Savage Serial Number Dates

I HAVE looked at a LOT of threads and completely understand the lever-boss date code concept. I have 2 Savage 99 rifles. A 99EG in.300Savage that has a lever boss date code [F, I think and was told] that corresponds to 1954, and a serial number that is 699,xxx [not coy: forget last three digits].

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1977 is the date of manufacture. The letter is in the serial number, not part of the lever boss code/LBC which is a different matter. There is no LBC in 1977, 1967 was the last full year for that. The.308 was introduced in 1952, however Savage did not produce 99's in that caliber until 1955, as they had to lengthen the internal dimensions of the levergun to accept the slightly longer.308 cartridge. Savage started putting a letter in front of the serial number in 1968, and went to B, C, D etc. Each time the 6 digit serial number rolled over.

I have a question about serial number orders and dates. I HAVE looked at a LOT of threads and completely understand the lever-boss date code concept.

I have 2 Savage 99 rifles. A 99EG in.300Savage that has a lever boss date code [F, I think and was told] that corresponds to 1954, and a serial number that is 699,xxx [not coy: forget last three digits]. The second one is a 99F in.308 with a lever boss code that seems to be 1957, but could be a 1958 [can't see the bottom to tell if it is an I or a J] with a serial number that is 943,xxx [again: can't remember last three digits].

Here is the issue. I have found a couple of threads on the internet [here, 24 hour campfire, Savage Shooters, etc] that made me curious/nervous. The first is a couple of threads by someone who has a Savage 99EG with a serial number of 701,000; but he said it was a 1953 rifle.

My date code indicates a 1954, but has a serial number LOWER than his. Did Savage release them/make them out of serial number sequence? How likely is it for a 699,xxx rifle to be made a year after a 701,000 rifle? Were the serial numbers connected to the caliber? I don't recall if he listed his caliber at all. The second issue is trying to get a better handle on my 99F. City guide 81 kod aktivacii.

Mine is serial 943,xxx and I can't tell if it was an 'I' or a 'J' in the lever code boss. It was a number '17' for the inspector in front of it. Can anyone provide any more info based on the serial number? One person was VERY helpful when he identified that there were a LOT more 99 rifles made in.308 in 1957 than there were in 1958, so 57 is a better chance: but I'd prefer to have a better grasp. Like people able to read their boss code and saying 'My 99F is a 58 and has serial number of 941,xxx'. If rifles were always released in proper serial number sequencing, my 99F would have to be a 58. Lastly is the issue of WHEN the.308 was first released in the Savage 99F?

I read quite a few posts that say 1957. However, I was reading advertisements for sale and one from 1955 listed the Savage 99F available in 4 calibers, one of which was the.308Winchester.

That would seem to indicate the first model 99 rifles in.308 were in '55. Was that the advertised start, but they took two more years to work up the rifles and make the actions stronger? Or was it a trickle in 55/56?

Or were the other posts wrong about.308 starting in 1957? I really like the Savage 99 [obviously: I have two now], but was confused about these points. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. I can't help you out on the.308 99 you have but I can lend a hand with your.300 Savage 99EG. The lever boss code which is not located on the lever, but on the receiver where the lever attaches.

Receivers were machined ready for use by production as the need arose. I paid for a research letter from the Savage Historian, John Calahan relating to my Savage 99EG in.300 Savage quite a few years ago (around 1994).