New variation - 99F Version 2 Style 8

These are the 1974 99's in 358 with 24" barrels. I think there's enough to say it wasn't just a couple of guns.

There were almost no 99's made in 1973 due to strikes/etc at the plant, and they didn't catalog the 99F for 1974. But apparently they made some with standard weight barrels (which 99F's had by then) - but now 24" long, and the new checkering style the 99C's got in late 1973 (99C v2s3). I might not have recorded buttplates right on all of them, some seem to have plastic buttplates but most have steel.

AND.. looking through data... I found 2 of these in 308. One is a definite, one is a very likely. So.. are there more 308's we've just overlooked? How about 243's? It's not just 358's apparently.

Looks like low production (obviously), maybe just made in several batches. I'll be reducing the ending serial number range of the 99F Version 2 Style 7 down to B437000 (late Dec 1973), and starting Style 8 at B370001. Seem to end in the fall of 1974, though Loggah has a couple more serial numbers he'll be getting me.

I think Fug is the first one to bring these to my attention - and I posted it up here. I think Rick99 had at least one or two in his data.

Code

2/1974 B47904x		From facebook spreadsheet, no data except "99F 358"
2/1974 B47905x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
2/1974 B47905x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
2/1974 B489xxx 		press checkered, 24"? barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver, white line spacers
2/1974 B49523x 		(Keith saw it)
3/1974 B50028x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
3/1974 B50146x		Proxibid, press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring, plastic buttplate
3/1974 B50145x		From facebook spreadsheet, says 358 and 24" barrel, aluminum buttplate
3/1974 B50628x		press checkered, 24" barrel, box said 99F (confirmed 24" barrel)
3/1974 B50629x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
4/1974 B53015x		press checkered, ?? barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver, IN 308
6/1974 B5962xx		press checkered, 24 barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver
8/1974 B65565x		From facebook spreadsheet, says 308 & "F wood"
8/1974 B65981x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "MODEL 99A" on receiver ring

Most of the ones we're looking at again have plastic buttplates, when they show closeups. One doesn't, it has a DL type aluminum buttplate. I'll edit the post to remove the "steel" comments..

Nice work Rory.

I don't know how many specimens it may take to I.D. another variation, but you're on the right track.
Locating and recording the variety of features takes time and is a lot of work.

Who knows what was going on at Savage at the time? They were trying to sell rifles.

We have known about these 24",358's in C wood for a long time but never full details. I might have some serials noted in my old Murray's from before i started my spread sheet.

If I do a revision to the "Collector's Guide" I need to include this info. I would appreciate any good quality pics. One with a tape measure showing the length of the barrel would be cool. Anyone contributing will be named in the book. I would also like to include the number of the known examples.
The publisher had less than 1000 copies left a few months ago so I think the revision will probably be sometime next year. Demand for it should go up some once the new book comes out.

Here are the ones I had noted in my old Murrays from when they first surfaced on the Forum:

B479041
B479050 from my spreadsheet
B495235
B506285

That first & fourth are definitely new, 3rd might be new also.

But at least 16 now.

Code

2/1974 B479041		Rick99
2/1974 B47904x		From facebook spreadsheet, no data except "99F 358"
2/1974 B479050		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
2/1974 B47905x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
2/1974 B489xxx 		press checkered, 24"? barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver, white line spacers
2/1974 B49523x 		(Keith saw it) (B495235? or other)
3/1974 B50028x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
3/1974 B501464		Proxibid, press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring, plastic buttplate
3/1974 B50145x		From facebook spreadsheet, says 358 and 24" barrel, aluminum buttplate
3/1974 B506281		press checkered, 24" barrel, box said 99F (confirmed 24" barrel)
3/1974 B506285		Rick99
3/1974 B50629x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver ring
4/1974 B53015x		press checkered, ?? barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver, IN 308
6/1974 B5962xx		press checkered, 24 barrel, "SERIES A" on receiver
8/1974 B65565x		From facebook spreadsheet, says 308 & "F wood"
8/1974 B65981x		press checkered, 24" barrel, "MODEL 99A" on receiver ring