Before and After

filmjunkie4ever

Handloader
May 4, 2011
1,965
1,358
First off, if anyone here is a purist, eschewing and denouncing any sort of “non-original” rifles, please avert your eyes, this post will cause you to combust.

My grandfather’s Savage 99EG was given to me when I was about 10 years old by my father. I of course kept it in Dad’s gun cabinet and was not allowed to even look at it without adult supervision until later on. It was WELL-USED to say the least.

When grampa had it drilled and tapped back in the early ‘60’s the fellow doing the work must’ve been an amateur or imbibed or both as he drilled the holes crooked. For years with slotted scope mounts and shims, a scope sat atop her and shot true enough. Sometime years later, additional holes were drilled and the whole mess was at least covered by the mounts. When it developed excessive headspace, the barrel was set back but the forend no longer fit properly. Rather than taking it to a gunsmith it was modified in an amateur fashion to kinda sorta work.

People do not realize the extent that this rifle and others like it get used. By the time I became it’s custodian it looked as though it had been bungeed to the bumper of a farm truck for all its life. And I used it that way to take 5 or 6 mule deer, some coyotes and other vermin as well as one cow elk.

About a year or so back I contacted Doug Turnbull but was quoted a price big enough to buy 6-8 of these Savage rifles to do the necessary work. On Facebook I encountered a post from Gareth West, head of an up and coming gun restoration company in Wyoming. I sent pics and asked for a quote, to my surprise it was actually affordable! I sent it off and just got word this week that it is done and being reassembled. He sent me some teaser photos and I will post more as I get them.

I can’t wait to show this to Dad!
 

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I’m good with the restoration. I think it’s much better to give that rifle many more years worth of service then just sticking it in the cabinet for something to look at. I have several of my grandfathers older rifles that he hodgepodged together to make them fit his needs. While they have no collector value, they definitely can tell some stories. He didn’t care about aesthetics, only filling the freezer but I cringe when I think what they used to be vs what they are now.
 
Wow! Probably could never afford something like that even if your guy is "reasonable". However may need to get your guys contact info. Will be watching with interest. Good on you for maintaining those old rifles. My friends rifle could use some new the wood work. CL
 

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Very cool! I'll be watching this one. My grandpas old 300 Savage 99 could use a little of this.
Such nice rifles in such a wonderful cartridge. The .300 Savage is one I would like to see make a comeback but it seems pretty unlikely at this point. The .308 is just enough better (ballistically speaking) to draw most of that market these days.
 
Here are some pics of the action and barrel assembled!! 😮😮
 

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