Savage 99 Identification Help

**paintchip** · 01-11-2020, 04:59 PM

Hi, I just purchased my first 99 and I'm trying to identify it because it came with a terrible aftermarket butt plate that I want to replace. The problem is that the butt plate on this gun seems to be smaller than on other 99s. It measures approximately 3 3/4" x 1 1/4" and is straight, not curved. From my research I am thinking it is a model E from 1928 (maybe an H), but it doesn't quite fit the description in Mad Dog's post (in the FAQ) or savage99.com. It's a light 99 with serial number 310xxx, a brass round counter, 24" barrel, dovetailed front sight, and marble rear sight, in 303 savage.

Mad Dog's post seems to indicate that the E did not have dovetailed sights and that they didn't make a 24" in 303 savage. Savage99.com seems to indicate that the H was only a 20" carbine version. If it is an E, is there anything special about the butt plate other than the size? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

https://postimg.cc/gallery/1mgh3hlqo/

**Travis98146** · 01-11-2020, 08:01 PM

My 1927 99F (SN 293xxx) in 30-30 came with a slightly curved steel buttplate. So yours has been swapped out. There were a lot of barrel changes made after 1926 but your barrel should be about 22 inches as the 24" barrel was used for the .300 cartridge.

**paintchip** · 01-20-2020, 05:50 PM

I don't think mine is an F and maybe that's why they have different buttplates. Also, my barrel is definitely bigger than 22". 22" from the muzzle misses the chamber b a couple of inches.

**Mad Dog** · 01-20-2020, 06:02 PM

Ya your right, it can't be an F, they were take downs and yours is a solid frame rifle.

Sure looks like an E to me, only the butt has been cut and a recoil pad added. If that had been an untouched stock the serial numbers would have been stamped on the back of the stock under the buttplate.

**paintchip** · 01-20-2020, 07:03 PM

So it doesn't have a standard E buttplate and there is no hope of finding an original replacement for it? That explains why I couldn't find any of that size. The recoil pad is shot and I really don't want to put it back on :D

**Mad Dog** · 01-21-2020, 07:35 AM

Ya, they would have cut the curve out of the factory formed butt and made it straight to add that recoil pad, even if you did find a replacement buttplate you would have had to do some pretty fancy grinding to make it fit.