Not shotgun related per the title but hoping someone here might know the answer or direct me to a better source. I have been reading a book that makes reference to a "Browning Savage" rifle, my first thought was ignorant writer which is pretty common regarding firearms but further research turned up pictures of a Savage 99 with Ogden Utah markings. Wondering if anyone here might have more information, thanks.
Savage 99 lever
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That’s very interesting. The Ogden address was used until around 1929 when Browning opened their St. Louis distribution facility.
My guess is that since Browning Arms was a distributor and not a manufacturer, the guns they sold were marked with their name. I know that after 1903, while the agreement not to import Auto-5’s was in place, their catalog featured the Remington Autoloading Shotgun (renamed Model 11 in 1911).
My guess is that since Browning Arms was a distributor and not a manufacturer, the guns they sold were marked with their name. I know that after 1903, while the agreement not to import Auto-5’s was in place, their catalog featured the Remington Autoloading Shotgun (renamed Model 11 in 1911).
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OGDEN, BROWNING BROS. MARKED Savage Model 1899A Lever Action .30-30 RIFLE JOHN MOSES BROWNING Family Retailer Marking!
OGDEN, BROWNING BROS. MARKED Savage Model 1899A Lever Action .30-30 RIFLE JOHN MOSES BROWNING Family Retailer Marking! for sale online.
www.gunsinternational.com
That is interesting. I don't know the Martini design, but thought it was a single shot, where the breech block pivoted down to allow loading.
I have 3 Savage 99 rifles and have detail stripped their action [not their magazine- I am not crazy] on all 3.
The Savage has a bolt that drops/raises in the back to go into battery, but then it slides back to extract the round and feed the next one from the rotary magazine [which seems to have inspired Ruger's 10/22 magazine, from observations and things read].
I have only found one exploded pic of the action parts of a Martini, and don't see a lot of similarities there, but I can't really speak to this as I simply don't know Martini rifle designs well enough to say yes/no.
It just isn't as obvious to me as other 'inspired by' firearm designs are: such as the design elements used in the Tokarev that were borrowed from the Browning 1903 [or better yet, look at a Husqvarna 1907] as well as the 1911- but with unique twists added [firing group pops out as a unit, etc].
But, I find this interesting. I've never read this. I've read about the innovations in the Model 99 rifle, but never read a Martini rifle connection.
Can anyone confirm this? I'd like to know more.
OP- Savage shooters dot com is one good forum. Marlin Owners forum has a section for 'other' rifles, and names Savage as example. You may find more details there. Or, at least more bread crumbs to find your way to what you are looking for.
Thanks for all contributions, much appreciated. I had forgotten that the Browning brothers were retailers of other makes back in the day, that is the most logical explanation for the Ogden Utah markings. I had never heard that the 99 had Martini origins either, like bczrx I thought it was a single shot.
The Martini action is a single shot and I too don't see any similarities with that of the great Model 99. The Martini is also nowhere as small in size or elegant in styling as the Savage 99.
Yes, I am a huge fan of the Model 99 and kick myself for not buying a pristine example at a gun show many years ago.
Yes, I am a huge fan of the Model 99 and kick myself for not buying a pristine example at a gun show many years ago.
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From the text: “Savage later abandoned the Martini action in favor of his own hammerless lever-action design.”
If the "Browning Savage" appeared in a work of fiction, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Many writers don't care if their prop weapons seem credible to actual gun owners.
Neither Browning nor Savage, but speaking of the Martini action, a review of a pump shotgun with quite a bit of Martini flavor:
Neither Browning nor Savage, but speaking of the Martini action, a review of a pump shotgun with quite a bit of Martini flavor:
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Yeah, that's cool too!
I really liked that video of the Spencer pump! Thank you for sharing it. Can you imagine pumping 5 shots of BP shells through that in short order and see the clouds of smoke it would cause!!!
That is a seriously cool gun!
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