Savage Model 99-DL 99DL 99M 99-M .308 Winchester Lever Rifle, 1960-1961 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,225.00
LSB#: WY250402DB036
Make: Savage Arms Corporation
Model: 99-DL (99M)
Serial Number: 1016105
Year of Manufacture: 1960-1961
Caliber: .308 Winchester
Action Type: Lever Action with Rotary Magazine. This rifle is a solid frame model.
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “308 WIN.” and “SP” in oval, the right “HI-PRESSURE STEEL – PROOF TESTED / – MODEL – 99M -“, and the top “SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION / CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. U.S.A.”. The left of the chamber ring is marked “SAVAGE / MODEL 99” and with an inspection mark. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number in front of the lever, the front of the lever boss is marked “10M”.
Barrel Length: 24” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base forged to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is a folding “V”-notch semi-buckhorn elevator sight with vertical white aiming reference dovetailed to a boss at the rear of the barrel. The top of the receiver has two drilled, tapped, and filled holes.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with capped pistol grip, monte-carlo comb, serrated alloy Savage buttplate and sling swivels front and rear. The stocks have some scattered minor marks. The checkering is generally sharp with a few compressed checkers. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 1/2? from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has minor wear, mostly at the heel and toe, with sharp serrations. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is some stubborn fouling throughout the bore. In this writer’s opinion the bore rates 8/10.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 94% of its metal finish. The balance of the finish shows light operational wear, thinning on the leading edges, and a few scattered scratches. There is some light intermittent oxidation throughout. The case color is strong on the sides of the lever with some muting in the high handling areas. There are a few other scattered minor marks. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has a tang-mounted safety that locks the lever and the trigger. There is a cocking indicator on the top tang and a magazine counter on the left-front. The lever locks up tightly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: None
Our Assessment: The Savage 1899/99 model rifles have quite a history. They were preceded by the Model 1895, which was the first hammerless lever-action rifle produced. A hammerless action was useful as it reduces the lock time, allows the rifle to be fired more accurately and is less likely to jam in brush or snag in clothing. The 1895 and 1899/99 models used a rotary magazine to hold the cartridges, using a spring-loaded spool with grooves. The 1899/99 models added a counter to the spool to indicate how many rounds are loaded. This design allowed the use of spitzer bullets, which could not be used in the Winchester rifles of the times because the pointed tips in the tubular magazines could cause accidental discharge. This gave Savage a lead in producing rifles that could handle high velocity smokeless powder cartridges with bullets offering flatter trajectories than other lever-action designs. This example is a model 99-DL chambered for the common .308 Winchester cartridge. The DL model was a Deluxe model, the first produced with a Monte Carlo comb, and was marked “99M” on the barrel, presumably to reference the comb. Produced in 1960 or 1961, this rifle is in Fine condition with wear consistent with little use, a great bore and strong mechanics. This will make a great addition to a Savage collection or a hunting rifle with another lifetime’s worth of use left in it. Please see our photos and good luck! – L.S.
