A Couple of Interesting Savage Rifles

The first three pictures are of a recently acquired 1942 Savage No4 MkI*.

As you can see, it is clearly marked "No4 MkI*"
Attachment 32414

The first Savage No4 MkI* I have recorded is in the 12C block. As you can see, this is a 19C block and falls in line with MkI* production.
Attachment 32415

However, as you can see from this picture, it has the push button bolt head release found on MkI rifles, not the slot you would expect to see on a MkI* rifle.
Attachment 32416

Like many of you I have seen the Maltby No4 MkI rifles stamped No4 MkI*, but this is the first Savage No4 MkI I have seen stamped No4 MkI*.




The next one I purchased in July 2011.

This is a 1942 Savage No4 MkI.
Attachment 32417

In the 54C Block.
Attachment 32418

As stated above, Savage converted over to the MkI* in the 12C block. I have seen MkI's in the 13C, 15C, 17C, and 22C blocks, but this is the first one I have seen in the 54C block.

I found both of these rifles interesting and thought I would share a few pictures.

A similar event occurs in Bren production, especially during the distinctly identifiable early Mk1 Brens, Some of these Brens which should be within the A to D (and on to the F serial number range for the intermediates...) serial number ranges have been seen into the H and L serial number prefixes. This is due to some defective but repairable bodies being diverted to a rectification (or hospital) bay where they were rectified by highly skilled fitters instead of being scrapped. One of these guns, an H prefix is clearly an early 1940 era gun and even has the letter A stamped after the number, indicating that non interchangeable parts have been fitted.

Not saying that's the reason why your early Mk1 guns are marked Mk1* but just one reason that might be

I have one of the Maltby No4 MkI rifles stamped No4 MkI*. I'd sure love to have that Savage to go with it.