Savage Model 99-R Heavy Rifle 99 R .308 Win 24″ Lever Action Rifle 1956 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1150
LSB#: 220504GM041
Make: Savage Arms Corporation
Model: 99-R Heavy Rifle
Serial Number: 909209
Year of Manufacture: 1956
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”, and the top “SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION / CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. U.S.A.”. The left of the chamber ring is marked “SAVAGE / MODEL 99” and “H”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number in front of the lever, the front of the lever boss is marked with an ovalled “16H” and with a letter we cannot make out.
Barrel Length: 24″ Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base integral to the front of the barrel. The barrel mounted rear sight has been removed and the dovetail is empty. The top of the receiver has two pairs of drilled, tapped, and filled holes. The rear sight is a Lyman aperture peep sight screwed to the top tang.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a capped pistol grip, straight comb, serrated metal buttplate, semi-beavertail forend, and sling swivels front and rear. There are some scattered light compressions, draglines, and scuffs. There are areas of finish wear, most noticeable on the right side of the wrist. There are a few scattered light scratches. The checkering is strong. There are some scattered light handling marks. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13 5/8″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the metal buttplate. The buttplate has areas of finish loss, oxidation, scratches, and some scabs. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued with Case Color Lever
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is no erosion.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 87% of its metal finish. There are some scratches, the most noticeable are on the right side of the receiver. There are some spots of oxidation, some of the most noticeable are on the left side of the receiver. The lever has lost its finish. There are some spots of dark discoloration on the muzzle. There are some little nicks through the finish, some of the most noticeable are on the bottom of the barrel at the front. There are some scattered light handling marks. The bolt has spots of dark discoloration from previous oxidation. There is standard operational wear. The screw heads are sharp to lightly worn with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Fine condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. 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 tubular magazine rifles of the times because the pointed tips in the tubular magazines could cause an 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 is a Model 99-R Heavy Rifle with a checkered pistol grip stock and a semi-beavertail forend. The rifle has a 24” barrel chambered for .308 Winchester and retains its original finish. This is a nice-looking vintage rifle and will be a welcome addition to a C&R or lever-action rifle collection! Please see our photos and good luck!