What do I have...model1899...

[LeverActionAl]

Hello everyone. I'm a newbie here, found this site doing a search for information on a Savage Arms lever action rifle I have. It has been in my family since the 1920's we know for sure. We do not know if my Grandpa bought it new or not. I'm hoping that someone here will be able to shed some light on this for me. I'll post all the info off of the gun, and hopefully it will help.
 
It is as follows:
on the left side of round tapered barrel just about midway down it's length "Manufatured by Savage Arms Company Utica NY USA" Pat Feb 2 1893 July 25 1893 Oct 3 1893 May 25 1909 June 1909
 
Closer to the breech on the same side of the barrel "Savage High Pressure Steel"
MODEL 1899
 
On the top of the barrel is  38-55
 
 
on the bottom the serial number is 212730
 
 
Here is the part I cannot find out about, this rifle has a hammer. It has a crescent shapped butt on the stock and a straight forearm, is a lever action, and DOES have a hammer. I cannot find out any information whatsoever about a Savage Lever action with a hammer. Am I missing something? I do not have any pics as my camera on my phone willnot upload to my pc. I'll pick up a digital camera and try to get pics loaded. 
Does anyone have any information on Savage Hammer equipped lever guns? From the serial number it appears to be built after 1918, maybe in 1920.
 
Thanks in advance for any information you may have.
 
Al

[yosemite]

possibly a Savage barrel installed on another brand rifle? pix may tell the story.

[Ron T.]

WOW!  That IS a puzzle, eh?   

I was gonna say it might be a Model 1895, an early version of the Model 1899... but upon checking with my sources and records, I don't believe the Model 1895 had an outside hammer either. 

According to "THE" authority on Savage rifles, Doug Murray, who passed away a few years ago, even the very first Savage lever-action, rotary magazine rifle did NOT have an outside hammer.  Therefore, I have no idea what you've got there since the Model 1899 did NOT have an outside hammer either.

I do know that, according to my research, Arthur W. Savage designed a rotary magazine, repeating rifle and submitted to the 1892 U.S. military trials.  I can't determine whether or not that design had an outside hammer or not.  Eventually, this design became the Model 1899 and, subsequently, the Model 99 Savage rifle.

However, your rifle was designated on it's barrel as being a "Model 1899" and, therefore, that should be the model is actually is unless someone has exchanged the barrel!  Therefore, at this juncture, I haven't the faintest idea what you've actually got because, as far as I know... Arthur Savage's rifles never had an outside, visible hammer on them, but the fact your rifle exists seems to contradict that premise.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help... 


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.
 

[Rangr44]

Arthur Savage's claim to fame was that his Model 1899 rifle was the ONLY hammerless rifle extant.
 
Someone has rebarreled another manufacturer's lever-action rifle with a Savahe .38-55 barrel - either a Winchester 1894/94 or a Marlin 1893/36/336.
 
If the receiver is a Winchester 1894/94 the top/rear tang should be so stamped, and the lower lever/action link drop down with the lever when the action is cycled.
 
If the receiver is a Marlin, the lever pivots at a protrubence from the lower receiver plate, and the only internal parts exposed during cycling are the lever & bolt.
 
Pics would help further - as I suppose another levergun, like a Mossberg 472 (trigger travels w/lever), could have donated the receiver.