Possible aquisitions Updated Now has photos

[Alan Wood]

Ok I went to my favorite pusher today at lunch with a couple of coworkers. For 500 + fees etc I can have a Lee enfield mark 1 (if the tag is to believed... It is an enfield of some description but I am not a collector so who know what variety?) and a savage 99 in 308. The savage has a rather unusual to my experience saftey it "locks" the lever and prevents firing the weapon. It is next to the lever not on the tang. and the magazine is rotary not box.

What do you think of these. Yes I know lacking photos there aredefinately limits as to what you can tell about the weapons. Sorry about that but I had no idea that I would visit the gun shop today.


Oh yeah either the 99 has been partialy restored or the bluing is new or the stock has been in the sun for more than a few years to long.

See pics in latest post!

[kimwcook]

Both are fine examples for their intended use. Personally, Enfields never turned me on, sorry guys. The Savage would be my choice. As far as which one to get, well, that's up to you. Price wise, again up to you.

[TedH]

Is this deal two rifles for one money? That's the way it sounded to me.

Ok I went to my favorite pusher today at lunch with a couple of coworkers. For 500 + fees etc I can have a Lee enfield mark 1............................ and a savage 99 in 308.

If that's the case, I'd jump on it.

If it's $500 for either/or, I'd have to go with the Savage.

[Hobie]

Is this deal two rifles for one money? That's the way it sounded to me.

Ok I went to my favorite pusher today at lunch with a couple of coworkers. For 500 + fees etc I can have a Lee enfield mark 1............................ and a savage 99 in 308.

If that's the case, I'd jump on it.

If it's $500 for either/or, I'd have to go with the Savage.

Dittos. However you description lacks detail. The devil is in the details.

[Pete44ru]

$500 is "OK" money for a Savage in the described condition - especially when an Enfield is thrown in for free !

.

[iceman]

Sounds like a deal to me. Sell the Enfield for 250 buy some 308 rounds or the making for some and have some fun. If the 99 is anything like mine it will be fun to carry and shoot.

[wecsoger]

I'll have to disagree on prices, you need to look much, much more closely.

Lee Enfield No.1 Mk III can been anywhere worth from the original $69.95 someone may have paid for it to $250 - $350 depending on caliber and condition, year of manufacture, refurb, etc. I'm guessing it's that and not a No. 4 Mk 1 or a No. 4 Mk1*. Those may also got $250 - $350. Or not. There's a hundred and one different variables on that one.

I'll leave the Savage evaluation for folks more expert than I. I've seen a couple go in the $350 -$375 range again depending on caliber, condition, etc.

5 Benjamins is serious cash to me and I'm not sure about this deal based on what I'm hearing.

[Alan Wood]

I probably should have specified that the prices are 150 for the lee enfield and 350 for the Savage. The shops closed till Tuesday and I will take a much closer look then. I suspect that I will be buying both. Although the enfield seems strangely small overall.

[KirkD]

Well, an Enfield 303 British was my first centerfire rifle and I'm real partial to them. They have a nice, detachable 10 round clip too.

[awp101]

Short, Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE) aka No1 MkIII


No4 MkI Rifle

http://enfieldrifles.profusehost.net/main.htm

These two pics will give you a pretty good idea of which Enfield you are looking at. There are several sub-variations of each model but this should get you started.

I have a 1910 BSA I like very much even if I haven't been able to get it out to 100yds yet.

[Alan Wood]

Thank you for the link.

[pokey]

I probably should have specified that the prices are 150 for the lee enfield and 350 for the Savage. The shops closed till Tuesday and I will take a much closer look then. I suspect that I will be buying both. Although the enfield seems strangely small overall.

assuming good condition those sound like fair prices.

if you've got the cash, go baby go.

[Alan Wood]

Thank you everyone. I will see if the shop will do a head space check on them. Given that they pass and the muzzle aren't butchered I will be buying them. Kinda hard to pass on these at 500 + fees and tax for the pair!

[the telegraphist]

Gotta go with KirkD re the enfield, cut my shooting teeth on those rifles No.1 Mk 111.

[Pete44ru]

[the enfield seems strangely small overall.]

You might want to double-check that Enfield, for a conical flash hider on the muzzle, and a funny little butt[plate with a HARD rubber insert.

If it has one, it "COULD BE" a $500 Jungle Carbine - if not a gennie No.5, then a reworked Mk 4.

.

[wecsoger]

I probably should have specified that the prices are 150 for the lee enfield and 350 for the Savage. The shops closed till Tuesday and I will take a much closer look then. I suspect that I will be buying both. Although the enfield seems strangely small overall.

That sounds like semi-normal prices then. I am sooo spoiled, being able to sort through and buy SMLE's back when they were in big stacks, covered in grease and $69.95 each. (Just like the Mosins are now!)

Look carefully, and do your research.

We shall be expecting and anxiously awaiting a full report come next week. (twiddling thumbs)

[Hobie]

For the pair.... dang, I'd already have 'em!

[awp101]

Update?

[Alan Wood]

Yes indeed an update is in order. Thank you all by the way. Went back today with a enfield identification cheat sheet from a web site pointed out by awp101. I came to the conclusion that the enfield has been modified. Might have been a #5 jungle carbine at one time but if so the flash supressor is missing and I think the butstock has been shortened. Like someone bought it and sporterized it for there son or daughter. Not a buba job but well not what I was looking for. So I passed on the enfield. Looked the Savage over forgot to look at the muzle (OOPS hope it's not damaged) however it looks like a gun cabinet queen. Good bluing all around but the wood finish is faded few if any dings on the wood. Literally looks like it sat in an old style gun cabinet where it got exposed to a bit too much sun for the wood finish. Went ahead and bought it. It's a 99e model that was factory d&t but aparently never scoped. Will post photos next Saturday when I can actually pick it up. California's 10 day waiting period .

By the way when I tried to look up it's birthday on the web it was too new for the savage 99 site. Serial number is 110???? any sugestions?

[Alan Wood]

Btt:

Looks like most of the interested parties missed the update due to how late I posted it Tuesday.

[CordWood]

Alan, are you sure the Savage is a 99E? The E was manufactured from 1922 to 1934 in the serial number range of 238,000 to 344,000. This is per Douglas Murray in his book on the Savage 99. The E isn't shown chambered in the .308.
I just bought my first one in Tulsa. It is a 99EG chambered in the Savage 300.
Butch

[Pete44ru]

Butch, there was a second issue of the 99E, in the 1970's, in .308 with plain stock, etc.

When looking at one, ya'd think that "E" stood for "economy".


.

[CordWood]

Thanks for the information Pete. Still learning about these guns. They seem to be a nicely engineered firearm. I will take mine to the range soon.
Butch

[Alan Wood]

Pete I'm a little confused by this seeming to be from the 70's as the safety is beside the lever not on the tang and the magazine is rotary not box both of witch I understand to be old style. Is there someplace with a time line on the savage 99's changes over time? The gun shop sure seems to think E stands for economy model and the wood fits that description.
Alan Wood

[Mutt]

Years ago I bought a 303 British Enfield Something like 10 or 12 dollars, in very good condition .Only some finish pealed (?) off . in a couple small places . The rifle looked just like the second picture you posted . Great shooter . But a heavy tote . And the .303 isn't a light weight by no means , Really liked it.I also at that time owned a 03A3 . Got it brand new. Cost $ 9.00 , shipping was $10.50 .

Just remembering,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Mutt

[Pete44ru]

Alan, I must apologize for generalizing that the second issue of 99E's were made in the 70's - since they started being issued somewhat earlier.

Please examine the lever boss of your rifle, for a Savage letter date code stamped there.

Here is a complete list of the Savage 99 Lever Boss Codes and their corresponding year of manufacture:
A= 1949
B= 1950
C= 1951
D= 1952
E= 1953
F= 1954
G= 1955 - .308W is released commercially
H= 1956
I= 1957 - Savage M99 action is lengthend & offered in .308W
J= 1958
K= 1959
L= 1960
M= 1961
N= 1962
O= SKIPPED
P=1963
Q= SKIPPED
R= 1964 - Savage 99 tang safety introduced
S= 1965
T= 1966
U= 1967
V= 1968
W= 1969
X= 1970

AFAIK the extended Model 99 action (for the .308) was not released until 1957, and the tang safety for the 99E was in 1964 (although the 99F had it in 1960), so your rifle should fall between 1957-64.

.

[Alan Wood]

Alan, I must apologize for generalizing that the second issue of 99E's were made in the 70's - since they started being issued somewhat earlier.

Please examine the lever boss of your rifle, for a Savage letter date code stamped there.

Here is a complete list of the Savage 99 Lever Boss Codes and their corresponding year of manufacture:
A= 1949
B= 1950
C= 1951
D= 1952
E= 1953
F= 1954
G= 1955 - .308W is released commercially
H= 1956
I= 1957 - Savage M99 action is lengthend & offered in .308W
J= 1958
K= 1959
L= 1960
M= 1961
N= 1962
O= SKIPPED
P=1963
Q= SKIPPED
R= 1964 - Savage 99 tang safety introduced
S= 1965
T= 1966
U= 1967
V= 1968
W= 1969
X= 1970

AFAIK the extended Model 99 action (for the .308) was not released until 1957, and the tang safety for the 99E was in 1964 (although the 99F had it in 1960), so your rifle should fall between 1957-64.

.

Saved for future reference.

Thank you very much Pete!

[Alan Wood]

Another Update.

Didn't get off work yesterday till 3 hours after the gun shop closed so had to get the rifle on the way to the range. Lets just say this morning didn't get off to a good start. Couldn't find my range bag with the saftey glasses, hearing protection, binoculars and targets. Had to stop at another sporting goods store for the saftey gear and targets. Then hit every light red on the way from the gun shop to the range. And on a good day that's a 45 minute drive. Wound up getting there 1+1/2 hour after I had told my coworkers that I would be there. Turned out I wasn't the only one so it kinda worked out.

But for the range report. Was suprised by how much the rifle tenderized my shoulder with only 23 rounds of fedral 150 grain soft points. Got a couple of ok groups at 50 yards and it was clear that the reason that they were only ok is that I was jerking the trigger . Gonna have to work on that. Though I will be doing something about the front sight. The brass bead was disapearing in the black of the target. I really need to start shooting my air guns regularly.

Now for the pictures. Sorry YK no shoes in these photos.

PC050158-resized.JPG

[Alan Wood]

BTT

[Alan Wood]

By the way lever boss says it was made in 65.