I'm in South Africa where these don't come up often.

I've purchaed a 99 in near mint condition (whatever that means!). It's not in the box, but it looks unfired. It's a 308 and when I have serial number I'll try to establish when it was mnaufactured etc.

It has the colour case hardened lever and trigger guard etc. Williams sights and skip line chequering on the pistol grip (not straight grip). The stock has a high gloss type (ugly!) varnish finish.

There are small scratches where the rifle may have been dropped and a small crack at the tang (which seems to be a surface crack also from being dropped maybe or just overtightened screws (the heads look untouched)). But you need to look hard to see these defects.

I'd like to clean up the stock, oil finish, solid recoil pad and shoot the rifle.

Is this rifle likely to be really collectible and would it be crazy to actually use it?

I've always wanted a lever action for a modern cartridge and this thing just feels so great in your hands... It's screaming "hunt with me!"

Thanks for any recommendations / input. I really don't know much about the 99's aside from what I've always read.

Savage made quite afew different Model 99s over the years. If your rifle has a detatchable magazine. Then it is a C Model. If not, then by the discription of the checkering pattern it is most likely the E Model. If the gun does not already have a recoil pad I would not add one. This will reduce the collector value. Late Model 99s in .308 Caliber are not rare. However 99s have gone up in value over the last couple of years. I would shoot, but not alter the rifle if it was mine. The E, and C Models were the last ones made in the 99 line. The E was the ecconomy rifle with no thrills, and the C was the detatchable or clip Model. I hope that this has been helpful to you.

If it's in .308, I seriously doubt it is now, or will be "collectible" in your lifetime. PLEASE...take that rifle out and hunt with it.

I agree with all of the above. Enjoy it!

Agreed on using it! A model 99 is a hunting rifle. Mine is my favorite rifle, and I really don't care if the wear and tear from hunting ruins its collector appeal, because I have absolutely no intentions of ever parting with it.

Shoot it.

Alter it witha recoil pad.

refinish it.

Not going to hurt the value of a 99 in 308.

I am seriously thinking of bring one of my 99's over next year on some plains game.

it was made for hunting,make it yours and enjoy it.

If it were a minty old .303 Savage or early .250-3000, I would certainly consider collector value. But a late-production .308 is a "using" rifle. I'd put it work in the field, just like the others suggest.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I'm actually pleased that the rifle is not particularly collectible. I do prefer looking at them and shooting them than only looking at them!

If I learn to post pics some time I'll pop one up once the licence is approved.

I'm a .308 fan too, so it seems like I really got lucky here.

They make a great hunting rifle for most situations. It just feels good carrying a classic like that.