I am a manufacturer of Gunstock Carving Duplicators, but I am also a collector of Savage 1895, 1899 and 99 rifles. I tend to buy ones with broken stocks, for I can carve a new stock and forearm easily with one of my machines. Right now, I am doing my 1899 with octagonal barrel (made in 1906)... both the stock, and forearm. The rifle itself is beautiful... perhaps 95%, or a bit less, but it has the typical flaw, a badly chipped stock, right at the tang. I will do both the stock and forearm, so that the wood matches on both. I am thinking that I will start producing these matched pairs, for I am preparing a 1914 takedown, and have a 1924 99-D takedown and 1934 99-B that will be next. If I can get my arse in gear, I think it might be nice to provide other 99 folks with pairs of new stocks, for I know how it is to try to find something decent. I think it would be nice to buy a new stock that is precise and done, and with the necessary holes predrilled... maybe even finished. So much of what is out there is terrible! Seems that there are often no holes drilled, and it needs a professional stock fitter to make it work. But, I am taking it slow and steady, and learning the idiosyncracies of the 99's... after all, I have only done 2 of them up till now (both beautiful and perfect, and tight to the metal). I actually became interested in 1899's because of the classic flaw... a cracked butt stock... that is right up my alley. I am not sure if that is good or bad. I am not offering new stocks right now, I guess... but just want to make contact with other collectors, and maybe help in the future. My current carving job (when I am not in the shop making duplicators) is a 1930 vintage .22 H. Pieper that I am knocking out for my FFL... now, try to find someone who will do one of those! I am new here, but will try to post some pictures of the stocks I am working on, as soon as I figure out photobucket. Lee Davis
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