the Manchester Armory marking. The others are unfamiliar and could even be from being shipped off to a British colony of sorts (South Africa, India?) at some time. It appears whatever happened to it, that it has had a remarkable history. I hope someone else can narrow it down for you.

that proof closest to the receiver might well be Belgian final proof mark..cant tell for sure without seeing better or magnified pics.

very interesting find.

dave

Lend-Lease involved U.S. military stores we shipped to England, not privately owned commercial sporting arms. Oft times people confuse that with the program by which private parties donated small arms to the British cause, primarily for use by their Home Guard after the Dunkirk evacuation when the British Army had to abandon most of their stuff and it looked for all the world like Hitler would soon invade, with the vague promise that they would be returned after the cessation of hostilities. Not very many made it back over here. I understand a lot of them got dumped in the Atlantic after the war for reasons best known to them at the time. Still in all, a 99 with the provenance of Home Guard issue would be a sweet addition to anyone's collection. (Were I a middle aged shop keeper in a London Home Guard battalion, I would have wept for joy if they put a Savage in my hands instead of a pitchfork.)

The mark closest to the receiver looks like this only im not 100% sure the star is present I cannot quite make it out.

yep, that is a Belgian final proof.

dave

So what exactly would that mean?

WELL THE GUN WAS IMPORTED TO BELGUM, And Certain Country's Put there Import Proof Marks on Guns as Accepted and Logged.