woof
Member
The Savage Model 99 in .250/3000 was bought in the mid 1920s. My grandfather was 40 years old when he bought it. His business was doing well and that, combined with the fact that this rifle would put much venison on the table seemed to justify the considerable cost. My dad was seven years old at the time and remembers being allowed to look at the prized rifle. In 1942, before leaving for the war, he was allowed to go deer hunting for the first time using the 99. He took a fine 8 point buck in the hills of western Pennsylvania where the family had lived since before the American Revolution.
In 1955, when I was five years old, my grandfather sold his business and retired to Florida. he gave the Savage to my dad. Ten years later I took my first deer with it. In the mid seventies my dad's heath prevented him from hunting and he offered the Savage to me. But I declined feeling that it should remain there with him, and it did till he died in 1980. That's when the Savage came to live with me. I took a deer with it almost every year, and when my son was 16 in 1990, he took his first with it as well.
I would guess that there have been at the very least 50 deer taken with this rifle over the years, probably closer to double that. I will keep it for awhile yet, but my six year old grandson already knows that one day it will be his. I figure that within the next ten years he will take his first deer - with his great-great grandfather's rifle.
In 1955, when I was five years old, my grandfather sold his business and retired to Florida. he gave the Savage to my dad. Ten years later I took my first deer with it. In the mid seventies my dad's heath prevented him from hunting and he offered the Savage to me. But I declined feeling that it should remain there with him, and it did till he died in 1980. That's when the Savage came to live with me. I took a deer with it almost every year, and when my son was 16 in 1990, he took his first with it as well.
I would guess that there have been at the very least 50 deer taken with this rifle over the years, probably closer to double that. I will keep it for awhile yet, but my six year old grandson already knows that one day it will be his. I figure that within the next ten years he will take his first deer - with his great-great grandfather's rifle.