Strange serial Number for a Savage

I've just been doing some record keeping on my arsenal and I noticed that my first ever restoration project has a serial number that makes no sense to me. Long story short, it was a long neglected hunting rifle rusted and burnt after the house fire, which I fixed. It has the classic Savage US Property stamp, some Long Branch parts, a Surrey stamp on the barrel indicating sale to Canada from the UK as a minimally modified sporter, and the SN AL 30643.

I can find no reference to anything similar that could be on a Savage produced No 4. Could the "L" be Long Branch use of old Savage receivers late in the war. Or is it a Shirley SN?
I'm stumped.

Maybe a Paki or Indian rebuild? The font reminds me of the one used for the new serials on some of my Indian actions.

Well the first 3 is backwards, so it wasn't the most competent stamping. I don't see any sign of a previous SN being scrubbed though.

*Correction - it's a 2 not a backwards 3. The Serial Number is AL 20643.

I found a reference to AL prefix possibly being an Indian Army SN. Or is it a Fazakerly using a Savage receiver?

The AL means "Armee Luxembourg" - if you find a GL it means "Gendarmerie Luxembourg". For me it is the first No. 4 i see with this stamp mark. Till now I only saw the No. 1 Mk. III and the Webley Mk. VI with it.

Thanks Melanee! That's an unexpected result. So I assume the Luxembourg army acquired the rifle after the war and re-numbered it?

The first SMLE I ever bought as a seventeen year old bore an AL (AL18299, a EFD 1918 MkIII*) prefix number on the butt socket below the safety. This was in addition to the original serial number, not replacing it. I have seen lots like this as well as a few No4's, though far fewer No4's than No1's. Most have been AL prefixes but a couple have been, IIRC G or GL. I am sure Melanie is correct about similar prefixes potentially indicating use by Luxembourg, but I'm pretty sure the Indians used a similar numbering system - IIRC PL once mentioned it to me. TBH I wasn't overly interested at the time.......should have paid more attention! I think the prefix letters related to geographical areas within the Indian state, or military units within same states/regions.

I have seen sufficiently many that I find it hard to believe that they are all Luxembourg issue.....

Thanks Roger, I've seen reference to this too. I'm uncertain since the examples that I've seen photos for, all seem to show a replacement SN, which mine isn't. Also, the font and format are quite different.

The ones I've seen which I took to be Indian were in addition to the original serial. They were all fairly untidily stamped, which sort of seemed consistent with being Indian, judging by past experience.

Does Melanie, or anyone else, know, if Luxembourg used the AL/GL prefixed numbers as well as, or as a replacement of, the original serials?

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=33307

Here is the thread where Mr. Laidler fairly confidently asserts that it is an Indian Princely State Force marking, and that it has also been found on Thompsons and Stens from India.

Hi Will, that is the thread I found. The first pic of a re-numbered Long Branch does have a similar font. I've just been looking at my other Savage, a 1942 version and the stamp is fairly faint - which raises the possibility it was scrubbed without looking too obvious.

Attachment 112061Update - The application of some oblique lighting has revealed that my Savage WAS scrubbed before getting its AL serial number - wherever that occurred. I can see a 5 as the first digit, and possible another digit on the second line (3?) - maybe the date.

Thanks for the link. Yes, that'll be it, & the thread ties up nicely with what little I can remember of what Peter told me.....!

Am I the only one a bit bothered by a restoration of a house fire rifle?

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Originally Posted by limpetmine

Am I the only one a bit bothered by a restoration of a house fire rifle?

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It's case by case for me. If that post fire picture is before it was cleaned up, then I wouldn't be very worried as the wood wasn't even scorched in some places. If the springs were toast and the wood charred I'd definitely be stamping it DP if I did it back up though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by limpetmine

Am I the only one a bit bothered by a restoration of a house fire rifle?

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No need to fear - it's not and never will be a shooter again. Would I be justified in stamping DP on it?
It wasn't the fire so much as the lying in a pool of water for months that damaged it. There is some heavy pitting on it, but I think in a pinch I'd be happy firing it. But I won't - it's not worth the risk. It also has a lot of sentimental value so I won't be parting with it any time soon.

Well, whaddyaknow, another AL rifle has come to my attention today, this one a more typical Long Branch. This one has 2 lines of serial number - neither of which looks like the LB original.