Age of my rifle ?

[gunner]

Hello to all,

Today i picked up an LE No4 MK I* Mfg at Savage Arms. In difference to my other LE from Savage is no date on this rifle. Is it possible to find out how old it is ? Here is the serial number 0C26XXX.

Any help is welcome.

Regards,

Gunner

Information

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[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Most later Savage rifles have no date stamp. Yours was made in 1944 according to the info in Stratton's book.

[gunner]

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your effords ! I think it will be a good investment to buy Stratton`s book.

Best regards,

Gunner

[Peter Laidler]

I submitted a short article on the old Jouster forum about these serial numbers from info we had at Warminster. It's not handy but its along the lines that when the US serial numbers got to 99C9999, the numbering recommenced again at 0C 00001........ going from a four figure suffix number to a five figure suffix number. I seem to recall that the very HIGH range of Savage production was 0C 38286.

Does anyone have a higher number than 0C38286 or thereabouts

[gunner]

Hello Mr. Laidler,

excuse me for having a question that you heard a thousand times. The No. 4 should have a little pressure under the barrel at the forend. But there are some different opinions of this pressure. One is 2-3 pds. and the other is 3-4pds. . Is there an exactly weight or depends the weight on condition of wood (shrinking by the age ) ore something else?

Thank you in advance.

Regards,

Gunner

[Peter Laidler]

Right, here is the exact loading, taken from the Armourers bible, the EMER's
The weigh at unit workshop level must be between 3 and 10 pounds
At Field and Base workshop, it must be between 3 and 7 pounds
Sniper rifles must be between 3 and 7 pounds at all levels.

The barrel should bear evenly along the 2" or so raised portion and there must be a clearance of at least .020" along the sides of the barrel. Under no circumstances must the No4 barrel touch the handguard

[gunner]

Hello Mr. Laidler,

Thank you very much for your detailed data`s. So i`ll try it with different layers of cork this week on our shooting range.

Best regards,

Gunner

[Peter Laidler]

I've got a better idea. If it's (as it appears to be) lower than 3 pounds loading, carefully scrape wood from the reinforce of the fore-end. This will bring the muzzle lower into the fore-end and the accumulative error factor will come into play and you'll find that removing just a few .0001"/thous or a gnats knacker or a RCH for you wild colonials will soon bring the barrel to bear with the correct weight.

My old boss, WO2 Jock Annandale, used to swear that he could SEE the accuracy of rifles improve as he refitted the fore-ends properly

[gunner]

Thank you Mr. Laidler. I`ll try this and send some pics how it groups bevor and after.

Best regards,

Gunner