Wow what a fabulous example of a Savage Model 99 lever action rifle in the desirable 300 Savage caliber that has been beautifully and meticulously engraved and "signed" by the exceptional German engraver "Kurt Jager". Mr. Jager was well known as a master engraver in Germany during the post-WWII years (Circa 1950-1970s) and established a cult following of GIs that frequented the Weisbaden rod and Gun club during this time. Mr. Jager originally worked with his father in Suhl Germany before sneaking into West Germany in the late 1940s, (remember Suhl was in the Russian sector). He eventually teamed up with his nephew, Dietrich Apel who had earlier secured a job at the American Air Force, Rod and Gun club located in Weisbaden Germany. The two of them eventually opened a gun shop together in Mainz on the Rhine river and began a fabulous gun making and engraving business that lasted until the 1970s. Mr. Jager's engraving is well known as being some of the best throughout Europe. His Germanic scrolls are beautifully laid out and detailed. He also has exceptional "game scene" engraving skills. The game scenes are so precise they are almost life like in their appearance and certainly match or exceed any American engravers either before or after WWII. This early desirable rifle was probably purchased directly at the Rod and Gun Club as a new rifle in the early 1950s and was taken to Jager's shop for embellishment as it shows little wear. The flat side panels of the receiver have been beautiful engraved with an inlaid silver game scene surrounded by large Germanic floral scrolls. The left side depicts a large inlaid European Red Stag standing in a woodland scene surrounded by the typical German pine trees in the foreground with the Alps in the background. The right side of the receiver has a large leaping bear that also is in a woodland scene. Both animals show exceptional detail right down to the hair, facial features and even detailed eyes, just spectacular! The underside of the receiver has been engraved with a half-dollar size oval panel in the center of the receiver with the intertwined and silver inlaid initials "LDW" in the center of the panel. The remainder of the receiver, to include the last 5 inches of the barrel and cocking lever have also been fully engraved in the noted Germanic floral scroll pattern with heavy punch dot background shading. The rifle retains the original stock and forend which have also been adorned by Mr. Jager with a "large, deep relief" carved game scene on each side of the buttstock. The left side carving depicts a pair of Russian Boars in a woodland scene which includes grasses in the foreground and a large oak tree in the back ground. The right side depicts a pair of red Stags, a buck with a large rack and a doe in the background. These stags are also set in a woodland scene standing under a large oak tree with grasses in the foreground and mountains in the background with other large oak trees. Both carvings are beautiful with both having a carved border around the scenes. The stock and forend also have three Ebony and Ivory inlaid diamonds. One on the underside of the forend and one on each side of the front, side panels of the stock. The pistol grip has also been fitted with a horn and ivory grip cap that also has a single diamond inlay in the center, which obviously matches the stock and forend inlays. Additionally this rifle has been fitted with a set of typical German claw mount bases. The front base is actually a raised barrel band, soldered on the rear of the barrel with the rear base affixed to the rear of the receiver, (unfortunately the scope does not come with the rifle). Additionally it is equipped with a very desirable Lyman, short staffed folding rear sight. The rifle is fitted with factory detachable sling swivel studs ( no sling swivels) and a Pachmayr red rubber buttplate.

Very fine as custom embellished with 99% of the high quality blue finish. The stock and forend are both exceptional with no handling marks with beautiful carving and very fine checkered factory panels on the sides of the pistol grip area and forend. Truly an exceptional example of superb and meticulous Germanic Engraving by one the top German engravers.