Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Savage Collectors earliest 22H.P.

Hard to say, IMO. I refer to them as perch bellies but they certainly aren't as pronounced as on other stocks, some of which look almost like a segment of a circle.

It's a perchbelly. Some of the 1899H's may have a slightly less pronounced belly than other 1899's, haven't really measured any to tell. Some of it may be optical illusion in that the belly looks less curved because it doesn't have a crescent buttplate? But most look just like other 1899's from the same time period to me.

Here's Rick's, it's definitely a perchbelly:

I'll tell you, the wood on all of these H's are something else. Are these all special order guns? The one I just got, if you turn it, and hold it just right, you can see some nice figure in it. I don't think it's as nice as all these others though, Joe.

The ones above are special order rifles with fancy wood. Normal 1899H's came out with normal 1899 stocks. Sounds like you got a nice one if you can see some figure in it.

This is mine, late 1899H/99F from close to the switchover so no perchbelly (which stopped at WW1). Standard stock for an 1899.

My Grandfathers 99 is serial number 111,xxx. Today it is a .303 but he told me that waaaay back when it was a .22 hp and he sent it off to Savage for some work to be done on it, and he got it back as a .303. Presumably this was in the 20's or 30's, not sure. So it was a .22 hp, and it came home as a .303, and he never asked for that to be done. That would have been a very early 22 hp. Does this sound possible to any of you? I can't ask him as he passed away in 1980, but i will get it lettered to try and learn a bit more.

I think the serial is about a year to early for the 22HP. A letter would be the only way to know for sure.

What is the barrel address on the .303 barrel and what sights are on it? If the work was done in the 20's or 30's I would think it would have a later style barrel and sights.

Sad to say the gun burned up in a house fire in 1985. I mailed the gun and charred stock to Savage Arms and they rebuilt it for me. Unfortunately they had to replace the barrel with something more modern, and longer than it was btw. Its a mismatched assortment now, but I feel good that I get to have a piece of my Grandfather with me when I have it in my hands. He is the one that got me into the 99's, at least he planted the seed.

Now that is a rifle with a story and a history.

Loggah, This will be a multi faceted answer to your question on the earliest .22 HP Model 1899.
The lowest S/N for an 1899 in .22 HP is 113040 sold on 12/5/1911. The first 1899 sold in .22 HP is S/N 114224 sold on 9/27/ 1911. The second lowest .22 HP is S/N 114128 sold on 12/19/1912. Trust this settles all the wondering. JTC

Thanks JTC!!!.... cant beat facts.

tjw

But, doesn't speculation and "data" trump all??

Curmudgeon!

How can you say that?

John, Thanks a bunch for that info !!!!! That is quite a bit earlier then Murrays estimate. Don

Good thing this came out now. I can still change the book!

The thing about the history of anything of the nature of our Savages is that it is fluid and ever changing. Cast nothing in stone, and keep an open mind lest ye be surprised by something further down the road.

Strictly speaking, the earliest HiPower would be the first one Newton created when he began experimenting, pre-Savage adoption. Some accounts say it originated as long ago as the late 1890's, I don't know. I wonder what he used as a test platform? Savage lever gun, Winchester HiWall, Krag, or ? I'm betting he probably used a HiWall as that was the go-to action for experimenters everywhere back then.

You're absolutely right, gnoahhh. I've updated the book a number of times with new info that has come up since I submitted the manuscript in December. I am sure as more knowledge is discovered the book will be obsolete in a few years. But hopefully I'll be around to do new editions as they're needed. I'll save new data as it turns up for subsequent editions. David

"But, doesn't speculation and "data" trump all?? "

It's better than nothing when you don't have access to the facts. Or am I wrong?

[quote=wyo1895] I am sure as more knowledge is discovered the book will be obsolete in a few years. David [/quote/]

I thought it Incomplete,Incorrect,& a Travesty when it was first published,but what did I know? I didn't buy the first of many 99's til 1951 with my paper route earnings.
Rich

It would seem you don't have clue what the poster is referring too! Try actually reading the thread before releasing the bile.