I have a 57 model f with an f marked barrel and a 72 without. Did they discontinue the mark on tang safety models.

The 99F stamp moved from the barrel to the left side of the receiver ring. I've seen at the location through at least 1966, but have no data past that. By the intro of the Series A, A-prefix SNs I don't see it stamped on examples; so some time between 66 and 72 it stopped being stamped.

Mine is marked series A. What is “series A” in the model history?

Sounds like you have a saddle gun. Is the butt stock straight grip or pistol grip? Checkered or uncheckered?

Pistol grip, checkered

The Series A stamp shows up on different models. It is something about the action revision I believe. Never heard a good answer to it.

I have seen several guns from early '80s I believe that look like Fs but are not marked such. I think that's when they were using up any and all parts they could find.

Well that settles that. Not a saddle gun.

The SERIES A stamp means there was a change to the rifle model, possibly just a cosmetic change (according to Callahan). I think almost all Savage 99 models got stamped with it by the end of the 70’s.

There were a group of 358’s that show up around 1974 that look like a late 99F, but no model letter on them. They are also stamped SERIES A. With no 99F stamp and no 99F’s catalogued in 1974, and it’d been a while since the 358 was offered, these were probably a special run for a store. Quite likely using up unused 99F parts.

Thanks very much for all the good info. The knowledge on this site blows my mind. I have the Royal and Reynoldson books and without them and the others here I’d be clueless. Hopefully my heirs will benefit from the books and not just dismiss all my 99’s as “a bunch of old lever guns the old coot had”. I toast you all!!