1949 Savage .250-3000 Model 99EG

My old Harley-Davidson motorcycle, my old Colt handguns, and this old Savage rifle all speak to me. What do they say? “I’m proud to be an American.” The story behind Arthur Savage and his lever-action rifle epitomizes the American Dream.

The Savage rotary magazine was a clever solution to a real problem. The rise of pointed spitzer bullets made tubular magazines potentially hazardous, but Arthur Savage’s design gave the Model 99 a high-tech advantage for its time.

First things first

The first thing I did after buying this gun was order David Royal’s book, A Collector's Guide to the Savage 99 Rifle and its Predecessors, the Model 1895 and 1899. From the serial number, I learned this rifle was made in 1949.

My book arrived before the rifle. The gun shipped from Vermont to Alabama and took 12 days to arrive. In the meantime, nothing I was reading matched the stock, checkering, pistol grip cap, butt plate, and forearm on this gun. Thanks to Calhoun at 24 Hour Camp Fire, I learned this is a 99EG.

An oddity with the right boxes checked

I quickly learned my 71-year-old gun was an oddity. Will I ever discover exactly when the wood was upgraded? Not likely. But the high-grade wood is what caused me to find this gun in the first place.

In my search for a rifle to add to my collection, I used four criteria: American made, mid-20th century, high-grade wood, and a price tag of $2,500 or less.

The first American cartridge to reach 3,000 fps

In 1915, Charles Newton designed the .250-3000 Savage cartridge for the Savage Model 99. Newton wanted to load 100-grain bullets at 2,800 feet per second, but Savage knew that advertising 3,000 feet per second with an 87-grain bullet would sell rifles.

Auction description and collector appeal

Description from auction listing: Savage 250-3000 Model 99 lever action in ultra super high grade, deluxe wood, excellent bluing, color case on the lever, a 24-inch barrel, Redfield scope, no cracks in the wood, serial number 529636, brass counter, and fancy steel butt plate.

About one million Model 99 rifles were made over roughly a century, so they are not rare as a category. This particular example is special to me because of the internal workings, pre-detachable rotary magazine, 24-inch barrel, high-grade wood, straight forearm, unique caliber, and excellent overall condition.

Wood, stock, and American character

Many Model 99 rifles have a Schnabel forearm. I do not dislike them, but this straight rounded-end forearm makes a statement. It feels more American to me, and that is part of why this rifle stands out in my collection.

Like a customized Panhead

To the purist collector, the wood replacement on this gun may be a sacrilege. I understand that view. But if the gun was not a rare model or rare caliber, I think this post-war 99EG from Savage’s first year at the Chicopee Falls plant is about as good as it gets for a collector who actually shoots his guns.

The premium wood upgrade

Thanks to Magnum Bob at the forum, I now know the buttstock is walnut crotch wood while the forend appears more straight-grained. I am convinced this is not the Turkish walnut seen so often in more recent decades.

A.O. Niedner-style fittings

Pocono Jack let me know that the butt plate is a Niedner-style butt plate, designed by A.O. Niedner, an early twentieth-century gunsmith and rifle maker. The steel pistol grip cap was also designed to match the steel butt plate.

With only a short time into my exposure to the Model 99, I still have a lot to learn. But I have already had more than enough fun researching, shooting, and studying this rifle to know it belongs in the collection.

About Greg Cook

Greg Cook writes about firearms collecting, personal history, and the stories behind interesting guns. His Army MOS was 76Y, Unit Armorer, and he brings that practical background to his collector articles.