Early 1899 upgrades - 24hourcampfire

Ran into a tidbit in the "Complete Guide To Handloading" by Philip B. Sharpe, copyright 1937. Underline is mine.

Found it interesting since there's no mention of heat treatment. Just the design of the bolt.

Quote

Savage guns also are built to stand heavier pressures than normal. However, in 1933 a friend of the author acquired a model 1899 - 30/30 with a poor barrel and wrote Savage for a quotation on the fitting of a 250/3000 barrel to his action. The factory wrote him: "We do not care to subject some of our - 30/30 receivers of early production to the increased breech pressure of - 250/3000 cartridges, and for this reason we have constantly declined to convert rifles in this manner... This is more a matter of policy than anything else. The present Model 1899 Savage rifles are being used with cartridges developing breech pressures of from 45,000 to 48,000 pounds per square inch.. All barrels are proof tested with a pressure load in excess of 55,000 pounds. in 1908, however, there was a change in the design of this model which is not generally known. At serial number 90,000 the original square-should locking lug at the rear end of the breech was changed to the present oval design, which gave a much better distribution of the pressure."

...but it does say they would not convert an earlier .30-30 (assuming a used rifle with an unknown production date) indicating that there was a difference in action strength.

1933 was one of the low production years. They might not have had the staffing to mess with reworking used rifles as they did earlier....?

It reads to me as though it was a pre-90,000 serial number rifle. And that they declined to upgrade it based on that alone.

The comment about "This is more a matter of policy than anything else." sounds to me as though they didn't think it was a dangerous thing to do. Sounds more like they didn't want to upgrade rifles and get the receivers cracking at the rear of the bolt.

It's possible there's no mention of heat treating because that was part of the normal upgrade process for post-90,000 serial number guns. I don't know.

You don't know? Heck, just call Savage and ask them.😂

Originally Posted by gnoahhh

You don't know? Heck, just call Savage and ask them.😂

I got a feeling that anyone on the other end of the line at Savage these days would probably respond with saying something like, "99, what's that?"

Very interesting Thread and thanks for the information passed Calhoun! My Model 1899 Savage, classical long barrel, straight stock w/ crescent butt plate. Also in referenced "30-30", SN 76xxx and depending on info source, mfg in 1907 or 08. It's with the bolt design noted 'with cautionary context'. What most contemporary collectors term the early "square breech bolt". I was aware of the general 'early model' designation and inference of less strong design. Such makes sense too in context of 'stress locals accumulating with sharp corners, vs rounded contours. \
My belief concerning these early rifles, by far the greatest safety concern is "condition". Contemporary factory 30-30 Win loads well within reasonable pressure limits. Little danger with these 'senior gals' IF in good shape, Much like 'grandma', ."...don't stress me!" Yet too the old ... "Don't tread on me!" capability!

Best!
John

Originally Posted by iskra

My Model 1899 Savage, classical long barrel, straight stock w/ crescent butt plate. Also in referenced "30-30", SN 76xxx and depending on info source, mfg in 1907 or 08

Best!
John

By serial number, it's a summer of 1907 rifle.

But rifles weren't finished in serial number order, any given rifle might have been finished on time or 9 months later.