Savage Model 99
The Savage Model 99 is an American lever-action, hammerless rifle made by Savage Arms. Designed by Arthur W. Savage in the 1890s, it became famous for its unique rotary magazine, which could hold five rounds in the magazine plus one in the chamber. Later models switched to detachable magazines.
The Model 99 lineage grew from earlier designs (the Model 1892 and Model 1895) and, after the introduction of the .300 Savage cartridge in 1921, the rifle was renamed the Model 99. Savage also offered to convert older Model 1895 rifles to the 1899/99 configuration for a fee.
Production lasted from 1899 to 1997, with more than a million rifles built. Manufacturing sites included Utica, New York (1899–1946), Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts (1947–1959), and Westfield, Massachusetts (1960–2003). The 99 family was produced in many models and special grades, with about 58 different configurations by the end of its run.
Barrel lengths ranged from 20 to 26 inches. Early calibers included .303 Savage, .30-30 Winchester, .25-35 Winchester, and .38-55, with later additions such as .243 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .358 Winchester, .22-250 Remington, and 7mm-08 Remington.
Sights varied from open iron sights to tang or receiver-mounted aperture sights, and later models could mount scopes. A notable safety feature was a cocking indicator that showed when the rifle was cocked. The rotating magazine was designed to safely use pointed “spitzer” bullets, avoiding the rim-contact problems of tubular magazines.
The Model 99 and its predecessors were popular with big-game hunters and even saw military use, such as the Montreal Home Guard in World War I, where some rifles were issued as muskets with bayonet lugs.
In total, the Model 99 helped define the era of practical, lever-action hunting rifles and remains a landmark in firearm design.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 01:30 (CET).