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Old September 12, 2011, 04:46 PM   #1
iraengineer
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Savage Model 1899 in Savage 30

Hi Everyone,
I recently got this rifle from an old lady friend who said it belonged to her father. It is a model 1899 Savage and I believe the barrel says Savage 30, not 300, 303, or 308. She gave me a coffee can with ammunition in it, but no 300 or 303 savage only 22 savage hi-power. What caliber is it?

It doesn't appear to have a cocking indicator like my other savage (99C), but does have a lever safety and a cartidge indicator on the left.

Any thoughts or information would be greatly appreciated from the forum. Where does one get a factory letter, there is nothing on Savage's web site?

Thanks!!
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Old September 12, 2011, 04:59 PM   #2
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Going to need to see some pictures and know how many digits are in the serial number, and the first several digits of the number.

I know of no 99s that were ever marked with just a .30, so that's either indicative of wear, or something else.

If it's marked 1899, then it's not a .300 Savage, as the designation was changed just prior to the .300 being introduced.

When you look at the muzzle, about how big is the hole in it? .22 caliber? .30 caliber?
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Old September 12, 2011, 05:29 PM   #3
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There is no .30 Savage.

To the best of my knowledge, the Savage 1899 was only offered in 22 High Power, 303 Savage, 250-3000, 25-35 WCF, and 30 WCF (30-30 Winchester). I have seen one in 38-55, but I have no way of knowing whether or not it was original. After the name change to "Model 99" about 1920, there were other cartridges offered, most notably the 300 Savage, and after the frame change about 1950-ish there were a whole slew of cartridge offerings based on the 308 Win family of cartridges (22-250, 243, 308, 358 Win) and in the late 1970s a 375 Winchester version was offered.

So which one do you have? If your receiver says Savage Model 99, it is most likely a 300 Savage, if it says Model 1899, it is most likely a 303 Savage (30-30 barrels were marked .30-30 W). Look at the top of the receiver ring to see which one you have.
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Old September 12, 2011, 05:46 PM   #4
iraengineer
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I think I figured how to attach a photo to this post. I did get it out and was able to photograph Sav 30, and in the barrel address it does say Cal 30. Barrel Address is:

~Savage Arms Co. Utica NY USA~
~Pat. Feb 7 '93 July 25 '93 Oct 3 '99 CAL 30~

There is no model on the receiver ring, and it is a 5 digit serial number 17.xxx.
Brass shell counter, crescent buttplate.
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Old September 12, 2011, 05:53 PM   #5
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Early savage 1899's in 30wcf were marked sav. 30 so it should be a 30-30.The cocking indicator is on the top of the bolt.
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Old September 12, 2011, 06:08 PM   #6
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Oh man, a 30-30 would be sweet. You should have no problems finding ammo if that's the case! No pun intended!
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Old September 12, 2011, 06:18 PM   #7
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SN 17xxx dates from 1901.

AFAIK, .303 Savage was the only .30 cal Model 1899 chambering, until 1902, when the .30-30 was introduced.

I would opine that the OP's Model 1899 never left Utica that way.

.

Last edited by PetahW; September 12, 2011 at 06:27 PM.
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Old September 12, 2011, 07:14 PM   #8
iraengineer
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Thanks everybody for the info so far.

Where does one go to find out more information on it?

I know you can write the Buffalo Bill museum about Winchesters is there a place to go for Savages? I looked all over the Savage Arms website but they don't say to much about 99s.
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Old September 12, 2011, 07:40 PM   #9
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These guys will be able to tell you a lot more about your rifle.
http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthr...age_Collectors
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Old September 12, 2011, 10:00 PM   #10
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"I have seen one in 38-55, but I have no way of knowing whether or not it was original."

Yes. .38-55 was an early factory chambering, as was the .32-40.
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Old September 12, 2011, 10:07 PM   #11
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I'll be a son of a gun.

Doug Murray's book on the Savage 99 shows those exact barrel markings in use up to 1904, including the "Cal. .30"

This apparently was the early factory designation for the .30-30 Winchester.


"AFAIK, .303 Savage was the only .30 cal Model 1899 chambering, until 1902, when the .30-30 was introduced."

The .30-30 was first offered in a variety of Model 1899s in either late 1899 or early 1900.
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Old September 13, 2011, 05:21 AM   #12
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When did the term ".30-30" begin to be used? Wasn't the early term ".30 WCF?" Or am I confusing it with the .38-40, .44-40 and .32-20 as far as the original designations. Some manufacturers are reluctant to ever put some other maker's name on a gun, which is why .40 S&W is usually called .40 auto. Apparently such was the case a hundred years ago, too.
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Old September 13, 2011, 06:15 AM   #13
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Looking at early advertising, .30-30 was used VERY early on, probably as early as 1900-1905.

Winchester didn't start using the term until much later, though.

And yes, the .30-30 was originally the .30 WCF.

All those other cartridges (and QUITE a few more) were all "WCF" rounds, as well.

Many of them are now obsolete.
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Old September 13, 2011, 08:20 AM   #14
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A whole bunch of 99's were sent back to the factory for modification and repair over the years. Also there were what we call piecer's, left over model parts added to new models. I never put much faith in Exact cut -off dates for manufacture.
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Old September 13, 2011, 09:22 AM   #15
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If it's obsolete, I'd probably like it.
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Old September 13, 2011, 08:39 PM   #16
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Have a casting of the chamber made and know for sure.

Jim
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Old September 18, 2011, 11:32 AM   #17
iraengineer
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Thanks 32-20 about 24 Hour Campfire. It seems it is a 30-30 Model 1899. Thanks Everybody for the comments and help.
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Old December 17, 2011, 06:55 PM   #18
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What years did the Model 99 come in 30-30? It seems like they only made them for a short while.
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Old December 18, 2011, 12:17 AM   #19
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Although I can find nothing definitive, .30-30 seems to have been dropped with production of the 99 on US entry into World War II and wasn't resumed after the war.

So, the .30-30 was in production as a standard chambering for about 40 years.
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Old December 18, 2011, 02:39 AM   #20
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I also just found out there was a take down model. What years did they make that one?
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Old December 18, 2011, 05:24 AM   #21
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I would think they made a lot of 30.30 take downs. I have one and I really see a lot at the gun shows.
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Old December 18, 2011, 06:34 AM   #22
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Savage made several take down models over the years, all using the same basic mechanism, most introduced in 1920 or later. All take down rifle production seems to have stopped about 1940 as the plant tooled up for war production.

The first take down model didn't have a model name letter, it was simply called the .250-3000 and was introduced with that round about 1914 with select wood, a capped pistol grip, checkering, and a few other items that had been popular special order features.

Unlike Winchester lever rifles, the take down mechanism didn't have a fit adjustment, so it was possible for the barrel to loosen in the receiver if it was taken down and reassembled a lot.

I've passed on two over the years that have had barrel mount issues.
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Old December 18, 2011, 08:25 AM   #23
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I have a friend that came back from one of his trips last year with a Mod. 99 takedown in 250-3000 that has a .410 shotgun barrel with it . All in excellent condition in a fitted case . How rare are these ?
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Old December 18, 2011, 08:34 AM   #24
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They're not common.

The usual combination was an 1899 G with a .300 Savage barrel along with the .410-bore barrel, but it's hinted that special orders could be made for other calibers.

According to Murray's book, the cased set was first offered in 1922 and dropped in 1934.

I've seen estimates that fewer than 2,500 were sold. Comparatively speaking, this was not a cheap feature. The 1930s price would adjust, to today's dollars, to about $1,100.

Cases were sold separately at that time, and the .410 barrel could have been purchased to be fitted to an existing take down.

The only way to know for sure what's going on would be to figure out which model rifle your friend has.

There are a couple of cased sets for sale on Guns America right now. One is $2,500, the other is almost $5,000. The $2,500 one appears to have a late model case, the $5,000 one an earlier case.
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