The Savage Mannequin 99 was a revolutionary lever-action firearm. A literal revolution made potential by means of an built-in rotary journal design. In 1899, lever actions weren’t new by any means, however the Savage rotary journal opened up the lever motion platform to spitzer-type bullets. Lever actions with tubular magazines are compelled to make use of round-nose projectiles so the sharp finish of a spitzer cartridge doesn’t impression the primer of the spherical in entrance of it.
With that mentioned, it took quite a lot of years for Spitzer bullets to search out their means into the Savage Mannequin 1899. To be truthful, they weren’t commercially obtainable till a decade after the gun’s manufacturing. The weapon was initially chambered in .303 Savage, a cartridge just like the .30-30 Winchester, together with the spherical projectile design. Ultimately, it could go on to chamber .243 Win, .308, .7mm-08, and plenty of extra throughout its practically century of manufacturing.
The Savage Mannequin 99 you see right here is an early mannequin, particularly a Mannequin 1899C, which includes a half-round, half-octagonal barrel. This isn’t to be confused with the later model known as the 99-C, which had a removable journal. My variant is in .30-30, and it’s my favourite lever-action rifle. Not solely is it a high-performing rifle, but it surely has an enchanting historical past with navy curiosity, failed contracts, and extra.
The Early Origins of the Mannequin 99
We have now to return to 1892 to begin the story. The navy forces of the world have been swapping from single-shot rifles to repeaters, and smokeless powder was right here to remain. We may drop huge, heavy projectiles for smaller, sooner cartridges. The Military needed to interchange the venerable Springfield Mannequin 1875 trapdoor rifle with a repeater.
Savage entered the market with their lever-action 1892 mannequin, but it surely misplaced to the Krag-Jorgensen bolt-action rifle. The Mannequin 1892 predated the Savage Arms firm however was a product of Arthur Savage. The M1892 developed into the M1893, and finally the M1895. An M1895 ‘musket’ variant gained a contract with the New York Nationwide Guard, however free rifles from the US Military led to the cancellation of the contract.
The Mannequin 1895 gained a contract with the Mexican Military, however needed to cancel as a consequence of an absence of a manufacturing facility to construct the rifles. Arthur Savage was utilizing Marlin to supply these early fashions. Ultimately, that was solved, and the M1895 entered manufacturing. Enhancements and fixes led to the M1899, or Mannequin 99.
The M1899 would get a navy contract with the Montreal Dwelling Guard throughout WWI. These have been ‘musket’ rifles. That they had rifle barrels, and weren’t muzzle-loaded, however muskets meant that they had full handguards and bayonet lugs.
Chief Lame Deer and the Mannequin 1899
Savage Arms famously used a emblem depicting a Native American. Legend has it that Chief Lame Deer approached Arthur Savage to purchase rifles. Lame Deer supplied Savage a deal to make use of his picture as a emblem in trade for discounted rifles and an annual payment.
Nevertheless, this appears odd, since Savage M1907 pistols have been utilizing the brand earlier than 1919. In response to a quote from a Savage CEO, they have been nonetheless paying the payment in 2018. Possibly they used the picture earlier than 1919, and that’s what spurred Chief Lame Deer to make the supply.
Contained in the Savage Mannequin 1899
The Savage Mannequin 1899 described itself as a hammerless mannequin, and it was really hammerless, not like the Colt Pocket Hammerless. Savage was a fan of striker-fired weapons; the aforementioned M1907 pistol was striker-fired, and so was the Mannequin 1899. Because the lever motion closes, it cocks the striker.
The journal holds 5 rounds, and you’ll conduct a +1 to deliver it to 6 rounds. Barrel lengths fluctuate, however mine is 26 inches. The receiver is made from a piece of metal, and this gun has an enormous and beefy breech lock. This degree of producing is why this rifle, over a century outdated, continues to shoot and function with out concern.
Savage started referring to those weapons because the Mannequin 99 in 1920, and that is marked 1899, telling me it’s at the least 105 years outdated. The crescent-style inventory, with its traditional perch stomach configuration and half-octagonal, half-round barrel, firmly locations it within the Mannequin 1899C world.
The gun is stuffed with fascinating options. It has a spherical counter on the aspect. It’s a small window that exhibits a brass plate with a quantity inscribed. It’s one of many neatest little options. The motion opens the highest, however the rounds eject sideways, so that they gained’t hit your head, and a scope may very well be mounted a bit simpler than open-top lever actions.
The gun has easy open Buckhorn-style sights that prioritize pace over precision. It wasn’t unusual to see Lyman sights on these weapons. As a .30-30, the sights work superb for the everyday distances you’d use a .30-30.
There’s a security situated proper by the lever. It slides ahead and rearward. When on protected, the lever and set off are locked.
On the Vary
The Mannequin 1899C has a crescent inventory, and it’s odd. I assumed it was immediately uncomfortable and assumed I had greater shoulders than the typical turn-of-the-century dude. It seems that the crescent-style inventory is meant to relaxation in opposition to the higher bicep and never the shoulder. That made much more sense, however feels extraordinarily awkward.
It nonetheless lets you see the sights, and I’ll need to do extra analysis to determine why some most popular these shares. They definitely aren’t well-liked now. Fortunately, the .30-30 cartridge is a gentle one, with minimal recoil. It’s a traditional brush cartridge well-liked in lever-action rifles. Snapping behind the sights is quick and simple, and the outdated entrance sight nonetheless does its job properly.
At 100 yards, the Mannequin 1899 rang metal with out a drawback. It’s a complete blast to shoot. It’s dwelling historical past, and it makes me want for cheaper .30-30 ammo. Actually, it’s in all probability good that it’s not low-cost; I’d be fairly unhappy if this gun existed for greater than a century and I broke it operating double-tap drills.
The lever motion is tremendous easy and persistently ejects .30-30 circumstances with out a drawback. It’s pleasant to shoot, and with common gun season across the nook, I could be up a tree stand with a Savage Mannequin 1899C.
Residing Historical past
What I like about weapons is that outdated weapons live historical past. This gun provides me the identical expertise it gave all its earlier house owners. It’s the identical because it’s all the time been and all the time shall be. It’s clearly been well-loved and used. It was no protected queen, however in my palms, it’s now semi-retired. The Savage Mannequin 1899 is a sleeper lever gun, and it’s a disgrace it’s out of manufacturing.
With a steep enhance in lever-action recognition in the previous few years, I may see the Mannequin 1899 making a comeback. Give us each traditional configurations and extra trendy choices with scope rails and threaded barrels. That’s not going to occur anytime quickly, however a person can dream.
Different Weapons We Love on TTAG:
