1899 was a Good Year

[Bob R]

I have owned Five over the years.
My first two were bought new back in the Mid 1970's. One was a 308 Winchester with a straight stock. It kicked so hard you could not enjoy shooting it. It was traded back in for a 243 just like it. The 243 was much more fun to shoot. That was the previous wife's deer rifle.

The best one was an 1899 chambered in 303 Savage. It had an Octagon Barrel, and Crescent Butt Plate. I believe the manufacture date was either 1911 or 1913. It had the best open sights of any rifle I have ever owned. I sold it to a dealer who dealt in vintage nice rifles.

Then I had a nice 99 chambered in 300 savage from the 1950's. I sold that one to my boss thirty years ago. It was a very nice old rifle, and he still deer hunts with it.

The last one was a clip fed 243. This one was set on a car roof and dumped on a highway by the previous owned. Broken butt stock and forend. I just happened by Eddies Fins and Feathers in Montreal Missouri one day and Eddie asked what I was looking for. I told him a Stock Set for a Savage 99. He reached under the counter and brought a set out, and dusted it off. It was even the correct one for the later model rifle. For $100 I had the old 99 back to new. My boss talked me out of that one as well.

The last few I have looked at were on the North side of $1,000 for one even remotely clean.

Bob R

 

[Nightlord40k]

I have owned Five over the years.
My first two were bought new back in the Mid 1970's. One was a 308 Winchester with a straight stock. It kicked so hard you could not enjoy shooting it. It was traded back in for a 243 just like it. The 243 was much more fun to shoot. That was the previous wife's deer rifle.

The best one was an 1899 chambered in 303 Savage. It had an Octagon Barrel, and Crescent Butt Plate. I believe the manufacture date was either 1911 or 1913. It had the best open sights of any rifle I have ever owned. I sold it to a dealer who dealt in vintage nice rifles.

Then I had a nice 99 chambered in 300 savage from the 1950's. I sold that one to my boss thirty years ago. It was a very nice old rifle, and he still deer hunts with it.

The last one was a clip fed 243. This one was set on a car roof and dumped on a highway by the previous owned. Broken butt stock and forend. I just happened by Eddies Fins and Feathers in Montreal Missouri one day and Eddie asked what I was looking for. I told him a Stock Set for a Savage 99. He reached under the counter and brought a set out, and dusted it off. It was even the correct one for the later model rifle. For $100 I had the old 99 back to new. My boss talked me out of that one as well.

The last few I have looked at were on the North side of $1,000 for one even remotely clean.

Bob R

Strangely, my .308 Featherlight hasn't been punishing my shoulder like I though it would. Can't explain it, but Ill take the win.
Paid $1G even, but it's like new so I'm ok with it. Don't see many at all at the local shows and shops, and, as you say, they are usually pretty beat up.

Wouldve kept my .243 E forever, but I was on a kick to slash the cartridges I keep in stock and it was the only .243, so it had to go.

Wish they would've made one in .223. That would've been a sweetie.