OFF TOPIC: Skunk, You have a photo of USS WASP (CV-7) as your avatar. My father was aboard her when that photo was taken. I'd appreciate hearing from you.
ON TOPIC: I joined this group on advice from a Savage shooter in our gun club, the
Pascagoula Shooting Club. He said I can get good pointers on my Dad's old Savage 99 here or nowhere. From one photo I've seen I think it is a 99R, but can't be sure. I've personally never seen one exactly like it in person. The description is as follows:
I recv'd the rifle back from my sister today, (03/30/2008),and got my first look at it in some six years. It has accrued a few more dints and minor dings but overall still looks pretty darned good. The bluing still looks really good. I took a few photos of the rifle right after unpacking it. Still has all the grime on it. I'll clean it up some over the next few days and may even find some ammo for it. The old .300 Savage stuff isn't as easy to find locally as it once was! (A new set of dies are in order, too.) I know Dad bought the gun in California in the early 1950's and to number the mule deer, elk, white-tail and other game, (including pronghorn), that were cleanly taken over the years would be impossible. I can say that one moose and six bears were killed with the rifle. One bear was a cinnamon-phase taken by Dad that squared 8.75 feet.
The rifle has a inch barrel and appears to have a steel rotor rather than bronze, an integral front ramp w/ brass bead front site, heavy fore-end, steel shotgun butt-plate, pistol-grip, hand-cut checkering, & the lever-mounted safety. The lever was/is color case-hardened and the tang is factory drilled & tapped for peep sights. Oh! there is a "cocked action" indicator that rises from the top of the action. Serial number is 6 digits beginning with '694'. Simply marked "Savage 99" on the left side of the action and ".300 Savage" on the left side of the barrel. The right side of the barrel is printed in very fine lettering "Hi Pressure Steel - Proof Tested".
Here are some photos...
I'll likely spend the next couple of days thoroughly cleaning the old girl and getting her ready for next deer season. If all goes well my son will be the fourth of my family to take game with this rifle.
Can't wait! 
Any info you guys can forward will be
greatly appreciated!
Bull, out!
