Offered here is an extremely rare and highly attractive factory panel scene engraved Savage Model 99C rifle, a one off engraving prototype. The receiver was manufactured c. 1965-1966 according to the production chart on page 136 of the book "A Collector's Guide to the Savage 99 Rifle" (2016) by David Royal. This exact engraving prototype rifle is described and depicted in various pictures on pages 284-287 of "Savage Model 1895, 1899 & 99 Rifles Volume 2, Engraved and Special-Feature Models" (2022) by David Royal, in which the book states, "The author was fortunate enough to get this rifle from Ralph McElwain. It was produced around the mid-1970s. Roe Clark and some other Savage employees took an early Model 99C receiver, serial number 1,096,723, and had it engraved. They then installed a .308-Winchester-caliber Model 99CD barrel and a high-grade hand-checkered American walnut stock and forearm. They proposed that the factory put the rifle into production. The factory was in receivership at the time, and the government auditors wouldn't allow production of the rifle." Features elaborate panel scene engravings consisting of an elk on the left side of the receiver, a mountain lion on the right, with the base of the magazine depicting a deer, and floral scroll patterns and border pattern engraving on the receiver and lever. Although unsigned, the engraving on this rifle appears to be the work of Master Engraver Joseph Fugger. His work can be seen on another example of a signed and engraved Savage Model 99 rifle recently sold by Rock Island Auction Company (Auction 4093, Lot 30), and other examples of Joseph Fugger's engraving are also pictured on pages 45-46 of "Gun Engraving Review" by E.C. Prudhomme. Austrian born, Fugger trained in Ferlach and worked for renowned Master Engraver Rudolph Kornbrath. From the late 1920s to 1960 Fugger was the in house engraver for Griffin & Howe and Abercrombie & Fitch. Fugger has been called "the unsurpassed engraver of his generation in the U.S." Various similar types of factory engraved Savage Model 99 rifles are pictured on pages 97-99, 108-109, and 118-122 of Royal's 2016 published book. The upper left chamber area of the receiver is marked "SAVAGE/MODEL 99C" in two lines. The barrel has a ramped beaded blade front sight, Williams adjustable notch rear sight, with "MODEL 99CD SERIES A" along with a patent number, Savage Arms Westfield, Massachusetts address and "CAL.308 WIN." markings on top of the barrel, jeweled bolt, safety mounted on top of the receiver along with a loaded chamber indicator, magazine release button on the right of the receiver, a checkered fancy walnut forearm and checkered fancy walnut pistol grip Monte Carlo buttstock with serrated metal buttplate with the Savage name and logo. Provenance: The Ralph McElwain Collection; The David Royal Collection

Excellent and highly attractive, retains 99% original blue finish and 99% original case colors on the lever, with absolutely sharp engraving. Wood is also excellent with defined edges, a few minor handling marks, and crisp checkering. Mechanically excellent.