22LB mag in a 1942 Savage No4 Mk1*

[Stigmata]

Folks,

I have acquired a run-of-the-mill 1942 Savage No4 Mk1* with mis-matched bolt but full wood and, as far as I can tell, un-bubbafied. The serial # is in the 27C**** range. What has me curious is the unmatching magazine is a 22 marked Long Branch mag with a .303 follower. I have heard rumours of Long Branch parts being installed in Savage Enfields after Savage ceased production. Can any of the brain trust of this forum shed some light on this anomoly?

Information

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[Brian Dick]

It's a C No.7Mk.1 .22 trainer magazine case with a regular .303 follower installed. The trainer magazine had a special single loading ramp follower with a hole at the rear for the spent cases to fall into the case. Other than that and the 22 marking, the mags are identical.

[Stigmata]

It's a C No.7Mk.1 .22 trainer magazine case with a regular .303 follower installed. The trainer magazine had a special single loading ramp follower with a hole at the rear for the spent cases to fall into the case. Other than that and the 22 marking, the mags are identical.

Thanks Brian Dick. Do you suppose this was done at the Long Branch amoury or slapped together post war with parts on-hand by a civilian? I haven't been able to find any other instances of this configuration.

[Peter Laidler]

Just someone post war making the best use of a spare ex .22" magazine case to complete an otherwise finished No4

[Stigmata]

Just someone post war making the best use of a spare ex .22" magazine case to complete an otherwise finished No4

That's what I had suspected. I'm in the process of stripping the rifle down for restoration. I love this site!!!

[breakeyp]

There is a fellow at the Michigan shows selling .22 marked No.4 cases with normal No.4 followers installed. I will ask him next time I see him if he put them together or they came that way.

[Stigmata]

There is a fellow at the Michigan shows selling .22 marked No.4 cases with normal No.4 followers installed. I will ask him next time I see him if he put them together or they came that way.

That would be great breakeyp. I'd like to put the rifle back to original military configuration (or as close to its last war-time configuration). Besides the wierd mag and mis-matched bolt it looks pretty original.

[Peter Laidler]

If you are refitting the bolt just make sure that yoiu read - and read again - the short article about bolt fitting as it's a bit more complex that you might think

[Stigmata]

Update!!!

Thanks to Brian Dick for his response. I should have included a photo of the follower in my original post. This would have settled my query once and for all. It is indeed a Long Branch C No.7 .22 mag with the .22 follower. My bad. Thanks to all for their input. Now I need to find a C No.7 to use the magazine in...

[SpikeDD]

Brian most likely has the correct marked magazine and follower for sale. He may also have the correct buttstock for a savage as well. The buttstock currently on your rifle is of British manufacture.