Hello, looking for help identifying the serial numbers on my No. 4 Mk 1 that was left to me from my father after passing. I’m going to attach some pictures below ! Lots online but I’m not versed in these old rifles. Any help is appreciated ‘ thanks
Enfield No. 4 Mk 1 identification
- Thread starter Morris96
- Start date
94C4178 is a Savage serial number. The 944,178th rifle made by them. Savage got production started in 1941, stopped in 1944, with over a million rifles made, Yours was made toward the end of the production run. On the angled top flat of the receiver should be marked US PROPERTY. This mark was required because the rifles were supplied to the UK through the Lend-Lease program.
Your rifle has been sported, of course.
Your rifle has been sported, of course.
- Location
- Western Manitoba
From your pictures - the "C" in the serial number suggest that was probably made by Savage in USA during WWII - probably was stamped "Property of USA" on the receiver and is probably a No.4 Mk1*, not No.4 Mk.1. The diamond pattern on the butt is definitely not military. Appears as if the military grip was re-carved to look like a curved pistol grip. The upper hand guard appears gone, as well as the receiver "ring" that held the rear end of that top hand guard. Your third picture shows the fore-arm has been shortened considerably from original, so the band that held the front of the rear hand guard and rear of the front hand guard is also gone. That is probably a Mark II rear back sight - which is apparently correct for a Savage made No.4 Mk.1*. The two holes may be marked 300 / 600 although the reference book here says that 200/400 marked sights are known to exist. There would have been a sling loop in that rear sling base - from the appearance of that front sling swivel, is probable that was an after wartime "sporterizing" - probably best keep as is as a keepsake of your forefather. It could shoot accurately or might be barn door accurate. It would have had a 10 round detachable magazine which is missing in those pictures - as I understand, maybe best to think of it as a "fixed magazine" that could be removed - although many "hunters" used them as if they were military detachable magazines - which they were not. The rifles during WWII would have been reloaded with 5 round "chargers" - through the top of the action - to re-fill the magazine.
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- Location
- Western Manitoba
As previously posted - the gun was probably made in USA, then sent off to England as a "loan" - so British Armourers would have stamped what they felt was needed, I presume.
Also, when a rifle was "sold out of service" in Great Britain, it went to a gov't "proofing house" to be "proof tested" to establish that it was appropriate for civilian to use - did not matter that a soldier might have been using it for years - had to be "proofed" to demostrate that it was "safe enough" for a civilian to use. Most that I have seen were done at Birmingham Proof House, although I know of the London Proof House as well - I have no clue if British military might have moved guns to other places as well. The British Proof Houses also place their stamps on the gun - typically in detail on the chamber area of the barrel - but also probably a stamp on the receiver and the bolt handle.
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Try to clean or at least oil the barrel before putting it away. Store the rifle muzzle down, so oil does not migrate into the action bedding. This used to be a very popular hunting rifle in Canada. Cheap and powerful.
