frankeninetynine

[vector94]

Hello gentlemen that know more  than I.  I made my introduction so I'm here now to learn something about this mysterious rifle called the 99.  I've been lurking and reading and fact gathering and the more I read the more I am confused. Here are her stats. Her barrel is marked, "SAVAGE westfield mass / model 99E series 4 cal 308 WIN. OK, that tells me it was a late rifle and should have the markings at the front of the cocking lever and maybe a tang safety. The trouble is, it doesn't have any stamping at all on the bottom of the receiver in front of the co**ing handle nor does it have a safety up on top of the receiver. There is a little sliding thing at the front of the loop/co**ing lever. It also has a 6 digit serial number (D197^^^). I ran the number with the D prefix and it said there was no such serial number so I ran it without the D and it said the gun was made in 1918 or 1919. The next confusion is the stock. IT is an ugly chocolate colored coating but appears to be factory. The stock is a pistol grip and it doesn't have the pronounced > immediately behind the receiver. It is smoothed down and has a rounded front finish. I'm thinking maybe someone took a beautiful 99 and rebarreled it to 308 and put the ugly stock on it for taking out in the woods. The man that owns the pawn shop that I frequent had an older man that brought in a huge load of shotguns and lever actions.  I would sincerely appreciate your wisdom. Best Regards, curt.

[Reserve]

I'm in the same boat. The more I've tried to figure it out, the more confused I've become. Mine is a 99E, series A in .243 with a s/n B993XXX and the barrel is marked Westfield also.

I feel very sure that mine, as well as yours vector, were made near the end of the production run maybe somewhere around the early '80's. The wood finish is very similar to what I remember seeing on Savage/Stevens rifles when I was a teen back then. Also I have found no sign of a stamping near the cocking boss, and there is no round counter either.

I just picked this gun up Friday for $300, and got to shoot it this morning. After shooting it I couldn't care less when it was made, this rifle is amazing! I fired a 3 shot group that I could nearly cover with a nickel at 100 yards. I expect it to get even better with a little polishing on the trigger. I think I just found my new favorite whitetail rifle.

[vector94]

Well, now you've confused me more for there is another out there like mine. Does yours have a tang safety like a mossburg, browning citori, or ruger 1? Mine does not. The lever etc. is beautifully case hardened. Also, my receiver does not have the sn on the bottom but on the left side. there is also no model number or any markings up at the top of the receiver. I'll cross my fingers down here in Texas and you cross yours too and maybe someone will fall out of the sky and have an answer for us. Take it easy.

[Reserve]

Let's see. No tang safety, case hardened lever, s/n on left side near the bottom. I do believe the model number and letter designation is on the reciever, but I can't be sure. It does say 99E, series A on the barrel.

Maybe someone will come along.

[Reserve]

Now that I'm home and can look at it, the receiver is marked on the left side right in front of the bolt. It says " Savage model 99E". Right below that is a letter G. There appear to  be some sort of proof marks on the barrel directly in front of the receiver, but I can't make out what they are.

Like I said, I'm pretty sure this rifle was made toward the end of the production run. It seems that to get definitive proof I'm gonna have to learn quantum physics or something. Or I could just spend my time shooting this thing and enjoying it.

Now I'm off to seal the stock after the new stain job. That crappy looking walnut colored paint they used to color the stock had to go.

[Halwg]

You probably have one of the 99E's made from about 1961 to 1984.  This was Savage's standard or Economy model.  It has a 20" barrel, a walnut finished birch stock, and the safety is on the lever instead of on the tang.  Mine has a letter code on the lever boss and was made in 1963.  See if yours has a circle with a letter code on the lever boss.  You may have to use a magnifying glass to see it.  The codes are posted on this site.

[Reserve]

I have crawled all over this rifle with a magnifying glass and have seen no sign of a stamping near the lever boss, on the outside. When I had the stock off I did see one right above the boss, on the inside area of the receiver where the forward area of the pistol grip mates to it. I didn't pay it much attention at the time, but it seems as if it had two numbers in it instead of a letter. I didn't think much of it as I was under the impression that the lever boss code would be located on the exterior of the rifle. Would this be correct or should I pop the stock off again and have another look?

[Ron T.]

Sorry to be so long in answering your questions, but I'm here now and will give you the dates of manufacture.

For # D197xxx, manufactured in late 1979.

For # B993xxx, manufactured in mid-1975.

Savage began their "letter series" serial numbers in 1969 with the letter "A" which ended in 2002 with the letter "G".  At the same time, they reverted back to 6 digit serial numbers preceded by a letter.  Here are the approximate dates of the changing of one letter series serial numbers to the next letter series serial numbers:

The "A" series ran from 1969 through early 1972,
The "B" series ran from early 1972 to mid-1975.
The "C" series ran from mid-1975 to mid-1979.
The "D" series ran from mid-1979 to sometime in 1982.
The "E" series ran from sometime in 1982 to February of 1987 for sure.  However, my records are very "thin" at that point and it appears to me that the "E" series finally ended in 1989 because I show a very low serial number in the "F" series in 1990.
The "F" series ran from 1990 to November of 2000 for sure (#F9262xx).
I have no serial numbers for 2001, but my records shows a very low serial number (G050xxx-Feb.) in February of 2002 and final entry (G037649-June) in June of 2002.

I hope this information is of help to you.   


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.