I recently came upon a Savage 303 lever gun, but it has some oddities. The serial number is somewhere around the 48.XXX range putting it around or a little after 1904 according to one serial number lookup. If there is a rule that I have to post the exact serial number let me know and I'll leave now. In this internet age of use and abuse I don't share any "exact" information if I can avoid it. I'm a little leery of posting photos as well, but I may if I don't get a lecture about it. LOL

It is probably an 1899, but I can't find one in its exact configuration. It's got the combination lever catch/safety. I have to assume that was the common for its time period. The stock is plain, has a small cheek rise (but no side swell), and no pistol grip. Its almost perfectly straight on the bottom. I found pictures of a few very similar in my search, but most were fancier guns. This is PLAIN. The half octagon barrel lead me to believe it might be an 1899C, but I'm not sure that adds up to the right age range according to the serial number.

The next odd bit is does not have a fore end like most others I've seen picture. It stops more than 3 inches short of the end of the octagon, and it does not taper down close to the barrel like most others. Its straighter (some small taper) and more squared on the front.

Now its possible that it doesn't have the original wood furniture. It looks like it was made for the rifle, but its not a high precision fit, and its not in great condition. Since it could be 120 year old rifle its possible the furniture has been replaced at some point.

It's also got a poorly fitted rubber butt pad held on with what looks like nails. It's not quite centered and it was never trimmed to fit the stock.

Yes I have looked at this page https://www.savageshooters.com/conte...l-99-do-I-have and this page https://savagelevers.com/serial-number-search/ already. I've also looked at several other forum posts, wikipedia and a few other information web pages.

Any additional knowledge you can lend would be appreciated. If nothing, well that's okay too.