Savage Model 99

The Model 99, and its predecessor model 1895, is a series of hammerless lever action rifles created by the Savage Arms Company in Utica, New York. The Model 99 featured a unique rotary magazine. The rifle was extremely popular with big game hunters and was even issued to the Montreal Home Guard during the First World War.

Savage Model 99
A Savage Model 99 with Weaver Scope
TypeLever Action, hammerless rifle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
DesignerArthur W. Savage
Designed1892–1899
ManufacturerSavage Arms Company
Produced1899–1998
VariantsModel 1892, Model 1895, Model 1899
Specifications
Cartridge.303 Savage, .32-40 Winchester, .300 Savage, .30-30 Winchester, .25-35 Winchester, .250 Savage, .22 Savage Hi-Power, .22-250 Remington, .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .358 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, .284 Winchester, .38-55 Winchester, .375 Winchester, .410 shotgun
ActionLever action, hammerless rifle
Feed systemRotary magazine, later models had a detachable box magazine.
SightsOpen iron sights, tang or receiver-mounted aperture sights. Later models had provisions for mounting rifle scopes

History
The Savage 99 in Scientific American Volume 85 Number 10 (September 1901)

The immediate predecessor of the Model 1895, the Model 1892, was one of the contending rifle models offered to the U.S. Army when they were looking to replace the Springfield Model 1873 trapdoor rifle. The Krag–Jørgensen was chosen over the Savage and other models.[1] The Model 1892 was never put into production (and indeed pre-dated the actual establishment of the Savage Arms Company; the Model 1892 was a collaborative venture between Arthur Savage and Colt's Manufacturing Company), and instead it was further developed into the Model 1895. The Model 1895 musket in .30-40 Krag was the winner of an 1896 competition for a New York National Guard rifle contract, beating out the Winchester Model 1895.[2] Political controversy led to the cancellation of the contract and the New York National Guard was therefore equipped with obsolete single-shot Trapdoor Springfield rifles during the Spanish–American War.[3] Later refinements to the Model 1895 design led to the Model 1899, later simply shortened to the Model 99. In 1899, Savage offered to convert any existing Model 1895 rifle or carbine to Model 1899 configuration for a $5 fee.[4]

During World War I, the Montreal Home Guard was issued Model 99 rifles in "musket" form, which incorporated a bayonet lug and military-style stock.[5] It is known as the Model 99D Musket. The Montreal Home Guard contract was for a total of 2,500 rifles, all of which are believed to have been delivered.[6] These rifles were chambered in .303 Savage, as altering the design for the Canadian standard .303 British Mk VII cartridge would have resulted in an unacceptable delay in delivery.[7] Guardsmen were responsible for purchasing their own rifles[5] and had the option of having their names stamped on the stock.[8] Many also chose to have their names engraved on the left side of the receiver.[9]

Design
400-pound tiger taken by Reverend H. R. Caldwell using a Savage 99 chambered for .22 Savage Hi-Power

The Model 99 was preceded by the Model 1895, which was the first hammerless lever-action rifle.[10] The 1895, as well as the later Model 1899 and early Model 99, used a rotary magazine to hold the cartridges.[11] The rotating magazine uses a spring-loaded spool with grooves to hold the cartridges. The Savage 1899 took advantage of the spool to include a counter to indicate how many shots are left. The Model 99 continued using this system for many years, until its replacement with a detachable magazine.[12]

The rotating magazine design allowed the rifle to be one of the first lever-action rifles to use spitzer bullets. Previous lever-action rifles used tubular magazines, which placed cartridges of ammunition end to end. The pointed tips of a spitzer bullet would touch the primer of the cartridge in front of it, possibly causing an accidental discharge. Another novel safety feature was that, upon cocking the rifle, a small pin would protrude above the top receiver to indicate the rifle was cocked and ready to fire.[13]

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References
  1. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. pp. 189–190. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  2. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. pp. 190–193. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  3. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. pp. 193–194. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  4. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. p. 194. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  5. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. p. 202. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  6. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. p. 205. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  7. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. p. 203. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  8. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. p. 206. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  9. Mercaldo, Luke; Firestone, Adam; Vanderlinden, Anthony (2011). Allied Rifle Contracts in America. Wet Dog Publications. p. 207. ISBN 0-9707997-7-2.
  10. "Savage Arms > History", Savage Arms.
  11. U.S. Patent 502,018, Magazine-Gun, Filing date: Apr 10, 1889, Issue date: July 25, 1893, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage
  12. U.S. Patent 611,284, Indicator for Firearms, Filing date: Jan. 17, 1893, Issue date: Sept. 27, 1898, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage
  13. U.S. Patent 634,034, Firearm, Filing date: Apr. 21, 1897, Issue date: Oct. 3, 1899, Inventor: Arthur W. Savage
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