1890 savage?, Is there such a thing?

[Kurt]

I promised a non www friend that I would do some research on his old lever. It's got a bunch of dates on it, 1893, 1899, 1890. and last june 1  1909. I think he misread the model he has it wrote down here as model 1890. Its a 303 savage serial #118622 WHich in the data base at savage99.com gives a birthdate of 1911. It don't have any letters for the different features of the later 99's. He says it is in good shape showing good use though. It was in his family for a long time he said. He kind of wants to know what it's worth more than anything. After some reading I found ammo is not going to be real easy to find and I don't think he really wants to shoot it anyway. Which is sorta sad to me.

[Enforcer]

I promised a non www friend that I would do some research on his old lever. It's got a bunch of dates on it, 1893, 1899, 1890. and last june 1  1909. I think he misread the model he has it wrote down here as model 1890. Its a 303 savage serial #118622 WHich in the data base at savage99.com gives a birthdate of 1911. It don't have any letters for the different features of the later 99's. He says it is in good shape showing good use though. It was in his family for a long time he said. He kind of wants to know what it's worth more than anything. After some reading I found ammo is not going to be real easy to find and I don't think he really wants to shoot it anyway. Which is sorta sad to me.

No such thing as M1890,as Arthur W. Savagecreated the rotary magizine rifle in 1892.Released for sale to public in 1893 as patent #491,138.Enforcer

[jhm]

Kurt: without seeing the rifle in question its hard to pin it down but it sounds like it is in the area of the 1895 or the 1899 by the discription so far some of the dates could be worn a little and hard to read so a better look see is needed, the 99 came without the letter markings on them by the way,   JIM

[savageT]

I promised a non www friend that I would do some research on his old lever. It's got a bunch of dates on it, 1893, 1899, 1890. and last june 1  1909. I think he misread the model he has it wrote down here as model 1890. Its a 303 savage serial #118622 WHich in the data base at savage99.com gives a birthdate of 1911. It don't have any letters for the different features of the later 99's. He says it is in good shape showing good use though. It was in his family for a long time he said. He kind of wants to know what it's worth more than anything. After some reading I found ammo is not going to be real easy to find and I don't think he really wants to shoot it anyway. Which is sorta sad to me.

Kurt,
As earlier posted, there was no 1890 model.  Savage was issued his patent on the original 1893 design and was introduced in Utica, NY as the model 1895.  As Savage had neither the equipment or facilities to build his new model, he arranged with Marlin Firearms of New Haven Conn. to produce the tooling and equipment, and produce the first firearms at his factory.  The action was lengthened to accept the new .303 cartridge, and in addition there was a viewing hole provided in the top of the breech-bolt to allow for determining whether the gun was cocked by checking the firing-pin position. This feature is the identifying element for the m1895.

On later 1899 models incorporated in 1897, and introduced January 1899, the company offered the new model with the following changes:

Breech Bolt- is squared off, leaving only a 1/16 inch long rounded portion that conforms to the cartridge head diameter. An oblong cocking indicator was added to the top surface of the breech-bolt near the front, replacing the viewing-hole indicator of the 1895 design.
The Safety Latch-  Remains the same as the Model 1895, serving to block movement of the trigger and lock the lever closed with a second pin that fits into a hole near the top of the lever-web. 1895 thumb-button had a light cross-hatching on both sides, the 1899 had circular bulls-eye pattern on each side.
Stocks-  Forearms unchanged from original measuring 11 1/8 inches,  the schnoble tip is more gracefully shaped and the lower curve of the forearm blends nicely into the form of the lower receiver frame. The lower curve of the buttstock, as commonly called the "perch-belly," is in sharp contrast to the straight lower line of the Model 1895.

Doug Murray  3ed edition:  The Ninety-Nine.