How Savage Arms Helped Shape Modern Firearms—From the .22LR to AccuTrigger

In this episode of the No Lowballers Podcast, hosts Logan Metesh of High Caliber History and Allen Forkner of GunBroker.com are joined by Chris Bezzina, CEO of Savage Arms, for a conversation that covers everything from detachable box magazines to electric exercise belts. Yes—really. Chris shares the remarkable life and innovations of founder Arthur Savage, a West Indies-born inventor who helped shape the future of American firearms. From pioneering the revolutionary Model 99 lever-action to challenging Colt in the 1911 military trials, Savage Arms has always marched to the beat of its own drum. The trio dives deep into the company’s long history of firearms, innovation and reinvention—from World War contributions and the creation of the .22 LR cartridge with Stevens, to modern standouts like the Model 110 bolt-action, the straight-pull Impulse, and the .22LR lever-action Revel. And yes, they finally answer the question: Will the Model 99 ever come back? Key Topics Discussed: The Origin of Savage Arms: Arthur Savage’s journey from West Indies coffee planter and Australian cattle rancher to firearms innovator includes everything from inventing the radial tire to pioneering smokeless powder lever-action rifles. The Model 99 and the 1911 That Almost Was: How Savage’s iconic lever gun influenced Bill Ruger—and how the Savage 1907 pistol nearly beat out the 1911 for U.S. military service. Detachable Box Magazines—Then and Now: Savage was one of the first to believe in the now-standard detachable mag, and Chris explains why, even today, the mag is still the most difficult part of gun design. The Model 110: America’s Most Produced Bolt-Action Rifle: Discover why the Model 110’s barrel nut system and floating bolt head are still setting the standard decades later—and how the AccuTrigger helped redefine factory triggers. Straight-Pull Rifles and the Savage Impulse: Why Savage went against the grain to develop a U.S.-made straight-pull bolt action, and how the Impulse delivers European precision at an American price. The .22LR Revel and the AccuCan Suppressor: From butter-smooth actions to takedown versatility and over-barrel suppressors, Savage is redefining fun and functionality with their newest rimfire offerings. Guest: Chris Bezzina – CEO, Savage Arms Bonus Segment: Chris shares how a handful of historic Savage prototype pistols were literally pulled out of a New York landfill—and what they reveal about the company's century-long journey. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes content and weekly drops. New episodes every Thursday. We’ve got some exciting news—No Lowballers is officially moving to a new network! This upgrade makes it even easier for fans like you to find the show, and it opens the door for even more incredible guests and behind-the-scenes industry insights. 👉 Here’s the important part: If you're already subscribed, you’ll need to re-subscribe using the new links below to keep getting episodes. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UoPXevKfKwruKcEcV4ir3 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-lowballers/id1812452370 Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0f74f614-ea1c-4ca6-abd4-cfaf5135bf8e/no-lowballers iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/274120614/ Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id6595321?utm_source=podcaster&utm_medium=dlink&utm_campaign=c_6595321&utm_content=No Lowballers-CastBox_FM Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NoLowballersPodcast/videos YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NoLowballersPodcast/featured No Lowballers home page: https://www.gunbroker.com/c/podcast/ Nothing else is changing. You’ll still get the same unfiltered stories, sharp insights, and hot takes—but with a bigger platform to back it up. Thanks for riding with us—bigger things are on the way. #NoLowBallersPodcast #SavageArms #Model99 #Model110 #AccuTrigger #ImpulseRifle #1911History #FirearmsInnovation #RimfireRevolution