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Several years ago, I was lucky enough to acquire a delightful little Savage 99 lever-action take-down carbine. I had been led to believe that the take-down models were not particularly accurate, so imagine my surprise to find that the rifle would hold all its shots inside 3/4 inch at 50 metres, despite the rather agricultural iron sights. The rifle boasts well-figured wood, a bright, crisp bore, and the marvellous brass-rotor magazine complete with nifty little window disclosing the number of remaining rounds.

Everything about this rifle is an absolute joy, however it is the unique history of this particular firearm which awards it a special place in my collection.

THE CARTRIDGE
The .22 Savage High-Power, designed by Charles Newton, was based on the 25 - 35 Winchester necked down to accept a .228” projectile. The cartridge was chambered by Savage in the Model 99 in 1912 but by the 1930's was considered obsolete. Europeans chambered it as the 5.6 x 52 R cartridge in various single-shots, drillings, and double rifles, and Norma and RWS still load this ammunition today. The cartridge is unusual in that the bullet diameter is .228" as opposed to the normal .224" for most high-velocity twenty-twos, however the bullet weight is greater at 70 or 71 grains. At the time of its inception, it claimed “greater velocity, accuracy, penetration and actual killing power than any other rifle made in the United States”, and achieved instant fame when photos of a man-eating tiger killed by H.R.Caldwell with the diminutive cartridge were widely published. Bullet Weight 70 gr, Muzzle Velocity 2800 fps, Muzzle Energy 1220 ftlb.

THE RIFLE
This particular Savage 99 take-down carbine was manufactured in late 1918 or 1919 according to the serial number, and bears British proof marks for the period. It was almost certainly purchased new for the armoury of the arctic exploration and supply ship “City of Westminster”, and bears the ship’s name branded into the left-hand side of the butt-stock. The .22 Hi-power chambering was popular in the higher latitudes for shooting seals to obtain meat for the sled-dogs.

The vessel was originally launched in 1916 as the 6,100 ton Rudelsburg, owned by the Hansa Line of Bremen. In 1919 she was surrendered to Britain as part of war reparations, and sold to the Hall Line in 1920.

As she made her way from Belfast to Rotterdam on October 8th, 1923, the “City of Westminster” was running in and out of patches of fog. That fog became particularly dense as she approached Land's End and thicker still just before she struck the Runnel Stone off Cornwall. Driving hard on, she tore huge holes in the hull and ripped off her stern post. Number 1 and Number 2 holds started filling immediately and Captain Ring, who had his wife and daughter aboard, at once ordered the crew into the boats. Both the Sennen and Penlee lifeboats soon appeared and rescued everyone without loss. Shortly afterwards, the 470ft-long City of Westminster slipped broken-backed down the side of the Runnel Stone. She hit it so hard that she knocked 6m off its top. As a result, the Runnel Stone, which used to be visible at all states of the tide, has never since been seen above water. The bow of the wreck now lies in 20 to 30 metres of water, and is a popular recreational dive site. The stern section lies further out in 50 metres of water.

It is not known whether this particular rifle actually went down with the ship and was later salvaged, or missed that final voyage by some quirk of fate. Perhaps it was in the Captain’s hands to guard over the safe transfer of the 73 shipmates into the lifeboats, especially his wife and daughter, on that fateful day.

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Marrakai
When the bull drops, the bullshit stops!
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www.marrakai-adventure.com.au