diff --git a/docs/manual-save.rst b/docs/manual-save.rst
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index 000000000..894ecdd88
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/manual-save.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+manual-save
+===========
+
+.. dfhack-tool::
+    :summary: Create named save snapshots that persist across autosaves.
+    :tags: fort dfhack
+
+Creates a persistent, named save snapshot that will not be overwritten by
+future autosaves. When invoked, the game triggers a native autosave and
+then duplicates the resulting save folder into a timestamped directory.
+
+This is useful for creating milestone saves before embarking on
+mega-projects, protecting against save corruption from mods, or setting
+up a rolling manual-save schedule with the `repeat` command.
+
+Usage
+-----
+
+::
+
+    manual-save [<name>] [<options>]
+
+If no ``<name>`` is given, the save is named after your fortress and the
+current real-world timestamp (e.g.
+``Floorroasts-Manual-2026-04-25_09-19-22``).
+
+Examples
+--------
+
+``manual-save``
+    Create a snapshot named after your fortress and the current time.
+``manual-save MyProject``
+    Create a snapshot named ``MyProject``.
+``manual-save --cleanup 5``
+    Create a snapshot, then prune old manual saves so that only the
+    5 most recent remain.
+``repeat -name rolling-saves -time 1 -timeUnits months -command [ manual-save --cleanup 10 ]``
+    Automatically create a rolling manual save every in-game month,
+    keeping only the 10 most recent snapshots.
+
+Options
+-------
+
+``-c``, ``--cleanup <num>``
+    After saving, delete the oldest manual-save snapshots so that only
+    ``<num>`` remain. Only folders whose names contain ``-Manual-`` are
+    considered; native autosave slots and region folders are never
+    touched.
diff --git a/manual-save.lua b/manual-save.lua
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c32bc2029
--- /dev/null
+++ b/manual-save.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,205 @@
+-- Create a named manual save that won't be overwritten by autosaves.
+--[====[
+manual-save
+===========
+
+Tags: fort | dfhack
+
+Creates a persistent, named save snapshot that will not be overwritten
+by future autosaves. The save is created natively by injecting the save
+command directly into the game's UI state.
+
+Usage
+-----
+
+    manual-save [<name>] [<options>]
+
+If no name is given, the save is named after your fortress with a
+timestamp, e.g. ``Floorroasts-Manual-2026-04-25_09-19-22``.
+
+Examples
+--------
+
+manual-save
+    Create a snapshot named after your fortress and the current time.
+
+manual-save MyProject
+    Create a snapshot named ``MyProject``.
+
+manual-save --cleanup 5
+    Create a snapshot, then prune old manual saves, keeping only the
+    5 most recent.
+
+repeat -name rolling-saves -time 1 -timeUnits months -command [ manual-save --cleanup 10 ]
+    Automatically create a rolling manual save every in-game month,
+    keeping only the 10 most recent snapshots.
+
+Options
+-------
+
+-c, --cleanup <num>
+    After saving, delete the oldest manual save snapshots so that
+    only <num> remain. Only folders whose names contain "-Manual-"
+    are considered; native autosaves and region folders are never
+    touched.
+]====]
+
+local utils = require("utils")
+local gui = require("gui")
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Argument parsing
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+local positional_name = nil
+local cleanup_count = nil
+
+local args = {...}
+local i = 1
+while i <= #args do
+    if args[i] == '-c' or args[i] == '--cleanup' then
+        i = i + 1
+        cleanup_count = tonumber(args[i])
+        if not cleanup_count or cleanup_count < 1 then
+            qerror('--cleanup requires a positive number')
+        end
+    elseif not args[i]:startswith('-') then
+        positional_name = positional_name and (positional_name .. '-' .. args[i]) or args[i]
+    else
+        qerror('Unknown option: ' .. args[i])
+    end
+    i = i + 1
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Guards
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+if not dfhack.isMapLoaded() then
+    qerror("World and map aren't loaded.")
+end
+
+if not dfhack.world.isFortressMode() then
+    qerror('This script can only be used in fortress mode')
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- File helpers
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- Recursively delete a directory tree. Returns true on success.
+local function deleteDir(path)
+    local items = dfhack.filesystem.listdir(path)
+    for _, item in ipairs(items or {}) do
+        local name = type(item) == "table" and item.name or item
+        local isdir = type(item) == "table" and item.isdir
+                      or dfhack.filesystem.isdir(path .. "/" .. name)
+        if name ~= "." and name ~= ".." then
+            local child = path .. "/" .. name
+            if isdir then
+                deleteDir(child)
+            else
+                os.remove(child)
+            end
+        end
+    end
+    return dfhack.filesystem.rmdir(path)
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Save-directory resolution
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- DF Premium stores saves under %APPDATA%/Bay 12 Games/Dwarf Fortress/save.
+-- Classic/portable installs keep them next to the executable.
+local function getTrueSaveDir()
+    local appdata = os.getenv("APPDATA")
+    if appdata then
+        local appdata_save = appdata .. "/Bay 12 Games/Dwarf Fortress/save"
+        if dfhack.filesystem.exists(appdata_save .. "/current") then
+            return appdata_save
+        end
+    end
+    return dfhack.getDFPath() .. "/save"
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Cleanup logic
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+-- Prune old manual-save snapshots, keeping only `keep` most recent.
+local function pruneManualSaves(save_dir, keep)
+    local items = dfhack.filesystem.listdir(save_dir)
+    local manual_saves = {}
+
+    for _, item in ipairs(items or {}) do
+        local name = type(item) == "table" and item.name or item
+        local isdir = type(item) == "table" and item.isdir
+                      or dfhack.filesystem.isdir(save_dir .. "/" .. name)
+
+        -- Only touch directories whose name contains "-Manual-"
+        if isdir and name:find("-Manual-") then
+            local wpath = save_dir .. "/" .. name .. "/world.sav"
+            local mtime = 0
+            if dfhack.filesystem.exists(wpath) then
+                mtime = dfhack.filesystem.mtime(wpath)
+            end
+            table.insert(manual_saves, {name = name, mtime = mtime})
+        end
+    end
+
+    -- Sort newest first
+    table.sort(manual_saves, function(a, b) return a.mtime > b.mtime end)
+
+    -- Delete everything past the keep threshold
+    for idx = keep + 1, #manual_saves do
+        local target = save_dir .. "/" .. manual_saves[idx].name
+        print("Pruning old snapshot: " .. manual_saves[idx].name)
+        deleteDir(target)
+    end
+
+    if #manual_saves > keep then
+        print(("Pruned %d old snapshot(s), %d remaining."):format(
+            #manual_saves - keep, keep))
+    end
+end
+
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+-- Main
+-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+local function triggerManualSave()
+    local fort_name = dfhack.df2utf(
+        dfhack.translation.translateName(
+            df.global.world.world_data.active_site[0].name, true))
+
+    -- Sanitise for filesystem safety
+    fort_name = fort_name:gsub("[^%w%s%-]", ""):gsub("%s+", "_")
+
+    local date_str = os.date("%Y-%m-%d_%H-%M-%S")
+    local final_folder_name = positional_name or (fort_name .. "-Manual-" .. date_str)
+
+    print("Initiating manual save...")
+    print("Saving natively to: " .. final_folder_name)
+
+    -- Open the options menu natively via input to ensure it initializes properly
+    local options = df.global.game.main_interface.options
+    if not options.open then
+        gui.simulateInput(dfhack.gui.getCurViewscreen(true), 'OPTIONS')
+    end
+    options.entering_manual_folder = true
+    options.entering_manual_str = final_folder_name
+
+    -- Simulate pressing Enter to confirm the text box and trigger the save
+    gui.simulateInput(dfhack.gui.getCurViewscreen(true), 'SELECT')
+
+    -- The game freezes its simulation loop while saving. These 10 frames
+    -- will only tick down after the save is 100% written and the game unfreezes.
+    dfhack.timeout(10, 'frames', function()
+        print("Manual save completed successfully: " .. final_folder_name)
+
+        if cleanup_count then
+            pruneManualSaves(getTrueSaveDir(), cleanup_count)
+        end
+    end)
+end
+
+triggerManualSave()