SAVAGE MODEL 99 DECIMAL IN SERIAL NUMBER

[Daleohio]

I have a Savage model 99 in 303 savage caliber. Its serial number is 38.233 (note the decimal). I have been trying to find the year it was made. I also used the internet site that cross references the serial number to date of manuf. It came back indicating it was an 1889. I do not think that is correct because there are three patents engraved on the top of the barrel. Two for 1889 and one for 1899. So I believe it was made in 1899 or after. It has an octogan barrel, straight grip stock and a slim schnable fore end. It has a slide safety on the right side of the trigger guard. It has open iron sights with an option to raise a peep sight on the tang and the front sight. It has the internal rotary magazine with the counter and a small rectangle pin that raises when there is a round in the chamber. It has a metal crescent buttplate, and a case hardened trigger guard and lever. It has savage 303 marked on the barrel. There are no other markings, alpha or numerical, other than those mentioned here. I would appreciate your help if you have any information on the year of manufacture - Thanks, in advance--Dale
 
 
 
 

[Rick Teal]

I have one serial numbered 25.475 also in .303 Savage.
 
Years ago I checked the Dixie Gun Works s/n listing, and it was shown as both the last gun made in 1902 and the first one made in 1903.

[Ron T.]

Dale...

According to Doug Murray who authored the most authoritative book on Savage Model 99s entitled "The Ninety-Nine", your rifle was manufactured in 1904 (see the excerpt from my records below).  Note that the serial number given is supposedly the number of the LAST rifle manufactured during that year... i.e., the last Model 99 made in 1902 had a serial number of approximately 25,000.

However, over the years, there have been questions raised as to how accurate Doug Murray's dates of manufacture actually are.Note the dates in the letters (written in magenta) sent by John Callahan (below).  John is a former long-term Savage employee who apparently obtained a great many of Savage's manufacturing records when Savage was closing the plant thus giving John Callahan the distinction of being "THE" authority as concerns manufacturing records plus manufacturing dates and shipping dates.

With this in mind, I'd recommend that while Doug Murray's dates indicate that your rifle was manufactured in 1904, I'd guess that it was actually manufactured in late 1902 or early in 1903 since Callahan's factory records are very accurate and they indicate that Model 99 #318xx left the factory (after being given it's final inspection) in April of 1902.  Thus it seems likely that your rifle with serial number 38,233 (Savage used a decimal point rather than a comma to designate a 38,000 serial number on your rifle) left the factory sometime in late 1902 or early in 1903.


1902: 25,000 (1899C in 30-30 w/SN 318xxx left the factory in April, 1902 and shipped on September 22, 1902.

1903:  35,000

1904:45,000 (Std. 1899-#523xxx accepted from factory on 9/23/1904 & shipped same day to NY City (John Callahan letter)



I hope this clears up any confusion you may have had. 


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.