Savage Model 99-R Heavy Rifle 99 R .300 Sav 24? Lever Action Rifle 1951 C&R
SOLD FOR: $705
WOA#: WY230711KE003
Make: Savage Arms Corporation
Model: 99-R Heavy Rifle
Serial Number: 596879
Year of Manufacture: 1951
Caliber: .300 Savage
Action Type: Lever Action with Rotary Magazine. This rifle is a solid frame model.
Markings: The left of the barrel is marked “.300 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 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 “24C”.
Barrel Length: 24” Round
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a brass beaded blade set in a slotted base dovetailed to a serrated, ramped base integral to the front of the barrel. The rear sight is missing from its dovetail provision. The top of the receiver is mounted with a B Nickel Marburg Supra Dural 6×36 Scope. The sight picture is clear. The lenses do need a cleaning.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The stocks are two-piece checkered walnut with a capped pistol grip, straight comb, rubber Pachmayr buttpad, semi-beavertail forend, and sling swivels front and rear. There are a few scattered compressions and draglines. There are some scattered light handling marks. The checkering is strong. The LOP measures 12.5″ from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttpad. The buttpad has a few scattered light marks. There are no chips or cracks. Overall, the stocks are in about Fine condition.
Type of Finish: Blued with Case Color Lever
Finish Originality: Original. The receiver appears to have been scrubbed especially in the bottom where most of the finish is worn white.
Bore Condition: The bore is mostly bright and the rifling is sharp. There are a few spots of very light surface erosion, most noticeable at the muzzle.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 80% of its metal finish. The receiver has most of the finish scrubbed off underneath. The receiver has a few minor scuffs. The barrel has a couple of tiny specs of dark discoloration from previous oxidation, mostly at the midsection as well as some spots of thinning throughout. There is standard operational wear. There are some light handling marks. The screw heads are sharp to lightly worn with serviceable slots. The markings are clear. Overall, this rifle is in about Very Good 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: This rifle comes with its attached leather sling and scope.
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 .300 Savage and retains most of 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!