Savage No.4 Mk.I* Restoration

[m4a3sherman]

Hi All,

Many years ago, perhaps at my first or second Tulsa, my brother and I picked up a pile of Enfield barreled actions; among them a few Indian SMLE variants and a No.4 Mk.I* by Savage. All of them are/were a little threadbare, finish-wise, but otherwise sound. And in a box they sat for many years until this summer, when I got the urge to do a build. So long story short, I am working restoring this No.4. Full disclosure No.4's aren't my favorite Enfield types, but I have always liked these Lend-Lease Savages. At any rate, combing through all the spares we had collectively, it turns out I can put this together as an all-Savage build without needing to source too many parts (see my WTB post about that Savage Forearm I still need ) as opposed to my original inclination to do a post-war rebuild.

So now I have come to the forums seeking the collective wisdom of the group; I have questions!

For what its worth, this is a 1942 date, Serial 28C86XX

First and foremost- Metal Finish. From what I have read, J Stevens (under Savage) did these just like they did the Thompson SMG- Dilute Black oxide receiver, normal bluing everything else, and all with a matte media blasted preparation. I haven't seen any substantiated reports of other correct finishes, such a higher polished blue for an original factory finish, but I would love more information here and/or pictures of original finishes to work towards. I will be reblueing this example(I don't rush to the reblueing tank with milsurps there is barely any finish left as it is).

Next, Buttplate. From what I have seen, the zumak zinc allow plate is correct on all of these. Any variations I should be aware of?

Accessories. I have managed to locate and buy an action cover, but I would like to find out more about slings- are there Savage marked ones out there? Muzzle covers of any kind?

I understand that once these entered service they were kitted out with whatever was around but I am attempted to go for a pure savage build, right down to the sling.

Thanks for any help you can all provide. If there is interest, I can provide pictures as this project crawls along.
Cheers

[Daan Kemp]

Slings usually issued by the QM from the pile available in the store. Doubt if Savage would be into making rifle slings too?
Action and muzzle covers would be WWI I believe and for No 1 rifles.

[m4a3sherman]

Slings usually issued by the QM from the pile available in the store. Doubt if Savage would be into making rifle slings too?
Action and muzzle covers would be WWI I believe and for No 1 rifles.

Hi Daan, I actually already secured an action cover. I am told this is one made by (or atleast contracted by) Savage. Here is the pic off the ebay listing from when I bought it:



I have heard you can find this marking on other canvas goods, but I haven't really found many photos of other similarly marked gear.

[Daan Kemp]

Well done. So a Savage sling might not be that impossible.

[Alan de Enfield]

Did your barreled action come with a numbers matching bolt ?

With Lee Enfields the parts are not 'plug & play' (even woodwork off another 'identical' rifle will probably need work to fit correctly)
A bolt from another rifle will almost definitely need work doing (grinding etc) to ensure a proper fit so that the locking lugs engage properly.

[m4a3sherman]

Hi Alan- It did NOT come with a matching numbers bolt, but I'm fortunate to have a brother with far too many Enfield parts (though not quite enough Savage parts for me to avoid tracking a few down) AND headspace gauges. We are both aware of the need to make sure swapped bolt/action parts gauged properly. After trying a few bolt heads, we landed on a set that passes the headspace gauges, so safety isn't an issue there. And re: other parts needing fitting, I definitely have experience in that area and I expect (a kind of hope!) to need to fit some things here and there. I think that's part of the charm in rebuilding these old rifles. Mass produced and interchangeable, yes, but you still need to hand fit!

Well done. So a Savage sling might not be that impossible.

Fingers crossed! It may still be a little out of the ordinary, even if there are Savage made slings (and frogs?? I have a Savage bayonet, but what about those fittings too! ) to have encountered an all-Savage rifle in the field. No idea how these were shipped but if it was like most period rifles I have seen, it was slathered in grease stacked in crates- not kitted out with webgear. Still.... if they made those accessories, that would be goal!

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

You could look for a junkmetal buttplate marked "ILCO" which I think is Illinois Lock Company. A Victory Plastics (New Hampshire) scabbard/frog combo would be nice. Don't know about the sling.

[m4a3sherman]

Thanks for the excellent close up there on the buttplate, Steve! Now I have a lead. That's a very cool scabbard and frog; currently my bayonet is riding around in a very nice but un-maker-marked stamped scabbard with the usual metal button for the frog. Yours is a totally different configuration and very interesting. Something else for me to keep an eye out for.

Thanks!

[Alan de Enfield]

After trying a few bolt heads, we landed on a set that passes the headspace gauges, so safety isn't an issue there. And re: other parts needing fitting, I definitely have experience in that area and I expect (a kind of hope!) to need to fit some things here and there.

It is pointless setting the headspace before grinding the locking lugs, as, when you do 'hand fit' the locking lugs it will affect the headspace.

As important as headspace is bolt head under / overturn, so need to ensure that the bolt head clocks correctly, and THEN ensure it meets headspace specs.

[m4a3sherman]

Hi Alan; All is good on this rifle/bolt/bolt head. Bolt head does not over-rotate/indexes properly. Locking lugs engage properly and all appears good to go with the gauges. My brother who I had fit the bolt has been doing it a while, so I feel pretty good about it.