When it first came out at the tail end of the 19th century, the Savage Arms Model 99 was one of the most cutting-edge lever-action rifles ever made. Even today, it's easy to appreciate the design elements of this unique lever-action, of which more than 1 million were made. Watch our "American Rifleman Television" I Have This Old Gun segment above to hear the history of Arthur Savage's rifle.
"Arthur Savage was a really interesting guy. He had done a lot of things in his life. And it was clear that he had a mind for mechanics and a penchant for business," American Rifleman Executive Editor Evan Brune said. "So, in 1889, he patents a rotary magazine lever-action rifle. And he enters it into the 1892 Army trials. Ultimately, his design does not win out, but Arthur Savage doesn't give up there. He decides that there's a market for this new design of his, and he's gonna find it."
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I've got my Dad's Savage 99E, the plain Jane model, in .308 Winchester. He bought it in 1974 or 1975 and it was the very first centerfire rifle I ever fired. He passed it down to me about 20 years ago.
My father owns a 99c in 243Win (The C ditches the rotary magazine for a drop box magazine.) In our family it was always used as our "youth" rifle. It took many first deer for Myself, & nephews.
ReplyDeleteI've got my Grandpas Savage 99 Take Down 30/30 and it must be 100 years old. There's a box of shells in the case with it and it's ready to go hunting any time. Great rifle.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful gun and I still kick myself for not buying one that was for sale .358 Win.
ReplyDeleteAt eleven I took my third deer, first one completely by myself, with a Model 99 chambered in 250 savage as I recall. I borrowed the gun from an old timer that lived across the road and down a piece from us. The deer was standing by our back fence line about a hundred sixty yards away. Wish I had that gun today. There's a whole story about that deer, Mr. Harvey and "shit for brains" that's too long to share here.
ReplyDeleteBrings back some fond memories.
wes
wtdb
Bought one in .300 Savage in '73, $200, a lot of money at the time. First shot, I pulled the forepiece off. A little adjustment and it was fine. Kept it a few years and then sold it along with a few others for something really stupid that eventually worked out for me. Anyway, just saw the same gun for sale in a local shop, $2,600. Still a lot of money. Suppose I should have kept it and taken my chances with the smarter and safer road. Maybe next time.
ReplyDeleteI duck hunt with a 1963 Stevens-Savage 12 gauge that was a Xmas present when I was 10. New firing pin, re-blued & stock stripped/re-coated last year.
ReplyDeleteMy younger grandson (13) bagged his 2nd deer (doe, w/ a 6-point last year) several weeks ago. He wanted a Bushnell 850 Laser Rangefinder, so he's getting one.
I've always been a duck & quail hunter; miss my Boykins. Our Maltipoos would be the WORST birddogs of all time. Can't handle freezing in a stand for 3+ hours, so no more deer.