A Vintage Dodge Never Fired Up
Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:45 am
( Typed from an article by Rick Hacker from The Sports Afield Magazine - Never knew Arthur savage was such a journeyman and inventor of radial tire interesting read)
Although John Francis Dodge ( 1864-1920) and Arthur W Savage ( 1857-1938) were contemporaries with similar interests, these two mechanically gifted inventors probably never met. And yet, they were directly linked by what is unquestionably the finest Savage Model 99 ever produced.
Mention Arthur Savage and most hunters think of his rotatory magazine lever guns. But automobile aficionados more readily associated him with the invention of the radial tire, which was produced by his Savage Tire Company in Sand Diego, CA. It was a natural evolution for an entrepreneurial man who built and raced sports cars in addition to inventing rifles.
Savage was born in Jamaica, found adventures as a cattle baron in Australia, and finally settled in Utica, New York. There, on April 5, 1894, he established the Savage Repeating Arms Company, which patented the Savage Model 1895, the worlds first hammer-less lever action that would evolve into his company’s most famous firearm, the Savage Model 99. With its coil mainspring, rotary brass magazine, pop up firing pin indicator, cut out cartridge and super balance, the Savage 99 was ahead of its time. No wonder it caught the eye of John Dodge, who along with his brother Horace, found the highly successful Dodge Motor Car Company in 1914. John Savage must have felt a kinship when the automaker commissioned the rifle pictured.
It is clear that Dodge, like the touring Cars his company built, wanted to be on forefront of technology. Thus, in 1915 he ordered one if the most mechanically advanced rifles of its day, the Savage 99, and had it chambered the newest cartridge, the .250-300 invented by Charles Newton in 1915, this was the first factory –loaded cartridge to achieve Arthur Savage’s goal of a bullet that could travel 3,000 feet per second.
But the rifle commands even more attention. Produced with a 22 inch barrel with matted raised rib, this near mint condition takedown features AAA Grade fancy walnut intricately relief carved with European leaf and vine design and stippled background. Its fish belly stock heightens the rifles Germanic aura. The case hardened lever and blued receiver are rightly scroll engraved, as is breech end of the barrel. , while the polished bolt is engraved and hand jeweled. Two inlaid Tigers gold tigers stalk across the left side of the receiver, while an inlaid gold bull elkand cow adorn the right side. All screw heads are engraved and gold plated, as is the butt plate, even the cartridge counter is platted in gold. The pistol grip cap is mother of pearl, and the serial number, 184078, is gold inlaid. A raised gold J.F.D. monogram on the bottom of the receiver leaves no doubt as to whose gun this was
…Incredibly this rifle was found unfired in the corner of a closet on the Dodge family estate. On April 29, 2009 , it was sold by Cowan’s Auctions of Cincinnati Ohio, to an anonymous bidder for $230,000 thus ending the saga of an elaborate Model 99 that was never even road-tested.
Link to the gun
http://www.cowanauctions.com/upcoming_d ... emId=69069
Although John Francis Dodge ( 1864-1920) and Arthur W Savage ( 1857-1938) were contemporaries with similar interests, these two mechanically gifted inventors probably never met. And yet, they were directly linked by what is unquestionably the finest Savage Model 99 ever produced.
Mention Arthur Savage and most hunters think of his rotatory magazine lever guns. But automobile aficionados more readily associated him with the invention of the radial tire, which was produced by his Savage Tire Company in Sand Diego, CA. It was a natural evolution for an entrepreneurial man who built and raced sports cars in addition to inventing rifles.
Savage was born in Jamaica, found adventures as a cattle baron in Australia, and finally settled in Utica, New York. There, on April 5, 1894, he established the Savage Repeating Arms Company, which patented the Savage Model 1895, the worlds first hammer-less lever action that would evolve into his company’s most famous firearm, the Savage Model 99. With its coil mainspring, rotary brass magazine, pop up firing pin indicator, cut out cartridge and super balance, the Savage 99 was ahead of its time. No wonder it caught the eye of John Dodge, who along with his brother Horace, found the highly successful Dodge Motor Car Company in 1914. John Savage must have felt a kinship when the automaker commissioned the rifle pictured.
It is clear that Dodge, like the touring Cars his company built, wanted to be on forefront of technology. Thus, in 1915 he ordered one if the most mechanically advanced rifles of its day, the Savage 99, and had it chambered the newest cartridge, the .250-300 invented by Charles Newton in 1915, this was the first factory –loaded cartridge to achieve Arthur Savage’s goal of a bullet that could travel 3,000 feet per second.
But the rifle commands even more attention. Produced with a 22 inch barrel with matted raised rib, this near mint condition takedown features AAA Grade fancy walnut intricately relief carved with European leaf and vine design and stippled background. Its fish belly stock heightens the rifles Germanic aura. The case hardened lever and blued receiver are rightly scroll engraved, as is breech end of the barrel. , while the polished bolt is engraved and hand jeweled. Two inlaid Tigers gold tigers stalk across the left side of the receiver, while an inlaid gold bull elkand cow adorn the right side. All screw heads are engraved and gold plated, as is the butt plate, even the cartridge counter is platted in gold. The pistol grip cap is mother of pearl, and the serial number, 184078, is gold inlaid. A raised gold J.F.D. monogram on the bottom of the receiver leaves no doubt as to whose gun this was
…Incredibly this rifle was found unfired in the corner of a closet on the Dodge family estate. On April 29, 2009 , it was sold by Cowan’s Auctions of Cincinnati Ohio, to an anonymous bidder for $230,000 thus ending the saga of an elaborate Model 99 that was never even road-tested.
Link to the gun
http://www.cowanauctions.com/upcoming_d ... emId=69069
