Noob with a Lee Enfield- Help!

[LuvNH]

Good afternoon all. Just received a L/E. I’ve been pouring through this site looking for help identifying the marks. I attached several pictures to help. It appears that it it a Savage, but the L A on the receiver has me stumped. As well as the other marks.

Also, to what extent should I go to clean this? Obviously I’m not going to do anything abrasive, but should I disassemble and thoroughly clean to minimize corrosion? I hear there should be marks under the barrel, but I’m a bit nervous about marring it during disassembly.

I did read the cleaning section and Murphys Oil Soap was my first instinct.

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[can14&]

Find correct size screw drivers for the screws and some penetration oil,good to go
It appears that this savage rifle has some long branch parts in it along with proper savage
LA plus the number, could be a rack number. The wrist has the rifle serial number.
The bolt number and barrel number should match it, in a perfect world
50/50 ammonia and hot water in a spray bottle will lift the oil out of the wood. 100% ammonia will do it quicker. But it will affect the bluing. Dry the gun add oil where bluing and wood meet
Take you time, fine steel wool /WD40 will clean metal
Then you will have a better idea of the rifle condition

[LuvNH]

Thanks for the help. Guess I’ll go for it.

Any idea what the numbers on the bolt side & head mean? The “5” on the upper band?

[Alan de Enfield]

Thanks for the help. Guess I’ll go for it.

Any idea what the numbers on the bolt side & head mean? The “5” on the upper band?

The 5 is a square S (S for Savage), all of the manufactured parts should have had it originally, but during its life many parts can be replaced and the armourers aere not overconcerned about collectos 80 years later wanting 'all matching parts'. The deciding factor was "will this part get it back out into srvice" It didn't matter is it was a UK produced part, a Canadian part or a UK part/ If it fitted it was installed.

For some reason the original Serial number has been ground off (you can see the grinder marks on the LH side of the butt-socket) and some other number stamped into it.
Is there a cross bolt thru the forend an inch / inch & half in front of the magazine ?

[LuvNH]

No bolt. I did notice the side was ground off. I didn’t think I would get a pristine piece. I don’t mind at all what I have. Finding out what pieces are here is interesting, like mapping out where it has been.

[Alan de Enfield]

No bolt. I did notice the side was ground off. I didn’t think I would get a pristine piece. I don’t mind at all what I have. Finding out what pieces are here is interesting, like mapping out where it has been.

The SM on the rear sight is 'Singer manufacturing' (of Singer sewing machine fame) a UK manufacturer of parts for the No4

[LuvNH]

The SM on the rear sight is 'Singer manufacturing' (of Singer sewing machine fame) a UK manufacturer of parts for the No4

Oh that’s very cool. Thanks for that. The “P” and the “X” on the bolt head? I read somewhere on this site the arrow was an acceptance stamp. By whom I do not remember.

[Surpmil]

Being a MkI rather than a MkI* as with early production Long Branches,makes it a more interesting piece to many people. Great pity the original serial number was ground off. I don't know off hand what serial number block Savage was on when they changed to the MkI*, but someone here probably does.

No chance of finding the bolt?

The massive removal of wood on the handguard compared to where the line indicates it roughly would have been originally is rather striking!

[LuvNH]

Being a MkI rather than a MkI* as with early production Long Branches,makes it a more interesting piece to many people. Great pity the original serial number was ground off. I don't know off hand what serial number block Savage was on when they changed to the MkI*, but someone here probably does.

No chance of finding the bolt?

The massive removal of wood on the handguard compared to where the line indicates it roughly would have been originally is rather striking!

Finding the original bolt?

I don’t see the removal of wood you are talking about. Noob, sorry.

So if i understand correctly, the Mk* production line was a changeover from the Mk1? I didn’t understand that completely. Also, is it strange that there are no markings whatsoever on the wood? After I clean it I may find some, but nothing yet.

[Surpmil]

Finding the original bolt? Yes

I don’t see the removal of wood you are talking about. Noob, sorry. The original profile would have been about where the line in the photo is.

So if i understand correctly, the Mk* production line was a changeover from the Mk1? I didn’t understand that completely. Also, is it strange that there are no markings whatsoever on the wood? After I clean it I may find some, but nothing yet.

MkI is like your rifle: bolt head release via the catch and slot behind the charger bridge. MkI* which Savage and Long Branch introduced later, eliminated catch and just had a slot in rib that the bolt head runs in close to the closed position of the bolt; it was NOT a good idea.