Odd #4 mk 1

[Polar_Hunter]

I have, what I believe to be, an unusual example of a Savage made #4 mk 1. Above the serial number stamped on the wrist is "England". It has a round cocking knob.
Serial numbers match on the action and bolt but there are no numbers on the barrel (other than the usual proof marks). The barrel has not been cut. The rear sight is not original, it is from a #4mk II.

I would have thought that this gun would be stamped "US" instead of "England".

 

[tiriaq]

"England" is a stamp related to the rifle's export as surplus. The "US Property" was sometimes removed. Mk. I round cocking piece is earlier production.

 

[Beater]

if you look real hard where it should be stamped US PROPERTY on the side you will see it most likely has been filed off

 

[milsurpo]

Many Savage rifles had the US property stamp on the receiver ground off- by whom no-one knows. As far as I know Savage barrels weren't stamped with serial numbers at factory. The most desirable Savage's (other than "T" versions) are Mk I (no-star).

milsurpo

 

[Polar_Hunter]

Thanks for the info everyone. So, it would appear that it was made in the US, then shipped to England where the US property stamp was removed and replaced with "England", and then at some point it made it's way to Canada. It is a Mk I no star BTW.

 

[buffdog]

.
When in Military service, the rifle was in original condition, full wood, with the "US Property" stamp intact. After the war, many of these rifles were surplused, and converted to sporters by various British gun making firms. These rifles , for export and sale, had to be proof tested and identified as to place where the sporterization took place, in this case, ENGLAND. The ENGLAND stamp was NOT a replacement for the US Property marks, but a legal requirement as part of the CIVILIAN proofing. Some gun makers then ground off the US Property stampings, and even the new purchasers ground these off. Many of these Sporters still have the US Property mark on them.

Your rifle appears to be one of the ones where the US marking was ground off as a result of sporterization of the rifle.

 

[englishman_ca]

The ENGLAND marking is a pre 1968 USA import requirement denoting the origin of the rifle.

You will find Long Branch, Savage, Lithgow or Ishapore Lee Enfield rifles and even the odd Ross rifle surplussed out of the UK into the US with ENGLAND marked on them.

 

[gerard488]

I may be wrong but I seem to remember reading about some early Savage made Lee Enfields that were bought outright from Savage by the British government and would not have the U.S. Property stamp. This would have been before the Lend Lease rifles.