1942 Savage No4 Buttplate ID and Help

r.ferg

r.ferg

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Fairly new to the Enfield world so bear with me. I've owned my 1942 Savage for about a year now and it came with this steel buttplate. Functional, but not very nice to look at. I'm also assuming that it is not original as there is no trapdoor. Anyone have an idea what this buttplate is anyways? Here is a photo.
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I picked up a brass buttplate at a gun show for a few dollars with the intention of swapping it on. As you can see in the next photo, it really doesn't fit well. Big gap on the sides and top. Is it possible that this is a buttplate for a No1? Are No4 and No1 buttplates different dimensions? If so, how do you tell the difference? [EDIT: I now see that the brass buttplate is for a No1. The top is pointed and not a smooth semicircle. Thanks.]
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On a side note. When I screw the brass buttplate on, it spreads a crack open on the buttstock. (As you can see in the second photo). Didn't notice this crack until I tried changing the buttplate, what's my best bet to try and fix this crack? The crack is almost unnoticeable with the ugly steel buttplate fastened on which I find strange. I'd like to keep this buttstock on it as all the wood matches well and are marked with the Savage "S".

Thanks.
 
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1) looks like a SMLE plate which was made sans trap
2) Looks like a SMLE plate for MkI and III
 
Hi r.ferg. It is not the early pattern of SMLE butt plate or even made for an SMLE. One can tell by the curvature of the top piece which is semi-circular. It is definately made for the No. 4 rifle. I received one in a box of parts and I too am perplexed. Bubba cleaned the finish from mine.
Mine is totally unmarked - manufacturer was probably ashamed! It is obviously a stamped probably an emergency use replacement but who did it? I am a top Enfield collector but this one is new to me. I hope we have some intelligent responses on this plate. JOHN
 
jtaylor said:
Hi r.ferg. It is not the early pattern of SMLE butt plate or even made for an SMLE. One can tell by the curvature of the top piece which is semi-circular. It is definately made for the No. 4 rifle. I received one in a box of parts and I too am perplexed. Bubba cleaned the finish from mine.
Mine is totally unmarked - manufacturer was probably ashamed! It is obviously a stamped probably an emergency use replacement but who did it? I am a top Enfield collector but this one is new to me. I hope we have some intelligent responses on this plate. JOHN
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Not a single marking on mine either John. I was starting to think Bubba had made it himself, glad to hear someone else has one. Possible that it is in fact original to my Savage and just a super expedient wartime measure?
 
Hello again r.ferg. Without a trap makes it almost useless to a soldier who cannot oil or clean his rifle. Therefore it must be an expedient replacement part. Not likely Savage or British or Canadian. My guess would be Pakistan or India. The big clue is that it is a stamping and
not a casting. Thin metal with the screw head holes more like coned divots. My guess is 1950s era part made in a foreign country as steel plates will rust quickly in hot climates. Putting such a plate on a rifle indicates the rifle is considered near unserviceable (ex Drill purpose only). Maybe there is a gunutz guy out there with the answer. No 4 rifle butts frequently become loose - how are you going to tighten? JOHN
 
r.ferg said:
Ordered a copy this morning of Charles Stratton's Enfield Rifles Vol. 2 after seeing your recommendation! Looks like a great little reference. Cheers
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It is full of little drawings too. But - as with every reference, there will be mistakes. Stratton used an empirical approach with detailed checklists and a survey of existing models. If he misses an example, or it was not well described, the book is silent. That is why Skennerton is valuable as a secondary source.
 
jtaylor said:
Hello again r.ferg. Without a trap makes it almost useless to a soldier who cannot oil or clean his rifle. Therefore it must be an expedient replacement part. Not likely Savage or British or Canadian. My guess would be Pakistan or India. The big clue is that it is a stamping and
not a casting. Thin metal with the screw head holes more like coned divots. My guess is 1950s era part made in a foreign country as steel plates will rust quickly in hot climates. Putting such a plate on a rifle indicates the rifle is considered near unserviceable (ex Drill purpose only). Maybe there is a gunutz guy out there with the answer. No 4 rifle butts frequently become loose - how are you going to tighten? JOHN
Click to expand...

In service, loose butts would be discarded. For the likes of us, a loose butt could be bedded with epoxy or some form of substantial filler medium with microbeads or finely chopped fibreglass powder. Whatever you use, make sure the butt and the socket aren't going to be glued together!
 
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