Help identify savage model 99

[lledwod]

I have received this savage recently and am puzzled by its barrel. I am told the rifle is a .303 savage, but the barrel doesn't look to me to be a typical sporter barrel. It looks like some kind of military barrel, but it looks to be the same vintage as the gun? Any ideas as to whether this could have come from the factory like this or is it just a re-barrel from some time in the past? Either way I guess I better slug the barrel ..... the serial# dates the rifle to 1901. The rifling looks excellent, deep and sharp. I would like to make a shooter out of this. Any help would be appreciated! (I can include better photos and more info if needed)

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[Blasty Von Kablasm]

I'm sure Maddog will be by soon with the answer, but my guess is Montreal Home guard.

BVK

 

[tiriaq]

My guess is that it was gunsmith rebarrelled.
A MHG rifle would have engraved information on the left side of the receiver.

 

[lledwod]

Thankyou! If it has been rebarreled I wonder if it is a .303 (.311) barrel ...... there is no info engraved on the receiver.

 

[Sun_and_Steel_77]

I like the looks of the front and rear sights, actually. Looks like you have an interesting find there. I always love doing a little detective work.
Keep us informed.

 

[Kirk1701]

The latest post in the below thread shows an 1899 .303 Carbine with just such a rear sight and barrel band. I suspect it's extremely rare. The front sight does not match the photo, but it's possible it was replaced or a special order. Generally, you don't find many rebarrelled 1899s.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...ets-get-a-some-lever-action-####-going/page87

 

[tiriaq]

The rear sight on the OP's rifle looks to be a modern Williams, installed by using a collar, rather than drilling and tapping the barrel. The banded front sight ramp is a pattern sold years ago by Redfield, Marble's, Lyman. They came with different inner diameters and heights. The barrel band on the OP's rifle has a military inspection mark on it, so it was recycled from another rifle.

 

[Boomer]

I like the looks of the front and rear sights, actually. Looks like you have an interesting find there. I always love doing a little detective work.
Keep us informed.

x2
The Williams rear sight doesn't knock me out though.

OP, how many grooves does that barrel have?

 

[Mr_Raw]

If I may I'd like to clear one thing up, the 303 savage uses a .308 bullet not a .311 or .312 like the .303 British.

 

[Kirk1701]

If I may I'd like to clear one thing up, the 303 savage uses a .308 bullet not a .311 or .312 like the .303 British.

Good point. Slugging the bore would clear up the issue.

 

[lledwod]

I did a little digging into the rifles past; it has been rebarreled, I suspect possibly to a .311 barrel. I was told it shot well, but 'blew the necks out a bit'. This is with factory ammo. I wonder if it is a .311 bore would the difference, or 'blown out' necks be apparent to the casual observer? I will try to get around to slugging the bore to find out what it is and go from there. Though apparently it shoots .308 OK. I wonder what impact the sizing down to .308 and blowing out to .311 would do to case life ..... Thanks for the input guys! I'll keep you posted.