I refuse to think of my hobby as investing. I don't have money I can afford to lose. Having said that. Here's another addition I am happy to call my own.

After a stress filled Friday driving to work in heavy snow and leaving my wife home TRYING to find competent child care for our grandkids, left me without much hope of getting to the auctions in Maine. I left work early to come home to clear the driveway of about a foot of snow. I was just about done when my wife yelled out the door to quit. She got the kids cared for.

We took off like a rocket ship heading for Maine. About half way out I realized I had forgotten my mad money. She saud for me not to worry. If I bought anything, she would cover it. THANK YOU GOD!!!!! We are moving northward on the Maine Turnpike and it's raining and snowing. I am approaching a toll gate and everyone is moving with a mission of being first out of the gate. Well, I got pinched off and ended up in an easy pass lane without a transponder. Now I have to call the turnpike authority and try to settle that score.

We got to the auction and saw several Savages. There was a 99C. The one that can be confused with the short rifle, NOT the clip model. I was thinking on that one. There was also a flat out brand new 99EG in .300. Imagine that. I looked it over and noticed the serial number. 705xxx PLUS it was factory drilled and tapped............WITH a case colored rotor. The only problem was that it drew alot of attention from the crowd AND Ralph. I was pretty determined it was coming home with me, but that I had to keep myself from going crazy. I did not bid until the last warning and I threw up my card and got lucky.











It doesn't end there though. I NEVER expected to meet Leroy Mertz OR Bailey Brower, but Fug introduced me to both. I got Bailey to rub my arm, hoping to have some ot "IT" rub off on me.
Here's Leroy and Fug





And here's one of Bailey with Fug

[img]http://i131.photobucket.com/albums/p313/longbeardking/GEDC1846_zps1d50c1e3.jpg[/img]

Steve,

That's just way too cool! Hope that you're enjoying your new EG. Disregard Joe and don't plant it in the garden. Give my best to Doug and others up that way when you see them. Hey, sometimes its better to be lucky than smart. Oh, by the way, nice socks. (You may or may not remember that).

That's about the prettiest EG I've seen. Great wood on that one. Sounds like a great day Steve.

Rod

Here's a few more pictures.

This is the "Dodge" rifle.





And this is the Martini. Serial #1. The FIRST rifle Arthur Savage ever made.
If you look closly, you can see the #1 on the barrel just ahead of the receiver.

beautiful EG , drooling here,is there a posted list of selling prices anywhere??

norm

Not yet, but the auction is Poulan's Auction in Fairfield Maine. The one with the high end stuff is James Julia in Fairfield Maine.

That IS the nicest EG I have ever seen! sounds like the weekend got your mind off things for a bit!

Great looking EG !!! You sure married a good woman too!!!
3stars(Bob)

So, did the Dodge rifle go home with you too?

Yeah,,,,,,,RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's still there if you'd like to place a bid!!!!!

Hmmm.... Tempting, but I think it would look good half covered in snow on Anacostia.

Beautiful rifle and features LBK. MAJOR score!

What is it I keep hearing? Buy 'em because of either quality or rarity. That one is definitely quality. Nice grab, hope Ralph didn't get too grumpy.

Outwardly, he was a good sport about it. I have NO idea what was going on inside.................

Beautiful EG. Great wife too!!!

Lucky bastid.....

Yeah, my wife would've snarled about buying another gun. Guess that's why she's my ex-wife.

Probably for the best....

Investing? Last two guns I sold were at a loss in $, but a gain in happiness that I could help somebody out. I think I got the better part of the deal.

The few times I have been in Vegas, it amazes me that people go through great lengths to waste their money on the most useless forms of entertainment. People lose $100 on a gun and it is the end of the world, but pi$$ away $5000 on gambling in Vegas, no big deal. People are weird.

Mrs. LBK here,
I just checked into hotels for the next Julia/{Poulin autions.
We stayed at the Best Western because of the Julia discount.
Come find out the Fireside across the street also gives a good discount and (love my kids but...) no kids running to the pool!!!!

C'mon Joe, even you have to admit that's one beautiful EG! Very nice.

Hey, be nice now. I once went to Vegas driving a brand new Thunderbird and came home driving a '62 Falcon. Life goes on. You pays your money and you takes your chances. Same same with guns and hunting. The best hunt isn't the one when you came home with the biggest trophy but the one that you had the most fun and made the most memories on.

I like your way of thinking,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,SOMETIMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't know, but a lost weekend in Vegas involving gambling, drinking, and hookers doesn't sound too bad...

"I feel a bit light headed, maybe you should drive...."And suddenly there was a terrible roar all around us and the sky was full of what looked like huge bats.....
"No point in telling him about the bats. The poor bastard will see them soon enough."

A Hunter S. Thompson-like trip to Vegas will fill your head with enough memories to make those last days in the nursing home fly by.

OMG! A Hunter Thompson moment! That's like the highest of highs in the middle of the worst depression. Only Hunter could make [bleep] look like high cuisine and that same look like [bleep]. Hunter Thompson would make Howard Stern look like a Christmas elf or the Angel on top of the tree.