22LB mag in a 1942 Savage No4 Mk1*

[Stigmata]

Folks,

I have acquired a run-of-the-mill 1942 Savage No4 Mk1* with mis-matched bolt but full wood and, as far as I can tell, un-bubbafied. The serial # is in the 27C**** range. What has me curious is the unmatching magazine is a 22 marked Long Branch mag with a .303 follower. I have heard rumours of Long Branch parts being installed in Savage Enfields after Savage ceased production. Can any of the brain trust of this forum shed some light on this anomoly?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Brian Dick]

It's a C No.7Mk.1 .22 trainer magazine case with a regular .303 follower installed. The trainer magazine had a special single loading ramp follower with a hole at the rear for the spent cases to fall into the case. Other than that and the 22 marking, the mags are identical.

[Stigmata]

It's a C No.7Mk.1 .22 trainer magazine case with a regular .303 follower installed. The trainer magazine had a special single loading ramp follower with a hole at the rear for the spent cases to fall into the case. Other than that and the 22 marking, the mags are identical.

Thanks Brian Dick. Do you suppose this was done at the Long Branch amoury or slapped together post war with parts on-hand by a civilian? I haven't been able to find any other instances of this configuration.

[stencollector]

It's a C No.7Mk.1 .22 trainer magazine case with a regular .303 follower installed. The trainer magazine had a special single loading ramp follower with a hole at the rear for the spent cases to fall into the case. Other than that and the 22 marking, the mags are identical.

Not exactly the same. The mags manufactured/modified for the Cno7 have the front ears cut back so the ramp fits up between them. I'm not certain the Cno7 mag bodies will work if the platform is changed to .303. I also note a slight difference in the rear right ear, but it could just be a manufacturer's difference.

[Peter Laidler]

Just someone post war making the best use of a spare ex .22" magazine case to complete an otherwise finished No4

[Stigmata]

Just someone post war making the best use of a spare ex .22" magazine case to complete an otherwise finished No4

That's what I had suspected. I'm in the process of stripping the rifle down for restoration. I love this site!!!

[breakeyp]

There is a fellow at the Michigan shows selling .22 marked No.4 cases with normal No.4 followers installed. I will ask him next time I see him if he put them together or they came that way.

[Stigmata]

There is a fellow at the Michigan shows selling .22 marked No.4 cases with normal No.4 followers installed. I will ask him next time I see him if he put them together or they came that way.

That would be great breakeyp. I'd like to put the rifle back to original military configuration (or as close to its last war-time configuration). Besides the wierd mag and mis-matched bolt it looks pretty original.

[breakeyp]

There is a fellow at the Michigan shows selling .22 marked No.4 cases with normal No.4 followers installed. I will ask him next time I see him if he put them together or they came that way.

I was able to talk with the man selling .22 No.4 magazine cases with .303 followers/spring at a show today. He confirmed that he bought the cases without followers and added the followers from another source.

[Stigmata]

I was able to talk with the man selling .22 No.4 magazine cases with .303 followers/spring at a show today. He confirmed that he bought the cases without followers and added the followers from another source.

Thanks breakeyp. I wonder where the .22 followers went.