Really early Savage No4 MkI (no *) I think...

I grabbed this No4 MkI at the local show on Saturday and blew and extra $20 or so in gas to get it. See, I found it on the first walk through, then had to leave to go to the 5-year-old's soccer game (got creamed), then as I thought about it more and more, wanted to go back to get it. I got it for a good price, even with the extra trip of 60 or so miles. Not many Enfields around Atlanta that are $200 intact.

Now I know it's an early rifle, but not completely sure it's what I think it is. The reason is that it does not actually say Savage or have the 'S' anywhere on the receiver. It is a 'C' serial number rifle, with the receiver showing 1942 C5863. Most of the parts are Long Branch and Savage, except for the magazine and the barrel which is a F55 rebarrel.

There are no U.S. Property marks in the usual place, which is what made me go back for it. I know the first few thousand or so were not marked that way. The rifle is CAI import marked on the muzzle, which is good. Not Turkish import like the later ones most likely. The bolt seems to have a strange, long serial number that would correspond to a late Long Branch No4, but it is a very early bolt. The barrel bands are both Savage, as is the flip rear sight. The front sight protector is Long Branch, and bent at an odd angle.

Could this rifle been partially assembled in Canada? Seems unlikely. The odd thing is the mis-match early bolt on an early rifle. Lots of both Savage and Long Branch parts.

Please shed some light on this one. It seems like a very interesting mix master with lots of history and a really early rifle to boot. Is this really the 5863rd rifle produced at Savage?

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You're right. Everyone's accounted for. The barrel is English I think. The marking looks like GR. If it had a GRI it would be India. The cocking piece and front sight and bolt body are Long Branch and there's no indication of Savage making this rifle. These were just rebuilt with whatever came to hand from the parts bins. This looks like some of the rifles the Greek army used in their 1974 war in Cyprus. Well used and retired. Nothing wrong with it though. It should shoot just fine.

F 55..possibly Fazackerly? What is the mark above the 1942? Can't see it that well on my screen. Definitely an interesting piece. I always say it..'if they could only talk..'

Unfortunately, this is not an early Savage, but a 1942 BSA-Shirley with a Savage front band, Long Branch front sight protector and button style cocking piece, 1955 Faz barrel, and a magazine to another BSA rifle. If this was a Savage, the serial number would be 0C5863 which would be a No4 MkI (no star), so the date would be located on the left side of the receiver, not on the butt socket.

Quote:

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There are no U.S. Property marks in the usual place, which is what made me go back for it. I know the first few thousand or so were not marked that way.

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I forgot to mention that all Savage rifles were or were suppose to be stamped "US PROPERTY".

I agree, not a Savage action body.

Very early BSA that has since been rebuilt several times with salvaged parts from the other factories.

Thanks! Looks like it's a BSA shooter. I do have a Savage that is 4Cxxxx range I picked up years ago for $80 at a show. Matching bolt and all. Guess that one is a keeper and this new one is trading fodder. I have two No4s, and that's about all I need unless I find a better one than what I already have. That's why I bought this one, thinking it was more desirable than the Savage I already have. I'll be sticking with Mosins more or less, and Enfields will be a fringe of the collection. Still love them.

Early C5XXX Savage rifles would also have a 6-groove barrel

Look on the bright side, you got a very rare Long Branch MkI cocking piece that would fetch $100 probably on eBay, and a 1955 barrel, which must be some of the best ever made, and would probably bring at least that much if it is in very good condition or better.

And I see the bolt is Long Branch as well and if it has a hole in the bolt knob then it is from a MkI, rather than MkI* Long Branch and therefore from the very earliest production. Well worth keeping in case a MkI (1941) Long Branch should every cross your path with the wrong bolt in it.

As it is an Indian(?) rework and renumbered bolt, I would strip the good parts off and throw the rest on the shelf for some other project.

I've seen that "force match" on a Long Branch bolt before, with the number 7 upside down to be an "L". Nice early piece.
While the sum of the parts may be worth more than the whole, the same could be said for your heart, liver and kidneys. You want to be kept together, too!