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As many know, David Royal had a group of his high grade, rare and very desirable Savages in the recent RIA auction. My impression was many didn’t do very well, despite being exceptional pieces.
As a contrast example, here’s a Winchester M1892 engraved fancy rifle that did very well. The auction estimate was $35,000 to $55,000 and the final realized price was $94,000.
As a Savage contrast example, here’s a rare, deluxe, engraved M1899. An auction estimate of $7500 to $11,000 and someone walked away with it for $6463.
Both the 1892 Winchester and the 1899 Savage were made about 35 days apart in 1901. The Winchester is estimated to have about 70% original finish and the Savage about 75%. I find them both equivalent special rifles.
Another Savage 1899 that seemed to do very poorly was this beautiful fancy engraved deluxe rifle with an auction estimate of $15,000 to $25,000 and a realized price of $11,750.
And finally, probably my favorite Savage, the Model 1895. Here’s a panel scene engraved rifle with an auction estimate of $13,000 to $19,000 with no price realized. Does this mean there wasn’t even a bid high enough to hit the low estimate? Savage 1895’s are not common and when we add in engraved, originally shipping information that tells us the original owner was Winfield Stratton – Colorado goldmine owner – this is quite the very rare prize. The RIA description outlines how rare engraved M1895’s are.
I suppose the best summarizing comment is, “if only they were Winchesters.”
Steve, we both know buying and selling collectibles is not a zero-sum game. The worst the seller can say is he got that day’s market price. Tomorrow’s could easily be lower. Who knows what he paid for it? If he cheated some elderly widow, we would rejoice he didn’t get more at auction. If he foolishly paid more than what he got at auction, it might well serve as tuition to learn the market better. Something for everybody, especially the buyers, with whom I tend to empathize.
I love to look at a finely engraved piece (and wince when I see truly awful engraving.) I don’t aspire to those objects but can and do appreciate them.
When i was growing up on the postwar Gulf Coast, in the Fifties, my father’s friends who regularly hunted both the Big Thicket and the Hill Country thought highly of the Savage Model 99 .300 caliber rifle. I think in part because they were experienced enough to know a scoped rifle was an advantage and Bill Weaver had made it possible for the working man to have one. I have a Model 99 .300 made in 1953 and, while it is a bit heavy, it is beautifully designed and built and easily accommodates a scope – indeed really cries out for the Leupold 3X I put on it. Reminds me of my youth I never had.
Guns go in and out of fashion. For a while in the Nineties, Savage 99s, particularly those in excellent condition and chambered for 250-3000, were hot. Now, apparently you can’t hunt Whitetails with anything less accurate than .5 MOA. Perhaps the deer have gotten much smaller?
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Steve,
Great way to reference the two more well known popular makes, or brands.
It’s pretty amazing, how the collector aura, is different, and is very noticeable, as apples and oranges.
Both quality made pieces, and would do the job asked of it.
Too bad crystal balls weren’t accurate back in the day, as the Winchester brand wears the mantra of the Cowboy, and Savage was always known to be a good reliable product, but Lucas McCain, and John Wayne weren’t swinging Savages. 
Anthony
The irony is: Savage is still in business and Winchester has been sold, resold and the name is still out there but Winchester is not………. I see lots of the “new” Winchesters are now made in Turkey! Oliver is probably rolling over in his grave looking at the Tupperware stocks, aluminum receivers and plastic trigger groups with wire springs. Pure junk.
Erin
A Savage is not a Winchester and pre auction estimates do, or should reflect this. A pre auction estimate is a best guess as to realistic worth, for better or worse. Sometimes overstated with the intent to inflate hammer price or underestimated in an attempt to drum up interest.
Having said that, with the exception of the Model 1895 at the end of this post, I thought all of the David Royal Savage 1895s/1899s sold at or above what I would have expected. This was the only possible bargain, tempered once you figure in shipping and sales tax:
mrcvs said
A Savage is not a Winchester and pre auction estimates do, or should reflect this. A pre auction estimate is a best guess as to realistic worth, for better or worse. Sometimes overstated with the intent to inflate hammer price or underestimated in an attempt to drum up interest.Having said that, with the exception of the Model 1895 at the end of this post, I thought all of the David Royal Savage 1895s/1899s sold at or above what I would have expected. This was the only possible bargain, tempered once you figure in shipping and sales tax:
Ian –
Your initial statement was the driving thought behind my original post. I thought the auction results inescapably demonstrated that Savage is not Winchester. I already knew that, but not to this extent. You indicated your were not surprised with the results. I was – particularly with regard to the engraved rifles – the M1895’s the most. Your lack of surprise suggests you are more tuned into the reality coursing through this subject than I am.
steve004 said
mrcvs said
A Savage is not a Winchester and pre auction estimates do, or should reflect this. A pre auction estimate is a best guess as to realistic worth, for better or worse. Sometimes overstated with the intent to inflate hammer price or underestimated in an attempt to drum up interest.
Having said that, with the exception of the Model 1895 at the end of this post, I thought all of the David Royal Savage 1895s/1899s sold at or above what I would have expected. This was the only possible bargain, tempered once you figure in shipping and sales tax:
Ian –
Your initial statement was the driving thought behind my original post. I thought the auction results inescapably demonstrated that Savage is not Winchester. I already knew that, but not to this extent. You indicated your were not surprised with the results. I was – particularly with regard to the engraved rifles – the M1895’s the most. Your lack of surprise suggests you are more tuned into the reality coursing through this subject than I am.
A preauction estimate of $13.000 to $19,000 is particularly optimistic for this rifle when you consider the 30% condition of this rifle.
November 7, 2015
Offline
How did the Colts do? At the last Premier auction Kevin was worried there were too many nice Colts but prices held up well. Some very nice Colts from some of the same well-known collections were in the one last weekend. I hope they did well.
I’m not a Marlin or Savage collector but I feel sometimes the collector gets more gun for his money with the lesser appreciated brands.
Mike
TXGunNut said
How did the Colts do? At the last Premier auction Kevin was worried there were too many nice Colts but prices held up well. Some very nice Colts from some of the same well-known collections were in the one last weekend. I hope they did well.I’m not a Marlin or Savage collector but I feel sometimes the collector gets more gun for his money with the lesser appreciated brands.
Mike
Mike –
I think this Colt did pretty darn well (when you exceed the high end of the auction estimate by just about $700,000……)
I agree completely with your statement about a collector getting more gun for his money with the lesser appreciated brands. But as was said by Tony and many others, Lucas McCain didn’t carry a Marlin or a Savage.
steve004 said
TXGunNut said
How did the Colts do? At the last Premier auction Kevin was worried there were too many nice Colts but prices held up well. Some very nice Colts from some of the same well-known collections were in the one last weekend. I hope they did well.
I’m not a Marlin or Savage collector but I feel sometimes the collector gets more gun for his money with the lesser appreciated brands.
Mike
Mike –
I think this Colt did pretty darn well (when you exceed the high end of the auction estimate by just about $700,000……)
I agree completely with your statement about a collector getting more gun for his money with the lesser appreciated brands. But as was said by Tony and many others, Lucas McCain didn’t carry a Marlin or a Savage.
Looks like I forgot to but the link for the million, six Colt:
TXGunNut said
How did the Colts do? At the last Premier auction Kevin was worried there were too many nice Colts but prices held up well. Some very nice Colts from some of the same well-known collections were in the one last weekend. I hope they did well.I’m not a Marlin or Savage collector but I feel sometimes the collector gets more gun for his money with the lesser appreciated brands.
Mike
On the topic of how the Colts did, not only did the revolvers do well, but the Colt rifles did well too. Here is a beautiful baby carbine that also went well beyond the high estimate ($18,000 above):
I find the above auction curious as it seems there is more words written about a similar carbine than this carbine itself. The carbine is advertised with factory letter – and indeed it does have one. I was just imagining if I owned that carbine and was showing it off and someone asked if it lettered. What would their response be when they were shown that letter?
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