06/18/2026
Throwback Thursday by Lee Schanz, Jr.
Nice Buck, Nice Gun
When I started Throwback Thursdays a year and a half ago, it was for two reasons. First, I love hunting history, especially as it applies to the Northeast. I wanted to share and save some of it. Secondly, I did it to provide content and entertainment for our Big Woods Bucks followers. It has grown into Teaser Tuesday, Throwback Thursday, Fi****ms Friday, and Sunday Ads. That's a lot of content and a lot of work. One of the things that makes me keep going is the real fans who share things. One of our FB friends recently sent me a cool pic and some info to go with it.
Chubba Bruleigh sent me a nice old black and white photo of his grandfather with a "cranker" of a buck. Sometime around 1935, Chubba's grandfather shot a buck in Orange County Vermont. More specifically in the Corinth area which is 35 miles south of St. Johnsbury. One of the Bruleigh family remembered that the buck weighed 220 pounds! That's a big buck anywhere and was worth a picture back in the 1930's. Chubba related that Abanaki Indian blood ran through their veins, and they loved their venison.
The first thing I noticed about the photo was that the buck had a beautiful, heavy 10 point rack. The second thing I noticed was that he shot it with a 99 Savage. It's hard to tell what model it might be from the pic. It looks to be a solid frame with pistol grip and schnabel forend. No checkering. If it was an earlier variation, it could be a number of different models, but if it was new in 1935, it would be an EG. It would also be the first year they were available, being produced from 1935-1960. Only the 99R was offered longer. My own 99EG in .303 was made in 1937 and matches up nicely with my .303 saddle ring from 1912 and the 99F takedown that I showed on Teaser Tuesday, that was made in 1921.
Mr. Bruleigh mentioned that later in life, his grandfather used 190 grain Silvertips in his .303 Savage. I'd like to have a box of those just for old time's sake. He also stated that early on his ol' grandad liked the Savage brand ammo (which was usually 180's). Nowadays you're more likely to find lighter bullets in the first Savage cartridge. Both my Hornady and Precision new ammo are loaded with 150 grain roundnose bullets. It's on the same power level as the 30-30 and is good for woods hunting for whitetails.
I can't build a Throwback Thursday on everything that people post, but that doesn't mean that we don't appreciate all that you share with us. Tune in for a special Fi****ms Friday tomorrow.
