The National Office of Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) recently received the extraordinary gift of a 1919 Savage Model 99 takedown rifle from Dave VanBoxtaele that he had been restoring since February 2020. Click Here to Enter
VanBoxtaele said his intent was never to do an “original” restoration. Instead, his initial plan was to “re-stock the rifle, get the metal refinished and blued and put a nice checkering pattern on the new stock.” VanBoxtaele knew early Savage 99 Deluxe models were beautifully and elaborately engraved and, even though this rifle was never a Deluxe model, he was about to make it one.
VanBoxtaele purchased a fancy walnut semi-inletted stock from Wenig Custom Stocks and gave it a filled oil finish. He then cut the 26-lines-per-inch checkering using a combination point and scalloped pattern on both the forend and buttstock. Enlisting the help of a recent gunsmith program graduate, they engraved approximately 70 percent of the receiver and added an 8-point whitetail buck on the bottom of the receiver. The engraving process took eight months and, in the months that followed, the rifle was color-case hardened, reassembled and a custom carrying case created.
VanBoxtaele is a retired police officer from the Flagstaff police department. He lost two friends and co-workers in the line of duty and says restoring rifles became a “sense of healing” as it allowed him time to remember his friends. But he knew this particular rifle had a higher purpose. “My only wish is that it can be of benefit to the C.O.P.S. organization and the families of the men and women who put their life on the line every day,” explained VanBoxtaele.
Four appraisals were done for this rifle with the average value being $17,500. To acquire your chance at winning this one-of-a-kind rifle, CLICK HERE. All proceeds from the raffle will support survivor weekends and camps, as well as law enforcement trainings.
C.O.P.S. is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with the mission to rebuild the shattered lives of America’s surviving families and co-workers who have lost an officer in the line of duty. Founded in 1984, C.O.P.S. has grown to serve more than 87,000 survivors. Unfortunately, that number continues growing with each line-of-duty death. For every officer lost, at least 12 survivors are impacted. C.O.P.S. supports survivors and the law enforcement community through survivor weekends and camps, law enforcement trainings, conferences, National Police Week, scholarships, kids counseling and special events.