Savage Enfield no 4 question

[johnnylo]

I have a question for the Enfield historians.

I have just found a Savage No 4 mk1. It is dated 1942 and has the flaming bombs symbols. I also found 'England' stamped on her as well as 'FTR'. Aside from that it is on a Canadian marked stock, not numbered, but has the c broadarrow stamp on top of the chamber.

was it common for American manufacturered Enfield to have made it into Canadian hands? I thought they were sent to the British? Is it common to have one with marking from all three countries?

It is now part of my collection.

 

[smellie]

There used to be this thing called the British Commonwealth of Nations and we all used the same type of equipment, including even stuff that the USA didn't develop and that hadn't even been approved by NATO and some of it wasn't even metric. I know, I'm talking about a LOOOONG time ago.

Britain WAS a major power and there was nothing unusual for Commonwealth equipment to be made where it was made and go where it was needed. Canada made a million Number 4s just for Britain and they are still being used in India and Pakistan and even in Canada.

It IS a little more unusual for a rifle to have American (bomb), Canadian AND British markings all at the same time.

The FTR means Factory Thorough Repair, which amounted to a factory total rebuild.

It would have had the ENGLAND stamp when it was surplused.

Nice piece of history. Hope you enjoy it and restore it and have a LOTTA fun with it.

 

[stencollector]

During FTR, the rifle would have been stripped down, along with (dozens/hundreds/thousands) of others at the same time. Rifles did not end up with the same stocks.


I have seen C/l\ marked Savage Enfields mind you, and there was a mixing of parts when Savage production ceased, and the remaining parts were transferred to SAL at Long Branch. But since your rifle is an early one, this was not likely the case.

 

[johnnylo]

Thanks for the reply fella's.

I did a little checking and the bolt, receiver and mag all match, I started this post as I am really curious as to how common it was to have marking from all three countries present. I wonder if the stock was a spare as it has Canadian markings but no serial numbers. All I have it to compare to is my Longbranch which is fully matching stock and all.