Gray rat 1893

[bushrat]

I was in a pawn shop today that had a true gray rat model G. The tag said model 893, I looked the rifle over and the front of the receiver had two holes. One hole was where the 1 should have been. The other three digits were clearly 893, the three was clear and centered and did not seem to be a partial strike. The owner said he did some research, and was told this was common. What say you all, oh it was priced at $600.

[Travis98146]

If you'll excuse my ignorance, what is a "gray rat 1893"?

[Stumpkiller]

I have to guess that "Gray Rat" means 0% of the original finish left and "normal" wear and tear for a lifetime or two of hard use.

A good, useable rifle. ;-)

What make and model rifle is it? Other than the "G" variant.

I'm not making a connection to 1893.

[bushrat]

The rifle was certainly a 1899 G but the last didgit was clearly a 3 the owner insisted he had researched it and had learned it was a common miss print. I haven’t found any evidence to support that. Even if it was the only one, the rifle was so bad it would have no value. Just wondering if any one else had seen one.

[Mad Dog]

There shouldn't have been anything stamped 1893 in front of the barrel on a G unless it was the patent dates, but there would be more than just 1893.

Did you get a serial number from under the receiver?

[bushrat]

The 1893 was the model number stamped on top of the receiver, the #9 was obscured by a hole drilled for a scope mount. The last number stamped for the model # was a 3.

[Travis98146]

Thanks. A gray rat is a rifle that's been abused and neglected. Luckily, I don't have any of those and neither does my family members.

[Mad Dog]

Thanks. A gray rat is a rifle that's been abused and neglected.

No, a gray rat is a 99 that has alot of bluing loss. I know the guy that coined the term about 20 years ago. There's also a studded rat, a swiss rat and a hybrid rat.

[Travis98146]

I guess my understanding is a little blurry here. Are the coined names above, gray rat etc., a "one-size-fits-all" classification like "gat", "rod", "heater", "iron", etc. or are they the names for his personal weapons? In other words, if I have an old Colt .45 with most of the blueing gone, would it be considered a gray rat? Are the terms specific to Savage-made weapons/rifles?

[Mad Dog]

Specific to 99's.

A studded rat had sling eyes or studs, a hybrid rat had a mix of non original items like sling eyes and drilled for a scope, etc.

We used to actually have a list of the different types of rats.

[Model24]

I have to know. What's a Swiss Rat, then?

[J.Baker]

I have to know. What's a Swiss Rat, then?

My guess (and that's all it is) is a 99 that's had more stuff added to it than a Swiss Army knife. Sling studs, compass, drilled and tapped, notched for a Williams peep sight, shotgun recoil pad, muzzle brake, high capacity rotary magazine...

[Stumpkiller]

Or perforated like "Swiss Cheese"? :rolleyes:

[Mad Dog]

Ya Stumpkiller, it had extra holes.

[Model24]

Yeah, that was my first guess . . . drilled for at least one, maybe more, side mount scope bases.

[Robinhood]

??????????

https://www.gunsamerica.com/956928394/SAVAGE-1893-303-SAVAGE.htm


https://www.icollector.com/item.aspx?i=9742828



https://www.gunbroker.com/item/801155861

[Mad Dog]

First one is an 1899A Short Rifle.

Second is a model 1895 that someone had replaced the buttstock.

The third is an 1899C in 32-40.

Are you confused by sellers that don't know what they're selling?

[Robinhood]

Mad Dog, I thought it was interesting there were so many people selling something that I did not know existed.

[J.Baker]

Mad Dog, I thought it was interesting there were so many people selling something that I did not know existed.

Some folks confuse patent date(s) with manufacture date or model number. "Says 1893 right there on the barrel, so it must be a Model 1893."

[Mad Dog]

Yep, thats why you see alot of guys calling a Savage pistol model 1907 a 1906.