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Thread: Gray rat 1893

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    Gray rat 1893


    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.

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

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    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.
    "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Last words of Gen. Sedgwik

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    Revisited

    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.

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    Vintage Savage Guru Mad Dog's Avatar
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    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?
    Savage- "never say never".

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    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.

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    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.

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    Vintage Savage Guru Mad Dog's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Travis98146 View Post
    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.
    Savage- "never say never".

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    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?

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    Vintage Savage Guru Mad Dog's Avatar
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    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.
    Savage- "never say never".

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

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    Quote Originally Posted by Model24 View Post
    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...
    "Life' is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid." ~ John Wayne
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urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” —Mark Twain

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    Team Savage Stumpkiller's Avatar
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    Or perforated like "Swiss Cheese"?
    "They couldn't hit an elephant at this distance." Last words of Gen. Sedgwik

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    Vintage Savage Guru Mad Dog's Avatar
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    Ya Stumpkiller, it had extra holes.
    Savage- "never say never".

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

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    Basic Member Robinhood's Avatar
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    The Dunning-Kruger effect is alive and well.

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    Vintage Savage Guru Mad Dog's Avatar
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    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?
    Savage- "never say never".

  18. #18
    Basic Member Robinhood's Avatar
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    Mad Dog, I thought it was interesting there were so many people selling something that I did not know existed.
    The Dunning-Kruger effect is alive and well.

  19. #19
    Administrator J.Baker's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Robinhood View Post
    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."
    "Life' is tough. It's even tougher if you're stupid." ~ John Wayne
    “Under certain circumstances, 
urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.” —Mark Twain

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    Vintage Savage Guru Mad Dog's Avatar
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    Yep, thats why you see alot of guys calling a Savage pistol model 1907 a 1906.
    Savage- "never say never".

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