Savage ~ 99 ~ .243 Winchester

For sale is a Savage Model 99 lever-action rifle chambered in the flat-shooting .243 Winchester. Serial number 1034469 (tel:1034469) dates this beautiful legacy piece to 1961. The Backstory: A Century of Innovation When Arthur Savage engineered this platform at the end of the 19th century, he completely rewrote the rules of the American lever-gun. Traditional lever actions utilized tubular magazines, which forced hunters to use flat-nosed bullets to prevent an accidental, chain-reaction detonation in the tube. Savage solved this by creating a revolutionary internal rotary magazine. Because it held the cartridges in a circular arrangement, hunters could safely use pointed spitzer bulletsthe high-velocity, aerodynamically superior rounds that were transforming modern ballistics. Combined with its sleek, hammerless design, the Model 99 possessed a uniquely robust action strong enough to handle modern, high-intensity short-action cartridges like the .243 Winchester. Decades ahead of its time, it became a pinnacle of mid-century American sporting rifle design. Key Features & Specifications • Caliber: .243 Winchester (famed for its laser-flat trajectory and low recoil) • Action: Hammerless lever-action with an incredibly smooth cycle • Magazine: Classic 5-shot rotary internal box spool with the iconic brass cartridge counter window • Optics & Mounts: Equipped with period-correct USA-made Weaver mounts and what appears to be a vintage Japanese-made Tasco 3-12x40mm scope with clear optics. • Production Year: 1961 (Golden era of Savage craftsmanship) Condition & Collector Appeal This rifle is in excellent condition and is a true survivor. The premium walnut stock features some beautiful, tight figuring in the grain, remaining free of cracks or severe handling marks so common to working rifles of this age. The original factory bluing still shines deep and bright across the receiver and barrel. Crucially for collectors, the vibrant, oil-slick color palette of the case-hardening on the lever remains strongly intact, showcasing rich blues, purples, and straws. Overview This is a true cross-country legacy rifle. Whether you are chasing whitetails in the dense big woods of the East Coast or stretching out across the wide-open sagebrush country of the West, the flat-shooting .243 cartridge combined with the fast-handling nature of the Model 99 makes it just as relevant today as it was in 1961. A spectacular addition for the serious Savage collector or the traditional woodsman alike.