2 new Enfields for me!!

r.fallon

r.fallon

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Hi guy although both are sporTURD they are of interest. The first one is a matching No.4 mk1/3. It started life as a Savage, S/N 93C###X, got shipped to Canada for assembly, (I am assuming here because of the LB stamp at the wrist) then off to England to serve its time until it got a FTR by Faz. at this point it was converted to a mk 1/3. Of note, the barrel is a 5 groove, possibly installed at the FTR. Also there is no US Property stamp on the rifle. I have not seen a whole lot of Savage no.4 but mosted had a US Prop. stamp and a 2 groove barrel. One final note on this gun is that there is NO manufacturing date.
I bought this as a parts gun / restoration project. The barrele is cut but other wise its in very good shape, it has seen very little use since the FTR. I am not overly keen on the mark 2 type rifle (this is the only one I have), but I can go two ways on this. I have a 2 groove LB barrel to restore the gun to its former glory (but will this be kosher putting a LB barrel on a Savage?) or because of the shape it's in , scoped will it will make a nice deer rifle.
Next rifle is a Lithgow No. 1mk3 built in 1939. Again other than the stock being cut its in nice shape for a project gun. I know very little about No.1 series guns. If some one could let me know what kind of wood will be the best for this gun it would be much help, also if anyone is looking for a ww2 lithgow let me know.
 
"...putting a LB barrel on a Savage..." It won't be blessed by a rabbi, but after the Savage contract ended all remaining parts, rifles and machinery was shipped to Longbranch. Rebarreling will require a barrel vise and a proper action wrench. They don't take scoping well. Most of the commercial mounts require removing the rear sight. There is one that is a copy of the No. 4 'sniper' mount though. Needs some holes drilled and tapped.
Lithgows usually used Australian 'Coachwood'. Bolt heads are more difficult to come by too. You need a handful if the headspace checks out as bad. No numbers on the bolt head. Trial and error with several bolt heads is required.
 
You are right!! thanks Lee Enfield it is a B not an LB. Was the gun still assembled in Canada? I forgot to metion that the rifle is a mk1/3* with an "England" export stamp. Thanks for the info. Should I still go through with the LB barrel?
 
r.fallon said:
You are right!! thanks Lee Enfield it is a B not an LB. Was the gun still assembled in Canada? I forgot to metion that the rifle is a mk1/3* with an "England" export stamp. Thanks for the info. Should I still go through with the LB barrel?
Click to expand...

No Savages were assembled in Canada.

Having said that there are some Long Branches with Savage serial #s (though they are probably just "replacement" actions) and a few (very few) Savage/Long Branch hybrids.

I suspect that most of the "Hybrids" were built in someone's basement or garage.

Savage's did get into the Canadian system (as did some of every other maker). I have a Savage which is a Canadian FTR and has both a C^ on the receiver and Long Branch wood.


Your gun, being a No4Mk1/3 was never in the Canadian system. They were converted to 1/3 status at Fazakerly as part of the British FTR program.

Technically, the CFC considers your "Savage" to have been manufactured by Royal Ordinance Factory Fazakerly thanks to it having been re-manufactured there.
 
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Parts did get mixed up, especially after the War. I got most of a perfectly-kosher armourer's kit several years ago, and although the parts were mostly of Long Branch mfg, there were also some parts by other manufacturers. This kit was derived from the support mech for the annual DCRA matches and came home in the '60s. At least I have almost enough parts for my 3 Number 4s!
 
When savage ceased operation, many small parts were shipped to Canada.

It is not uncommon to see mid-1944 Longbranches with Savage marked mags, bands, the odd piece of stockwood or a Mk2 flip sight. Generally you won't find all these on the same rifle. If anything, matbe one or two Savage parts on a rifle, MAX.

Basically these few Savage parts were dumped into the LB parts bins to be used up.

The reverse is NOT true. Unless refurbed at Longbranch, you won;t find LB parts on a Savage.
 
My "understanding " of the B stamp on the wrist is for BSA .
Possibly taken there for inspection before being issued ?
..or stamped at the same time as the ENGLAND stamp ?
Mine also has BSA inspectior stamps.
leftwrist.jpg
 
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