I now have copies of the second printing of my book. For a signed and inscribed copy send $60 to: David Royal, p.o. box 1271, Pinedale, Wy., 89241. Include how you would like it inscribed.

Is this the 2nd edition?
With updates & corrections?

Expanded section on 1960 99E's?

And mention of 800,000 serial's?

It is the second printing with corrections of errors from the first printing and updates that we came up with after the first printing. The publisher wanted me to make it a second edition with greatly expanded coverage of the Enoc Tue engraving and a bunch of other stuff and he wanted the info in 30 days. I told him that there was no way possible in 30 days.
Both books mention the 800,000 serial numbers on page 80.
I did not get into the 1960 E. If there is a third printing, which is doubtful, I'll go into great detail on the 1960 E. I now have two that I got from Fireball2. I hadn't ever seen one until I go these two.

If you only had one someone would tell you it wasn't legit!

I'm very interested in the 1960 E model.

My Dad had a 99 rifle when I was a kid. My recollections are as follows.

.308 Winchester
20 inch barrel, with no sight boss that I remember
rear sight was leaf type, not folding
damascened bolt
lever lock safety
walnut stock with "F" type forearm and nicely checkered like my "F" models
NO cartridge counter window.
steel buttplate
my recollection is that the carrier was blued steel. But less certain of that than the other features listed above.

Dad had grown up hunting usually with Grandfathers 1892 Winchester in 32-20, but occasionally an uncle would let him use his Model 99 in 300 Savage.
In about 1957 Dad bought a Remington Woodsmaster pump in .270 and hunted with it for 2 years. Said he never saw a deer while carrying that rifle. Decided
it was jinxed and sold it and bought the 99-E that I remember.

Wish I had it, but it was stolen in 1973 while I was in the Army.

I've never seen another 99-E like it and have always assumed that I was imagining things.

So, am I crazy or what?

Susi, I did cover the 1961 and later E's in my book. As far as anyone knows they (1961 and later) E's didn't come with walnut stocks. It sounds like you mean hand checkered, the E's weren't hand checkered. All of them had plastic buttplates. The bolts weren't damascened and they had straight tapered barrels, no sight boss. I have seen some variations on this in E's produced in the 1980's near the end of E production. Someone probably upgraded the wood and damascened the bolt on your Dad's E. Early one's could have had brass rotors but most were a silver colored steel. Blued steel rotors were much earlier and I don't think they would fit the later receiver. I don't have photos of my 1960 E's but will try to get some later today post them.
Roy, I guess I'll have to keep both. David

pics of 99E's
1960 variation, high 900,000 serial #'s: 9686xx and 9688xx, walnut stocks, round counters, steel buttplates. No pistol grip cap. Both 300 Sav. Obviously left over EG parts.

1965, 1966 and 1969 variations. Serial #'s 1105xxx, 1181xxx and A3706xxx. The top rifle probably had the stain removed and the stock refinished although I've seen several like this. 1966 was the first year for the stamped checkering on the E. Both 308's. Technically the 2nd one is a 99E/S. It has the folding rear sight and Savage scope and mounts. The bottom one has the serial # on the side of the receiver and starts with an A. It's a 300.

Those two 1960 E's in your photo are for sure not the standard versions. May be one or two more of that variation will turn up in that serial range.

David, don’t forget about the 1961 99E .308 with round counter I picked up last year that we discussed here. Had that one on the table at last fall’s fest in WI. 969806 LBC:12M


1961 99E 308

I've seen at least two more.

Rick, it seems to me that the 1960 catalog shows a photo of a gun similar to mine and the specs said 24" barrel and available in 250 and 300. The bottom line, Keith's 1961E being another example, is that the factory used whatever parts were available. They didn't throw away left over parts but in the case of my two 1960 E's I am sure they were cataloged. I think they were using leftover pre-mil parts to transition to the ugly E we all love and cherish. Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the 1960 catalog. But it anyone has a copy they want to sell PM me.

From the 1960 catalog.

The 1960 250-3000 that popped up here last year is the closet example to that catalog that I've seen discussed:
1960 99E 250-3000

Later version of the 1960 99E with round counter (most common version we've seen)
1960 99E 300 Savage - most common pre-mil 99E Configuration Seen

A toast to the Second Printing! Cheers.
The Savage Collector Forum is fortunate to have David Royal check in from time to time.

I have a 1960s 99E in 300 Savage. It has a 20" barrel and no cartridge counter window. It also has the old style trigger mechanism. I think it was made in 1964. I bought it as a barreled action.

And catalogs were never wrong.

Thanks for posting that video Rick. I hadn't heard of it.
Rory, I hope that 1960 catalog is a little wrong, my two E's have steel buttplates. The catalog pics and the other two posted above have hard rubber buttplates.

I think there were very, very few 99E’s made in the catalogued 1960 configuration with a schnable forearm. We see 20 of the other style E’s with 96x,xxx serial numbers for every one of these. Like the uncatalogued octagon barreled 99C’s, I think they were using up old parts. The EG and R are also catalogued, but who has ever seen a 1960 stamped one of those? Just there to sell of old inventory, or testing to see popularity? I’d guess to sell old inventory.

The different styles of 1960 99E are all probably right as rain.

Thank you!

You guys are the record keepers and have been at this a lot longer than I have but when I owned those David has I looked feverishly for a few years and don't remember seeing even one of the other style 1960 E. I have seen a photo or two you guys have posted tho so they're out there, but 20 to 1 ratio?

No kidding! I sold one of those of Davids and eventually took it back because the buyer was convinced it was not original. Then I bought the second one.

That darn situation caused the buyer and I both a lot of heartburn. Truth be told, him more than me because I always knew it was factory but it was messed up anyhow. No hard feelings, just part of the learning curve.

Some of these 'back & forths' on this forum remind me of a Ronald Reagan comment on the democrats...

It isn't so much that liberals are ignorant.
It's just that they know so many things that aren't so.

I strongly resemble that statement. We're practically twins.

Seen 2 recently with the uncheckered E style forearm, one with recoil pad and another priced way high. I don’t even bother to get serial numbers any more. They are very unremarkable looking, very easy to skip past them. Next one I see go by I’ll forward to you.

Seems like I checked the assembly numbers when I got them and they matched. I'm going to do some scope mounting on other guns and will check the E's for assembly numbers when I go out there.

The assembly numbers on both rifles match BUT there is no assembly code on either forearm.
Pics tell all.
buttplate and lower left tang

buttstock

forearm-no markings or any indication there ever were any.

I thought it was interesting that the assembly codes on the rifles differed only as follows, serial# 9686xx is TA 12E and serial # 9688xx is TG 12E. Even though the serial #'s are about 150 apart I'm thinking they were assembled only a few guns apart. Any thoughts on this?
1930 vintage 99E 250-3000 with Lyman Alaskan and Stith mount. Putting the scope on this rifle was my other project this afternoon. Oops! Is this off the subject?

Mike, forgot to thank you earlier for posting the pics of the E from the 1960 catalog.

My statement is based on my collected data of 17, 1960 style 99E's:

2ea - as pictured in the 1960 catalog with non-checkered EG style forearm, plastic butt plate, no grip cap and no filled grip cap screw hole. Both have LBC's of "K" (1959) indicating to me that the intent was to use the EG style wood. (Serials in the 967xxx range)

2ea - that you now own. EG style forearm, metal butt plate, no grip cap but filled screw hole (grip area cut as show in the catalog) and sling swivels. I don't remember if they have the same low end rear sight as the others (?). (Serials in the 9686xx to 9688xx range)

13ea - as cataloged but with a non-checkered "F" style forearm. All have the LBC of "L". (Serial range 9683xx to 9694xx)

So, back to my statement. Are your two 1960 E's the standard? I would say "no".
I'm hoping that one or two more will show up so we can see where yours fit in.
Are your's 1960 E's...not an EG or R or F so must be an E, just not in the standard configuration. (remember the 99-H, V1-3, small group of non-brl bands assembled 5 yrs late)

Rick, I should have kept passing numbers to you for the non-checkered F style forearm. Probably another 4-6.

You never have enough data.

Here’s one with recoil pad. SN 968631

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/799628260

39 to go to get the 20:1 ratio!

You looked for years and couldn't find one.

I gave you a link to one within a week.

'Nuf said.

Look forward to the next 39.