Savage 1899 early production by caliber

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orpington

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Does anyone know of a breakdown by caliber of the earliest Savage 1899 rifles to circa 1920 or so? Especially.38-55 and .32-40, which were discontinued circa 1917.

How popular or desirable is the Savage 1899? I have a book about this rifle but both interest and value seems depressed. At least relative to Winchester, certainly, and possibly Marlin lever action rifles.
 
1899's and 99's aren't as well known as the Marlin or Winchesters, therefor demand isn't as strong.

You might find answers over on the Savageshooters site... there's a few guys over there that know their 99's, and particularly your inquiry on the chamberings.

I've got 2 99's... love them to death, particularly my 99F in .308.
 
Judging from the responses, I guess the Savage Model 1899 isn’t that popular. They are quirky and perhaps an acquired taste.
 
My feeling is that sporting rifles in general are not appreciating as collectibles as rapidly as some other classes of arms (milsurps in particular) at the present time. I hope that stays the case awhile longer, as I'm still hunting for a good deal on a nice 1903 Mannlicher–Schönauer carbine.

Nonetheless, my own 1920s vintage Savage 99 in .303 Savage has probably tripled in value over the past decade. I bought it pretty cheaply though.

(BTW, I just took it out of the safe for a look, thought it seemed a tad forlorn without a Marbles tang sight and ordered one from Midway.)

Savage99.jpg

David Royal's book does not have a table showing production by _both_ year and chambering. Is this the book you were referencing?

The best information I can find in it is textual (p.31):

"The rifles were only available in .303 Savage in 1899; .30-30 Winchester was added in 1900 and .25-35, .32-40 and .38-55 were added in 1903. ... Production in calibers 25-35, 32-40 and .38-55 was fairly low and they were dropped in 1917 ...they bring a premium price in today's market."

There are year-serial number-quantity tables on pp.134-5 of Royal's book, but as to actual numbers for each chambering [shoulders shrug]. Maybe you can email David Royal directly about this: [email protected]

For those who haven't got a copy of Royal's guide, it is still in print and reasonably priced as these titles go: https://schifferbooks.com/products/cgsavage-99-rifle?_pos=2&_sid=a81706573&_ss=r
 
Last edited:
orpington said:
Judging from the responses, I guess the Savage Model 1899 isn’t that popular. They are quirky and perhaps an acquired taste.
Click to expand...
I had a response typed out but realized it was of no help and deleted it. I love the 99s, and own 2, a 22 SavHP and a 300 Sav. But i dont know anything about em really.

Some folks think they are ugly. Yet they think the Ruger no.1s are pretty... Its the same darn shape! I had the choice of two No.1s and two model 99s when my grandpa passed on. I obviously chose the Savages.
 
My two, one an 1899 and one a M'99
index.php


index.php
 
BigBlue 94 said:
Some folks think they are ugly.
Click to expand...
That’s what I thought for the longest time. That’s why it’s an acquired taste. And, frankly, most still are. Except for early production. I can deal with a schnabel forearm and an octagon barrel is an added plus. And checkering of the stock either side of the tang looks nice, in conjunction with a checkered pistol grip, and engraving helps it too, although less than a thousand were factory engraved. In summary, early (true 1899) production is aesthetically tolerable, but a few features really dress up an otherwise cosmetically challenged rifle.
 
orpington said:
That’s what I thought for the longest time. That’s why it’s an acquired taste. And, frankly, most still are. Except for early production. I can deal with a schnabel forearm and an octagon barrel is an added plus. And checkering of the stock either side of the tang looks nice, in conjunction with a checkered pistol grip, and engraving helps it too, although less than a thousand were factory engraved. In summary, early (true 1899) production is aesthetically tolerable, but a few features really dress up an otherwise cosmetically challenged rifle.
Click to expand...

I think they have a realy European style to them. They are different for sure, but the lines are great. Unlike most any other gun. Post a pic of an old Marlin, Winchester, etc and i could only guess as to which it actually was. But post an 1899 and i know exactly what im looking at. I think they are classy.

But yeah, my 300 is the plain one, and is pretty boring. But still a great gun, and oh-so-smooth. Smoother than my 1873 winchester from 1890.

And what other lever action can shoot pointy bullets besides the BLR!?
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
FWIW, there are a couple of rifles on Gunbroker right now in these two chamberings that are showing interesting prices:

38-55 - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/956657092 (note: this one is being heavily bid upon)

32-40 - https://www.gunbroker.com/item/956063257
Click to expand...
My .32-40 also dates from 1907. But mine cost about the same, is in takedown configuration as well, and is in 90 to 95% condition. Also, mine has a tang sight, and that makes them look even better!
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
My feeling is that sporting rifles in general are not appreciating as collectibles as rapidly as some other classes of arms (milsurps in particular) at the present time. I hope that stays the case awhile longer, as I'm still hunting for a good deal on a nice 1903 Mannlicher–Schönauer carbine.

Nonetheless, my own 1920s vintage Savage 99 in .303 Savage has probably tripled in value over the past decade. I bought it pretty cheaply though.

(BTW, I just took it out of the safe for a look, thought it seemed a tad forlorn without a Marbles tang sight and ordered one from Midway.)

View attachment 1114537

David Royal's book does not have a table showing production by _both_ year and chambering. Is this the book you were referencing?

The best information I can find in it is textual (p.31):

"The rifles were only available in .303 Savage in 1899; .30-30 Winchester was added in 1900 and .25-35, .32-40 and .38-55 were added in 1903. ... Production in calibers 25-35, 32-40 and .38-55 was fairly low and they were dropped in 1917 ...they bring a premium price in today's market."

There are year-serial number-quantity tables on pp.134-5 of Royal's book, but as to actual numbers for each chambering [shoulders shrug]. Maybe you can email David Royal directly about this: [email protected]

For those who haven't got a copy of Royal's guide, it is still in print and reasonably priced as these titles go: https://schifferbooks.com/products/cgsavage-99-rifle?_pos=2&_sid=a81706573&_ss=r
Click to expand...

There’s a somewhat worn but solid old Savage 99 in my local shop in .300 Savage for $500 and I was happily ignoring it till this evening. It’s been drilled and tapped for a tang sight, though the tang sight’s not present. The original barrel sights are there though. Now I’m wondering if I should go pick the thing up. I don’t need another gun… I don’t need another gun…
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
My feeling is that sporting rifles in general are not appreciating as collectibles as rapidly as some other classes of arms (milsurps in particular) at the present time. I hope that stays the case awhile longer, as I'm still hunting for a good deal on a nice 1903 Mannlicher–Schönauer carbine.

Nonetheless, my own 1920s vintage Savage 99 in .303 Savage has probably tripled in value over the past decade. I bought it pretty cheaply though.

(BTW, I just took it out of the safe for a look, thought it seemed a tad forlorn without a Marbles tang sight and ordered one from Midway.)

View attachment 1114537

David Royal's book does not have a table showing production by _both_ year and chambering. Is this the book you were referencing?

The best information I can find in it is textual (p.31):

"The rifles were only available in .303 Savage in 1899; .30-30 Winchester was added in 1900 and .25-35, .32-40 and .38-55 were added in 1903. ... Production in calibers 25-35, 32-40 and .38-55 was fairly low and they were dropped in 1917 ...they bring a premium price in today's market."

There are year-serial number-quantity tables on pp.134-5 of Royal's book, but as to actual numbers for each chambering [shoulders shrug]. Maybe you can email David Royal directly about this: [email protected]

For those who haven't got a copy of Royal's guide, it is still in print and reasonably priced as these titles go: https://schifferbooks.com/products/cgsavage-99-rifle?_pos=2&_sid=a81706573&_ss=r
Click to expand...

And here is David Royal’s response:

“We don't have a total figure on the Winchester calibers. There appear to be fewer 32-40's than 38-55's or 25-35's. That's the best we can come up with.”
 
Mosin77 said:
There’s a somewhat worn but solid old Savage 99 in my local shop in .300 Savage for $500 and I was happily ignoring it till this evening. It’s been drilled and tapped for a tang sight, though the tang sight’s not present. The original barrel sights are there though. Now I’m wondering if I should go pick the thing up. I don’t need another gun… I don’t need another gun…
Click to expand...

I think the tang sight holes were D&T'ed at factory on most Savage 99s -- my rifle came with plug screws in them.

BTW, if you do buy the rifle and decide to get a current-production Marbles tang sight, be aware that Marble's sells the necessary mounting screws separately (set #25 for the Savage).

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005873563?pid=140614

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1005890832?pid=585772
 
Mosin77 said:
There’s a somewhat worn but solid old Savage 99 in my local shop in .300 Savage for $500 and I was happily ignoring it till this evening. It’s been drilled and tapped for a tang sight, though the tang sight’s not present. The original barrel sights are there though. Now I’m wondering if I should go pick the thing up. I don’t need another gun… I don’t need another gun…
Click to expand...
That's a decent price and it's in a classic caliber. :thumbup:
Heck, I REALLY don't need another gun but I would be very tempted.
 
orpington said:
Judging from the responses, I guess the Savage Model 1899 isn’t that popular. They are quirky and perhaps an acquired taste.
Click to expand...

"Quirky"???

Personally I think there are so many things that drive sales of.....well anything. In the "gun" world, there are really what I see as three main drivers, History, "cool factor", usefulness.

History:
There are people that like guns tied to specific events in history, military surplus is a easy thing to point to on this. But it could be as "small" as, well grandpa had one of these and I really want that. History of doing things with your grandfather. Things along these lines.

Cool factor:
This is driven by mass media. One only needs to look at the S&W Model 29. A gun that was very niche and had very low production run....till that one movie came out. I have a feeling that Lethal Weapon sold more Berettas then the US military did. Some things can tick several boxes, well a 1911 is cool, and it also has history.

Useful:
Some people buy a rifle for it to be just a tool, I know my father in law had three guns, a 12g shotgun, a 3040 hunting rifle, and a 22lr. That did everything a gun needed to do. Why would you need any more, and he still just does not get it....all the stuffs I have.

The 99 suffers, (really any flavor of it) from only hitting on one group, useful. It did bring some very cool and unique things to the table, no exposed hammer, round counter, pointy bullets, and without it Bill Ruger would not have been able to steal the rotary mag. It is just not popular to a wide group of people. The people that do know about it generally like them quite a bit. But it does not look like any lever in any cowboy movie....I think Joe Kidd is the only movie I can think of that has one in it....and you need to look for it.
 
Remington1911 said:
Only other one I can think off is the Winchester 88....there has to be a few others.
Click to expand...

It's a pretty short list -- the Savage 99 and Winchester 1895 were the big boys in terms of production numbers. The BLR probably comes a distant third. Here are a few more:

Sako VL63 Finnwolf (.243 Win, .244 Rem, .308 Win, .358 Win)

SAKOVL63Finnwolf.jpg

Ruger 96 (assuming you can find a pointed .44 bullet short enough)

Ruger96.jpg

Marlin 62 Levermatic (.30 carbine & .256 Winchester Magnum)

Marlin62Levermatic.jpg
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
It's a pretty short list -- the Savage 99 and Winchester 1895 were the big boys in terms of production numbers. The BLR probably comes a distant third. Here are a few more:

Sako VL63 Finnwolf (.243 Win, .244 Rem, .308 Win, .358 Win)

View attachment 1114954

Ruger 96 (assuming you can find a pointed .44 bullet short enough)

View attachment 1114955

Marlin 62 Levermatic (.30 carbine & .256 Winchester Magnum)

View attachment 1114956
Click to expand...

I had forgotten about the Ruger....the lets try all kinds of different things as long as it looks like a 1022.....Still on the hunt for the automatic version, those things have gotten stupid expensive.
 
Remington1911 said:
The 99 suffers, (really any flavor of it) from only hitting on one group, useful. It did bring some very cool and unique things to the table, no exposed hammer, round counter, pointy bullets, and without it Bill Ruger would not have been able to steal the rotary mag. It is just not popular to a wide group of people. The people that do know about it generally like them quite a bit. But it does not look like any lever in any cowboy movie....I think Joe Kidd is the only movie I can think of that has one in it....and you need to look for it.
Click to expand...

Another, quite narrow appeal group are fans of nostalgic hunting eras, what I like to call the Jim Foral Gang.

I think of the Savage 99 is in the same broad category as the Ross and Newton sporters, one of the latest thing better mousetraps of the pre-WWI period. If you look at contemporary advertisements, the 1899 and the .303 Savage were touted at the most modern, stylish and lethal hunting rifle on the planet. Weatherby played a similar advertising card in the post-WWII era.

Savage99Advert.jpg
 
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