Meaning of "X" mark on Savage 99 receiver???

[dougader]

I keep seeing Savage 99's with an imposing "X" mark stamped incongruently on the receiver as shown in the picture below. It looks out of place, like it was stamped on there after manufacture. Was this a proof mark of sorts??? Does anyone the answer to this?

http://steelheader.smugmug.com/photos/i-rBqNmCr/0/L/i-rBqNmCr-L.jpg (http://steelheader.smugmug.com/Other/Rifles/41617823_pCKQzx#!i=3709201860&k=rBqNmCr&lb=1&s=A)

[Mad Dog]

Inspectors marking, nothing to worry about.

[dougader]

Thanks, Mad Dog.

[J.Baker]

Seems like a piss-poor place to put an inspectors stamp. Usually they're placed out of sight under the wood line on the barrel or receiver. I guess we can just assume that Inspector X just wasn't smart enough to figure out it looks better when you can't see the stamps. lol

[Mad Dog]

I had an old 99 in 308 with an inspectors stamp in the exact spot, wasn't an X though, different letter, just can't remember which.

[J.Baker]

Are you sure it wasn't a repair/warranty stamp, or possibly a factory defect stamp location? I just find it extremely odd that anyone would deliberately put an inspectors stamp nearly right on top of the model roll stamp on the receiver like that on a gun that's going out to a customer or dealer.

[Mad Dog]

No I'm not sure Jim, wouldn't bet paychecks on it anyways but it's not the first time I've seen them there.

Usually on 99's, don't think I've ever seen them on 1899's.

[dougader]

I've seen several 99's with that X placed in that area. Looks like it was placed haphazardly to me, too.

[Fireball]

Funny. Don't know just guess?

[Mad Dog]

You know a lot of guys from the factory in the 1950's that we could ask Roy?

[Fireball]

Sorry Joe, I shouldn't be busting your chops, you're doing a nice job here. I've wondered what the mark is myself, but like these guys it seems like an odd place for an inspectors stamp.
Carry on.

[Mad Dog]

We knew a guy that worked at the factory here but haven't seen him around in years, lost his **** email address to.

[J.Baker]

I just shot an email off to Bob Greenleaf to see if he might know anything about it, though it may be before his time as he didn't start working at Savage until 1962.

[Mad Dog]

He still most likely crossed paths with one of the X marked ones, maybe one heading back to the factory for something.

[J.Baker]

Bob doesn't have a clue either and has never seen such a stamp before.

[Mad Dog]

Just another Savage mystery then, kinda like the mad dog marks on the bottom of the 1895 barrels.

[2dasea]

This is an old thread but mine has a similar mark only its a "0" . 1956 r model in .308

[Savage 94C]

Just realized also that this thread is a oldy, but was just going to remark in humorous way "Maybe the X is a "Russian capture mark" as found on K98k Mausers. :smile-new: Looks like the ones found on the RC's.

[Mad Dog]

This is an old thread but mine has a similar mark only its a "0" . 1956 r model in .308

That could be a lightly struck date code.