Over a month ago, I stopped by my parents house while running errands. I'm sitting on the couch talking to my dad when he goes into the other room and I can hear my parents whispering. I could overhear a snippet along the lines of "can we give it to him now".
My mom walks in with a card for me. I open the envelope and it's a birthday card, which was surprising given it was three months before my birthday. Then in walks my dad with an old gun case and hands it to me and says "Happy Birthday".
I unzip the case to find a Model 99 in beautiful condition. This 250-3000 was a closet queen. Looks like its barely been used. Wood isn't scratched, case colors still vivid and unworn on lever. No extra holes drilled, no sling swivels installed. Lyman receiver sight installed and rear sight replaced with a dovetail filler. Lever boss code is 23B which I think means 1950.
![Image](http://i.imgur.com/IZzNwk3l.jpg)
![Image](http://i.imgur.com/8ZoaTDgl.jpg)
![Image](http://i.imgur.com/vOw1jk4l.jpg)
My mother says, he just bought the rifle this morning and couldn't wait to give it to you. The story is my dad bought it from one of the "old guys" he has breakfast with. (By "old guys" he means his peers as he's become one of the retired old timers hanging out at the gun club). My dad bought the under the pretense of it being a "birthday present" for me to justify it to my mother.
I am darned lucky to have a dad who is delighted that he was able to find a classic lever gun for me.
Jason