I recently purchased a Savage No4 Mk1*, manufactured some time between late 43 and early 44. Receiver, magazine, bolt, and stock numbers matching. Looked to be a fine rifle at the gun show. I cleaned it up, took it out to the range, and put about 60 rounds through it over the course of several hours. I could barely hold 12 inches off a rest. Took it home and broke it all down again; I had missed a split in the forearm, just ahead of the receiver ring. Split runs vertically down the middle, all the way through to the rear of the trigger guard inlet, and the only thing holding it together is the plate pinned at the back of the forearm. I'm guessing this is my main issue, there could be others.
My question: is it time to just go ahead and replace the stock, or can this be glued and clamped back together (seems to me this is an awful place for a crack to form)? My rifle isn't exceptionally valuable, but it is a piece of history. I'm guessing whoever owned this before me shot it once or twice, and tossed it in the back of the safe, convinced it was a piece of crap. I'm more stubborn. I know it's a good rifle, the barrel looks ok, just a touch of minor pitting and not so bright, but the rifling stands proud. I'd like this to be a decent range gun, and maybe even an occasional deer rifle, while preserving the history as much as humanly possible. Advice please.
