Assistance request on Savage/Stevens No.4 Mk 1*, please

[82Trooper]

Good evening.
Tonight's project is (I believe) a 1943 Savage/Stevens "US Property" No. 4 Mk1. Simply trying to verify what I have. I am mostly curious about the "BB" or "LB" marking on the receiver wrist socket (under the serial number) and the various markings on the bolt.

Any information anyone can offer would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Mike

[Bindi2]

You have a No4 Mk1*
The bolt serial# does not match the rifle serial#.
The bolt head has a flaming bomb proof. The M is the type of steel use in the bolt head.
The bolt appears to be British by the codes and the bolt head is a 0 which is the smallest made. If you are going to shoot it check the headspace. It must be between .064 and .074 not under or over. To tight is just as bad as to loose. Rim thickness varies. Also check the contact on the lugs both must touch fully.
If you reload your own use a Lee neck collet die, don't FLS until you really have to the chambers are not SAMMI spec they are British military spec. Over worked brass does not end well.
Cant help with the B stamps.

[Alan de Enfield]

The B stamp certainly (to me) looks like the Long Branch (L superimposed over the B) marking. There are many stories about Savage supplying parts to LB.
Are there any LB markings on any other components (barrel) ?

The original bolt has been 'lost' and a civilian has just 'put in a bolt to fill the hole' If it had been fitted by a military armourer it would have been numbered to match the body.

The reason that Lee Enfield bolts are numbered to the rifle is that they are not interchangable, each bolt is 'fitted' (work done) to each individual rifle. You should not fire it until you have checked out that both the headspace is correct and you have proper contact on all four locking lugs (2 on the bolt and 2 on the body)

[tj214]

If you're not already familiar with the headspace issue, check Headspace 101 for .303's in the Milsurps Knowledge Library (https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...101-for-.303-s).

[Sapper740]

The "C" in the rifle's serial number is for Savage's Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts plant so I'm not sure why your rifle also has the LB stamp. Might have passed through Long Branch for an FR at some point? The cocking piece was made by Singer and appears to be a fifth variation since it lacks the 'step' of earlier versions if I'm seeing it correctly. Anyone else see that?

[browningautorifle]

The B stamp certainly (to me) looks like the Long Branch (L superimposed over the B) marking. There are many stories about Savage supplying parts to LB.

I'm not sure why your rifle also has the LB stamp.

I don't think that looks at all like the Long Branch stylized "LB"... How about this instead? I've actually seen this explained several places.

"Once Savage rifles were received in Britain they were inspected them and marked them with a B beneath the serial numbers on the butt socket to indicate the British standard of inspection and a "pass" based on same."

[Alan de Enfield]

I don't think that looks at all like the Long Branch stylized "LB"... How about this instead? I've actually seen this explained several places.

"Once Savage rifles were received in Britain they were inspected them and marked them with a B beneath the serial numbers on the butt socket to indicate the British standard of inspection and a "pass" based on same."

You may well be correct, but I have not seen a B that looks like that - certainly neither of the Bs on my Savages look like that.

I was going by the fact there looks to be a seperate 'leg' just below the bottom of the B.

Looking again - I don't even think it could be a double-stamped B as there is no similar 'double line' at the top edge of the B.

[Roger Payne]

It just depends on how the operator was holding the letter stamp at the time.
I'm sure I've seen it (B) before & if I had to bet I wouldn't put my money on it being the combined LB. I have no idea for certain what it is, but my money would be on an inspector's/acceptance stamp of some sort as has been previously suggested.

The bolt body looks to be UK (likely Maltby) & the bolt head also, bearing the distinctive stylised M of Maltby. I see the mark/ding that has been interpreted as a flaming bomb US ordnance mark on it, adjacent to the M, but I don't think that is what it is; maybe some sort of examiner's mark ill stamped, &/or bashed at some point. Savage made No4 bolt heads usually bear a prominent squared off S on the top flat. I think if the bolt head had been SMLE the letter would indeed likely refer to the grade of steel used in its manufacture, but AFAIK that had stopped by the time the No4 went into production.

Just my tuppence........would appreciate further opinions, as would the OP, I'm sure!

[Brian Dick]

I've seen many Savage rifles sporting the "B" stamp on the left side of the butt socket. The stamp obviously bounced on that one. It's not a Long Branch marking. I think that the explanation by BAR makes a lot of sense. The problem is that I have a new condition New Zealand owned Savage No.4 and it also has the "B" marking. I have a couple from South Africa, one also like new, and they don't have it. The two Savage No.4T conversions, (Mk.1 and Mk.1*), I have don't have it either so to me it still remains a mystery.

[browningautorifle]

The problem is that I have a new condition New Zealand owned Savage No.4 and it also has the "B" marking.

Remember the huge combined workshops Peter Laidler described to us? He said that all overseas rifles went into these and then rifles would be reissued on a basis of one to one, regardless of where they started. That was how mixed manufacturers came to be in various possessions.