LE No.4 - Latest Acquisition

Picked this up recently at a pretty fair price. It looks to be a refurb of some sort but there are some questions about it. The bolt (#3 head) is scrubbed so no serial number. I can't find any FTR markings under the suncorite. Which manufacturer used the "C" in the serial numbering? The date of 1942 is stamped above the serial number. I believe the "star" stamp on the knoxform denotes a rusty barrel, or do I have that wrong?
It has a very nice 5 groove bore that has no pitting but was pretty filthy before I got to work on it. It also has a nice walnut stock though I'd bet it wasn't original to the rifle. So, look at the pics and any input or observations are more than welcome.

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Originally Posted by lawrence_n

Which manufacturer used the "C" in the serial numbering? The date of 1942 is stamped above the serial number.

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It is an early US built Savage as it is a Mk1 rather than the 'wartime expedient' Mk1*

The 12 or 13 prefix was towards then end of the MK1 models as around 120,000 were built and 1,000,000 Mk1* were built

If yours is a 53 prefix and if it is a Mk1 it is a bit of a questionable oddity, throw in the fact it doesn't have the US Lend Lease ownership marks give me some concens as to what it might be.
I am pretty sure that Savage did not restart making Mk1s after building almost 500,000 Mk1*

This is the second Savage I seen recently with the Mk4 rear sight fitted with the MK3 sight leaf. Savage generally used the MK1 sight and later the MK2. The other one turned out to be a 'put-together' bitsa with components from India, USA and the UK

An un-numbered (scrubbed) bolt is certainly a civilian fitted item - it is important that only bolts properly fitted and matched to the rifle are used with that rifle - hence the bolt is numbered to the rifle. It would never have left service with an un-matched bolt.

Can you post pictures of any and all other markings on the metalwork and the woodwork ?

Looks to me like a Brit No.4 Mk I that acquired a Savage serial number somewhere along the way. The SN is too sloppy and deeply struck to be factory original.

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Originally Posted by Alan de Enfield

It is an early US built Savage as it is a Mk1 rather than the 'wartime expedient' Mk1*

The 12 or 13 prefix was towards then end of the MK1 models as around 120,000 were built and 1,000,000 Mk1* were built

If yours is a 53 prefix and if it is a Mk1 it is a bit of a questionable oddity, throw in the fact it doesn't have the US Lend Lease ownership marks give me some concens as to what it might be.
I am pretty sure that Savage did not restart making Mk1s after building almost 500,000 Mk1*

This is the second Savage I seen recently with the Mk4 rear sight fitted with the MK3 sight leaf. Savage generally used the MK1 sight and later the MK2. The other one turned out to be a 'put-together' bitsa with components from India, USA and the UK

An un-numbered (scrubbed) bolt is certainly a civilian fitted item - it is important that only bolts properly fitted and matched to the rifle are used with that rifle - hence the bolt is numbered to the rifle. It would never have left service with an un-matched bolt.

Can you post pictures of any and all other markings on the metalwork and the woodwork ?

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Under the safety is a poorly struck "H B" or maybe a crows foot and then the B. Under the serial number is a very faint "II60583" or the "II" could also be an "H". Under that it looks like A A with the second A poorly struck. There are no other stamps or marks on the receiver that I can see unless they're covered by the suncorite. The serial number on the bolt has definitely been ground off but it looks like it was done when the bolt was refinished since the patina is exactly the same on all the metal work. The butt stock, though walnut, is Canadian and I can't see any other stamps on the exterior of the wood. If I take it apart I'll probably find more stamps on the wood.

It looks like a BSA 1942 to me. As Husk says it has acquired a Savage range serial number at some point. If it bears AA somewhere on the butt socket that may indicate Indian use at some time.

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Originally Posted by husk

The SN is too sloppy and deeply struck to be factory original.

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Which leaves the question what happened to the original number. And possible Savage markings.

If you look carefully at the photo of the butt socket, it looks like a 'B' above the date of 1942. If that is indeed the case those markings are typical for BSA at that time (1941, 1942, & into early 1943). What is more of a mystery is how it acquired its Savage serial number. I suspect the poorly visible numbers & letter also on the butt socket are what is left of the original serial (H prefix???). The two capital letter 'A' 's are likely indicative of Indian use, & it is only a WAG but I would not be surprised if the rifle acquired the new serial whilst in Indian service, maybe from a condemned rifle - perhaps because the original serial of this rifle was so difficult to make out. Only speculation, but I've seen it before. However, one thing I am pretty sure of; that is not a Savage produced rifle.