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I'm looking information about a Savage. Stamped No. 4 Mk I* on the side of the receiver along with the Square S and the with US Bomb stamp (S also stamped on front sight.) However, it is not stamped US PROPERTY, instead, Parker-Hale is stamped on the front of the receiver. Stamps are all on the same piece of steel. No date stamped anywhere. I thought someone might know what I have. SN is 87C2697 which is the same SN stamped on the bolt.
Thanks,
MB
[ATTACH]Attachment 122929[/ATTACH]
Savages made in '41 and '42 were dated. Not after that. The rifle passed through Parker Hale's hands at some time. Maybe when it was sold of as surplus. Many rifles had the US PROPERTY mark removed.
You may be very well correct. I have another No.4 Savage with S stamped in three or four places and stamped US PROPERTY. The one I'm referring to does not look like US PROPERTY was removed. The receiver is in excellent condition. If US PROPERTY was removed wouldn't there be signs of the removal on the receiver?
It may just be a shadow or part of the factory original machining, but if you look at the second photo at full size there is a visible vertical line, or 'ledge' at the end of the flat surface that usually bears the 'US Property' stamp, level with the back end of the charger loading recess. It also corresponds with where the flat stops & starts to rise up into the charger bridge. I wonder if this could be up to where the miller that milled off the US marks ran? I would think it unlikely it was not marked (unless a Friday afternoon special - possible but unlikely), & also unlikely that Britain or a Commonwealth government would have removed them. Perhaps P-H as part of a refurbishment & refinishing programme prior to civilian sale??
Just noticed that, whilst not in exactly the right place for the US mark, there is some evidence of the rifle body having been tickled up with a file at some point - visible just below the Parker Hale mark on the receiver ring. My speculation, I know, but if the markings were linished or milled off there may have been a sharp edge or burr there, where the angled wall butts up to the back of the receiver ring...
PS Tiriaq,
I am going to advertise this rifle on Gunpost.ca...Would I be calling it a Savage No.4 be a misrepresentation? I certainly do not want to advertise a rifle as being something that it is not.
Thanks,
MB
It is a Savage made No. 4.
Savage No. 4’s can be found dated 1943 on the receiver or wristQuote:
Originally Posted by tiriaq
Yes Roger, I see what you are referring to.
Thanks for your help. I'm safe calling it a Savage No.4?
---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:42 PM ----------
Thanks Tiriaq, You and Roger have been very helpful. Savage No.4 is going to be posted on Canpost.ca
Ejector screw appears to be missing.
Is it a 303 or a 308 seems its sporting an LB bolthead! the 308 does not have the ejector screw in the action but rather on the mag AFAIK.
Here's the site and the sale he speaks of. Savage No. 4 Mk I* .303 Lee-Enfield | GUNPOST
Should still be plugged with the screw - my guess is this one's had a P-H match sight fitted in the past and the vendor has taken it off and sold it separately, along with its attachment screws.
Some countrys did a better job at removing the old serial number than others. For example, Russia did a lot of re-numbering and force-matching on Mosins and SKS's. Some are really obvious where the original serial was ground off, others not so easily seen, especially if the whole gun had to be refinished. It's often easy to see on Russian SKS trigger guards and just in front of the bolt handle on Russian Mosin bolts. One thing to look for is a slight indentation where the original serial should be.