B.L.R and a bunch more stenciled characters on '42 Savage No.4 Mk1*

[Brit plumber]

That would be extremely interesting if you could look that up. It might confirm the story behind this rifle. Im in the process of restoring it, and so far it's 100% all Savage '42, except the lower forestock, which is marked "L" and "40", which I take to be Longbranch 1940, so somewhere along the way, it got that that replaced, but all else matches.

It cant be dated 1940 as (Unless I'm wrong) Longbranch didnt make No.4s in 1940, in fact I dont think anyone was producing them. Wasn't 1941 the first year of production (Excluding trials No.4s)

[Longbranch303]

Can we all assume, sadly, that you've already obliterated the workshop markings?

Peter,

Heck no, no way we are going to obliterate any markings at all. How could you assume that???

We are planning to do a simple green or maybe rottenstone wipe-down of the stock (avoiding the painted BLR stencils), followed by uniform re-oiling, and then finish with a firearm specific urethane coating:

Gun Sav'R CUSTOM OIL GUNSTOCK FINISH - Brownells


Likewise, we stripped down all the metal parts, 00 steel wool and Hoppe’s to remove surface rust, then hand applied Oxpho-Blue as needed.

Except for the conscientious decision to finish off the stock with a modern urethane coating (which is designed to preserve the wood yet keep the traditional look), have I in any way given you reason to think I’ve strayed from the correct procedure here?


Jona,

I have to agree and think you are right as a matter of lex parsimoniae, that it seems much more likely the 1940 stamped LB part was at some point later installed on the 1942 Savage rifle, rather than it sitting unused for two years, then transferred to the Savage plant for installation into a new Savage rifle.

[Longbranch303]

It cant be dated 1940 as (Unless I'm wrong).....

Here’s a close-up of the bottom of the forend, with the markings in question appearing on either side of the swivel band groove.

Attachment 29517

[muffett.2008]

Are there any markings inside the barrel channel of the timber?

[Longbranch303]

Are there any markings inside the barrel channel of the timber?

Gentlemen,

The plot thickens!

The only other markings on the forend are the rifle’s serial number stamped laterally just below the metal at the top of the forend; and

just above the serial number (between the serial number and the metal) is….


…..a very small, lightly stamped “S” in the correct square Savage font.

So, what the heck is going on here?

[BushyFromOz]

Barreled action is all cleaned-up, re-blued, oiled, and put back together.

[muffett.2008]

So, what the heck is going on here?

What's going on is what I wrote earlier, parts, including woodwork, were interchanged between the two factories on a supply and demand basis.

[5thBatt]

The L & the 40 (rack no??) are independent stand alone stamps & probably have nothing to do with each other, there is a L stamped in exactly the same spot & of the same style/size on my 1923 EFD MkV SMLE but i can be sure the woodwork was not made by Longbranch

[Longbranch303]

Well, this is getting interesting now...!

[muffett.2008]

Not wanting to get into a slanging match over this, but this subject has been dealt with before, a simple search of the archives will unearth it.
Try typing in Longbranch/Savage parts exchange, or go straight to 1941 Long Branch [Archive] - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

A further reference can be found in Strattons book Vol.2 No.4 and No.5 rifles, page 104, points to watch for.......Handguards with L/B markings have been found on Savage rifles, and handguards with S markings have been found on Long Branch rifles, as well. Evidently, the two factories traded wood fairly frequently, and both shipped rear handguards to the British factories as well. endQuote.