I just picked one up!
Excellent condition although probably not as minty as the one shown above still in the cosmoline and original box.
I think I have one from early production, some parts have C broad arrows, and there are British proofs, I believe from when the Brits had inspectors at the savage plant, or perhaps proofed when it was lend leased. I think the C broad arrow parts are from when they were using some Canadian made pieces.
Hoping to get some pics up soon, I have some questions about it. It's an awesome looking rifle. Where else can you find C broad arrows, U.S. Property, and British proofs on the same gun
-Steve
That's not as unusual as you might think. During WWII, over a million No4 Savages were sent to the UK and thousands of Savage produced parts were sent to Canada and the UK as well.
Longbranch, also sent completed rifles and parts with mixed manufacturers. I will admit, it isn't the norm but it did happen a lot more than most think.
My old aunt, used to work at the Longbranch plant. She didn't like it when they used the US made stocks on the new rifles. The US manufacturers were more likely to use birch/maple etc, than properly dried walnut. Especiall when the war effort was just ramping up and walnut of good quality was getting scarce. Anyway her gripe was that the US wood was heavier and she couldn't carry as many butts/fore ends at one time to the assembly areas.
Whatever, these unissued Savage No4s are lovely rifles and they shoot quite well. Recently, they started to come out of the wood work. I purchased one last year that I had been working on for a couple of years. I guess I downplayed the rifle to much, because the fellow that had it, put it into a lovely new CT rifle case and informed me he had scrapped the box because it was full of grease and it caused him to drop the rifle/box, leaving a scratch on the side. Not noticeable unless you have it in your hands, close up. There it is, right on the left side, over the trigger. AAAARGH!
I don't know if the boxes were from the original producers or not. I have unpacked thousands rifles from crates/pallets/transit chests and some of the early containers.
The boxes, could have been from military storage depots or they could have been special ordered for long term storage. Every production run from WWII had some rifles set aside in long term storage. It's just the way they did things then.
Every one of the Savages I've seen in those boxes or out of long term storage seems to have better fit and finish than the rifles that were headed out the door, to the docks.
They are a mystery for us but someone out there knows exactly how they got that way.
Wheaty??? Peter Laidler?????
