Savage Model 99F 99-F Featherweight .308 Win Lever Action Rifle, 1956 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,655
LSB#: 200227BL07
Make: Savage Arms Corporation
Model: 99F Featherweight
Serial Number: 905602
Year of Manufacture: 1956 (H date code)
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 99F—-“, and the top “SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION / CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. U.S.A.”. The left of the chamber ring is marked “SAVAGE / MODEL 99”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number in front of the lever, the front of the lever boss is marked “16H”.
Barrel Length: 22″ Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a beaded blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base fixed to the front of the barrel. There is a dovetailed boss at the rear of the barrel with a “V”-notched leaf and elevator sight. The top of the receiver is drilled, tapped and filled for scope and receiver sight mounts (none included).
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with capped pistol grip, straight comb and serrated steel buttplate. The stocks have some scattered minor compressions and scuffs, with a concentration in the belly behind the grip. There is a short, thin grain-line crack on the top of the wrist next to the tang and a small chip loss at the toe. The checkering is sharp. The LOP measures 13 1/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has some minor erosion under the finish at the heel and toe, a few light marks and sharp serrations. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good-plus condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Refinished
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 97% of its metal finish. There is some scattered minor erosion under the finish, most goes unnoticed except on close inspection, and a few scattered minor marks. The lever has very light operational wear. The bolt shows light surface erosion which has been scrubbed out. The screw heads are sharp. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine condition as refinished.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. It has a flat safety on the right side of the bottom tang that locks the lever and the trigger. 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 99F Featherweight chambered for the .308 Winchester cartridge. Produced in 1956, this rifle was made just as the .308 was introduced for the Featherweight rifles. The rifle has had a new blue finish applied but the markings have been well preserved. The bore is great and the mechanics are strong. 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!