This particular rifle started off as a Number 4 Mark 1*, with the * pronounced as "star".
It is rather interesting for a number of reasons.
For one, it was made in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, by Savage. Originally, these were done on contract for England, but England went broke. The US Army then adopted the rifle and forgot to buy any ammo, so the rifles continued in producton. That tiny stamp with the circle and the flame is a US Board of Ordnance "flaming bomb" ownership stamp. The rifles then were "surplussed" to England, even though they still were in production. This all was before the US came into the War. Once the US was fully in the War (after Pearl Harbor), then Lend Lease was passed and there was no need for this kind of fiddle-faddle.
Exactly the same rifle was made at three plants in England and at Long Branch, Ontario. The Savage and the Long Branch were the best-made, but the parts nterchange between all 5 manufacturers as well as with the very few actualy made at Enfield.
It is a wonderful chunk of history from the worst, darkest phase of World War Two, that period when England and the Commonwealth, very nearly totally unpepared for war, stood alone against Hitler..... who had had 6 years of very intense rearmament before the first shot was fired and THEN had taken over the Polish, Czechoslovakian, Austrian, Belgian, Danish, Norwegian and French factories.
It was also your Grandfather's rifle. Treasure it. NEVER sell it. My grandfather was an actual fur-trader with the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Edmonton. I would give ANYTHING to have one of his guns.... but they all were sold off, 80 years ago.
Clean the barrel carefully, be sure the crews are done up tight load up some ammo and go have fun.
And think good things about Grandpa while you're doing it.
If you want help or advice, come back here. Someone will help, that's for certain.
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