No4 Mk1

yyj200

yyj200

Regular
GunNutz
Rating - 100%
25   0   0
Location
BC
I bought this over 50 years ago, and it has been following me around. Can anyone tell me if this is the original finish. I believe its
 
Last edited:
Sorry, it’s a 1943. It is the US Property version. All the nos. match and there are a lot of S stamps.
 
Rubbing it down with a shiney substance to make it look good in the pic doesn't help to assess if the finish is original.

They were mostly finished with Linseed Oil to a rather dull finish. There were some exceptions though.
 
Finish?? Finish of wood or of metal? Bare screw heads on stacking swivel and front sling swivel do not match with what appears on receiver - those swivels are installed backwards - "dress a Lee Enfield from the left" - all screws to enter from left side of rifle. Front band has missing colour on trailing edges, yet metal caps on front hand guard and forearm do not - hard to understand how that has occurred?? Band holding front sling swivel loop appears way more worn than the metal on receiver or the receiver ring?? Actually hard to assess from that single picture... To your question - some parts of it might be "original finish" but I do not think most of it is.
 
Potashminer said:
Finish?? Finish of wood or of metal? Bare screw heads on stacking swivel and front sling swivel do not match with what appears on receiver - those swivels are installed backwards - "dress a Lee Enfield from the left" - all screws to enter from left side of rifle. Front band has missing colour on trailing edges, yet metal caps on front hand guard and forearm do not - hard to understand how that has occurred?? Band holding front sling swivel loop appears way more worn than the metal on receiver or the receiver ring?? Actually hard to assess from that single picture... To your question - some parts of it might be "original finish" but I do not think most of it is.
Click to expand...

You’re right on the front fore wood, as I replaced it, but all other parts are original matching as far as the main hardware, bolt, mag etc. The front end was added At a later date.
 
bearhunter said:
Rubbing it down with a shiney substance to make it look good in the pic doesn't help to assess if the finish is original.

They were mostly finished with Linseed Oil to a rather dull finish. There were some exceptions though.
Click to expand...

The metal was not rubbed down with a shiny substance. It was like that in 1968 when I bought it, although I used tung oil on the fore end.
 
Good catch - Ganderite and MattE93 - I see the OP's picture is no longer available, but most WWII Savage made rifles were No. 4's, of the Mark 1* variety, although I read it was possible that both Long Branch and Savage may have made the Mark 1 version very early in their production. I had read that the British makers - Fazarkerly, BSA, etc. - only produced the Mark 1 version - never did adopt the Mark 1* changes. I own a couple No.4 Mk1* that the bolt dismounting slot near the front has chipped away, and the bolt head will become disengaged at the most inopportune times - if I was making up another "moose gun", I would start with a Mk.1 version, for that reason.

I was also wondering about the stocks - seemed to be a walnut butt stock with beech fore-end and front hand guard - not real certain what the grooved rear hand guard was made of. I was never really certain if Savage had used beech wood, at all - but OP clearly stated he had replaced the "front fore wood".
 
OP, you indicated the magazine was “matching”?
If the magazine has a serial number on it it’s a post war refurb.
If I recall correctly magazines were not serialized during wartime production at any plant.
 
Potashminer said:
Good catch - Ganderite and MattE93 - I see the OP's picture is no longer available, but most WWII Savage made rifles were No. 4's, of the Mark 1* variety, although I read it was possible that both Long Branch and Savage may have made the Mark 1 version very early in their production. I had read that the British makers - Fazarkerly, BSA, etc. - only produced the Mark 1 version - never did adopt the Mark 1* changes. I own a couple No.4 Mk1* that the bolt dismounting slot near the front has chipped away, and the bolt head will become disengaged at the most inopportune times - if I was making up another "moose gun", I would start with a Mk.1 version, for that reason.

I was also wondering about the stocks - seemed to be a walnut butt stock with beech fore-end and front hand guard - not real certain what the grooved rear hand guard was made of. I was never really certain if Savage had used beech wood, at all - but OP clearly stated he had replaced the "front fore wood".
Click to expand...


well I have in my possession a early 3C serial number Savage No4 MK I no star and I have seen LB No4 Mk I rifle and may have one of those in my pile as well I just don't remember what I have kept over the years. So they do exist :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom