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Onto the models F and G. The early model 99F was a straight stocked T/D model which had the same barrel configurations as the 99Es and Gs. Most were not checkered until around 1938. The checkering pattern on the 99F had a two pointed fletching sort of pattern which pointed to the rear of the receiver and then molded into a single point that ran down the side of the butt stock coming to a point at the bottom middle of the butt. This type of checkering pattern was only used on the early 99F. The front forearm checkering was the same as the model 99G.
The model 99G was roughly the same as the early 99F only it was furnished with a pistol grip butt instead of the straight grip, checkering was always used on this model and looks very much like a model 1899 250-3000 deluxe. It was actually the predecessor of the 99G. The checkering on the 99G started at the butts grip cap and rose curving to the side pad while splitting to each side of it. An early model G will have a dovetailed front sight into the barrel and the later ones were switched to a ramp front sight.
The model 99H, a dead giveaway on the 99H is that the early models didn't have the usual 99 cheek pads on the butt stocks up until around 1935. Also please note that their was no barrel band on the earlier H's until around 1931. These barrel band carbines are a nice find if you come across one. They were made from 1923- 1940 and had a serial range from 220,000- 400,000. They wore a carbine type butt up until the last couple years of production when they went to the shotgun type butt. You may also find a few of these model 99H's with a fruitwood set of stocks on it. Unsure why Savage started to use this type of wood but they were only made for the 99Hs. The wood color will be a lot lighter than the dark walnut stocks that you find on the rest of the 99s.
Moving up, we go to the model R's and RS's. These are a common 99 found pretty easily still today. They were the most produced model Savage put out. The 99Rs and RS's were built two different ways, the pre-1950 models had a lighter stock set and the double groove on the end of the forearm was a tell tale sign of an early R. The model RS was basically the same as the R only it came with a select barrel and one of two forms of a tang sight. The early ones came with a Lyman SA windage adjustable tang sight up until around 1940 when they started dressing it with a Redfield model 70LH receiver sight that mounted to the tang holes as well. Checkering on the early Rs and RS's was a bit different as well. Behind the double groove on the forearm was a single point which expanded out to two points on the sides and wrapped fully under the forearm. The later Rs had only a triangle type checkering that did not join underneath. Also the later R had a much more heavier stock set than the earlier Rs. The forearm was very wide and then beavertailed back into the receiver sharply at the rear of the forearm. Another note on the Rs and RS's is that most of them came with factory sling eyes and some RS's (including mine) were found with flat bottomed sling swivels much like Uncle Mike swivels, these were a factory offering as well. Later on in production when Savage started to chamber these 1950 era rifles they added the Winchester calibers (308, 358, 243) and this happened around 1956, the bolts were damascened or jeweled as some people call it. Although it is said that these gun were made past the 1,000,000 mark I have yet to come across one made after 1959. These guns were made from 1932-1960, a long run.
The 99EG, although Savage states that the Rs were the most produced 99s the model 99EG seems to be the most common. It is basically the same receiver and 24 barrel with ramp front sight as the R and RS. The only difference between the two is that it came with a Schnabel tipped forearm much like the older rifles. From what Ive seen, the model EG's are the Winchester 94s of the Savage line. If you run into a 99 in 300 Savage it's most likely going to turn out to be an EG. These guns are not at all hard to find and just punching in Savage 99 on a computer will probably bring you to countless EGs. This is one reason that I don't even own an EG, I don't like common 99s, although I did once own an EG in 308 which is hard to find in any Winchester caliber. The EG is the most used hunting gun in the bush when it comes to the 99, most deer hunters will swear to the end of their days that the 99EG in 300 is the deers worst enemy and some would go so far as to say its killed more deer than the Win 94. The EGs forearm checkering is also like the later version R with the triangular checkering on both sides. Although rare, salesman sample have been seen in this model and came with a roll stamp on the side of the receiver and factory sling eyes.
The 99F (later version) is not at all like the earlier version that we spoke of. The 99F late version stands for featherlight, it is a very lightweight rifle and I find it kicks like a mule but Id never leave mine at home. If you are trying to find out what model you have and its an F simply look on the right hand side of the barrel and you'll find 99F stamped on it. Another basic sign of an F is the sight boss, a sight boss is kind of a hump in the barrel where the company had to beef it up so they could dovetail the barrel for the rear sight. If they didn't do this the rear sight would have cut right into the barrel itself due to its small diameter for dropping more weight from the guns total. A 99F will have a rounded tip on the forearm with checkering that runs all the way underneath it and to the other side. Later on in production the F's were press checkered along with a lot of the other post one million serial numbered rifles. Press checkering is frowned upon by 99 owners as they aren't as nice as the cut checkered rifles from the pre-mil era. Although, the press checkered rifles still make very nice hunting guns in any model.
The 99T, doubtful that you will have one of these but I have been surprised by some of the members here at what they come up with and not even know what they have. The 99T is one of the most hardest 99s to come across, the were only made for 5 years and even then they were competing with the more common 99s on the assembly line. Not many of these were made and the most common caliber is the 300 Savage in them. I have seen them in 30-30 and 303 Savage but have never crossed paths with one in 22 H.P or a 250-3000. The giveaway on a T is that the stock and forearm are beefier than the regular models (R's excluded) and the checkering on the forearm starts at the rear of the fore stock and runs all the way to the front on both sides which covers most of the forearm, 2 points on either end of it and wraps underneath as well.
The model DL is mainly the same as the later version F with the sight boss. The difference here is that it will have a Monte Carlo style rear stock. Most DLs for some reason have model M stamped on them, I'm guessing this means the Monte Carlo stock. It also came factory with sling studs. These were all post million serial numbered guns and most were press checkered although cut checkering was used on them from 1960 65.
The 99Cs. These guns are not hard to get a model designation on at all. Just have a look at it, is it magazine fed? Yes? Then you have a model C, the C stood for clip although that was a mistake as most of you know its called a magazine not a clip. The only other mag fed model was the model CD which was the same gun only it was a deluxe version with a Monte Carlo stock and a giveaway on these would be the white line spacer between the butt plate and the butt stock.
The model 99E, the economy version of the 99. Some came with birch stock sets which in my eyes made them very ugly guns. The gun did not come equipped with a cartridge counter like all the other models did and it had no checkering. Also the 99E was never changed over to the tang safety after the one million mark like the rest as well. It still wore its lever type safety right up to the day it was discontinued. Now most Es are in the post million serial range but a few I have seen had been made in 1959 and came with the counter on the side. Some were even seen with Schnabel forearms. These are the guns a lot of 99 lovers buy if they want to have a winter project, the y are cheap guns to find and you dont feel bad about destroying any collector value by working one over into something you want more. A lot of 99Es in 308 are bought for rechambering into 358 for instance.
The last of the Savage 99 models are the model As and the Brush Guns. These guns came in hard to find calibers. The model As came in 243, 250, 300 Savage, 308 and the hard to find 375 Win. The 375 was only produced in this model for 2 years so finding one is a chore. It came with a straight grip butt and a Schnabel forearm, the stock and forearm were not checkered on this model and they were in the A series serial range. The brush guns were the same except the forearms were rounder and had a deep finger groove running along side of it. The Brush Guns only came in 358 and 375 Win, the 375 only being made in this model for 1 year.
Well I could go on and on about model designations but I tried to sum it up as easiest as possible and give you a head start on what your holding. Hopefully you have found the model you have now and don't need any other assistance if that was all you were after but please, if you have any other questions or think you have something different from what I have explained, get a hold of me here at the site and I'll give you a hand and see what were dealing with, it could be a special order rifle which I did not cover because it would take way to long to get into them. Thanks and good luck.
Submitted by Joe Koprash - aka Mad Dog
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