Savage Model 99-EG 99EG 24″ .250-3000 Sav. Lever Action Rifle, MFD 1957 C&R
SOLD FOR: $1,290
LSB#: 200123CP73
Make: Savage Arms Corporation
Model: 99-EG
Serial Number: 706426
Year of Manufacture: 1957 (I date code)
Caliber: .250-3000 Savage
Action Type: Lever Action with Rotary Magazine. This rifle is a solid frame model.
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “250-3000 SAVAGE” and “SP” in oval, the right “HI-PRESSURE STEEL – PROOF TESTED”, and the top “SAVAGE ARMS CORPORATION / CHICOPEE FALLS, MASS. U.S.A.”. The top of the chamber ring is marked “SAVAGE / MODEL 99”, the left has a small “E”. The bottom of the receiver is marked with the serial number in front of the lever, the front of the lever boss is marked “19I”.
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. There is a dovetail at the rear of the barrel, but no rear sight is present. The top tang is drilled and tapped with a Redfield aperture sight installed, adjustable for windage and elevation.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with schnabel forend, capped pistol grip, straight comb and serrated steel buttplate. The stocks have scattered light nicks, dings, scuffs and scratches. The checkering is well defined, still sharp in some areas. There are no chips or cracks. The LOP measures 13″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The plate has wear around the edges and some scattered light surface oxidation in the finish with sharp serrations. Overall, the stocks are in about Very Good condition.
Type of Finish: Blued
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There is infrequent very minor erosion in the bore.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The finish is thinning at all edges. The barrel has only a few scattered minor marks and a line of wear from the previously installed rear sight. The receiver has handling wear on the bottom, some scattered light scratches and minor surface oxidation. The lever has generally strong case color with light operational wear and some light surface oxidation on the bottom. The screw heads are tool marked with strong slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good condition.
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 99-EG chambered for the .250-3000 Savage cartridge. Introduced in 1915 by famed ballistician Charles Newton, the .250-3000 Savage was the first American commercial cartridge capable of a muzzle velocity of 3000 fps. Produced in 1957, this rifle was made just before this model was offered with factory drill and tap for mounting a scope. The original rear sight has been removed and a vintage Redfield aperture sight has been installed. 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!