Tripping Over (T)'s - Savage Less Telescope

[martin08]

I stumbled across my fourth Sniper in four month's time today at a local shop. I bought the Enfield Trials Rifle from a private sale in September, watched the other Trials Rifle do crazy money at Poulin's Auction in October, passed on a put-together rebuild BSA at my local shop in November, and took home my Savage (T) Less Telescope today.

It's not perfect. The rear handguard and rear band are not original. The rest is splendid. Non-import marked. Still with the six-groove Savage barrel (is 7C a little late for six-groove?).

Many pics. Enjoy, and thanks for looking.

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.

[RobD]

A beauty. So nice to see the Savage blued finish instead of the usual British suncorite...

[bigduke6]

A beauty. So nice to see the Savage blued finish instead of the usual British suncorite...

Rob, Its a mix of Blued and Parkerized finish, the body has that green grey tint of Parkerizing....

[Beerhunter]

What a find. Well done. BTW, it's odd that with those post1954 Birmingham Proof marks that this one doesn't even have an "England" mark.

[martin08]

What a find. Well done. BTW, it's odd that with those post1954 Birmingham Proof marks that this one doesn't even have an "England" mark.

I was surprised to see that it had escaped this stamp, as well. Two, three, four looks around, and it still isn't there!

[Brian Dick]

Geoff, The bodies of Savage rifles were sandblasted giving the original Dulite blue finish the appearance of Parkerizing in contrast to the lightly polished barrel.

[bigduke6]

Geoff, The bodies of Savage rifles were sandblasted giving the original Dulite blue finish the appearance of Parkerizing in contrast to the lightly polished barrel.

Thanks Brian, always assumed they were parked....... understand the difference regarding the polished and sandblasted finish, ( perfect example in martin08's rifle) been experimenting recently with a cold black oxide kit I,ve had for some time and tweaked it a bit, when time permits will post results regarding the finish compared to parkerizing, two bits have been out in all weather's and are holding up.... just had a look on on the net regarding Du-lite, like the old saying "you learn something new every day".......

Nice rifle martin08, a " T " a month is good going......

[martin08]

Regarding the staking, and if I am researching correctly, it is probable that this gun never returned to the armory after the Holland and Holland alterations to receive the staking per the 1946 order? Or, perhaps did return but missed the application?

My '33 Enfield Trials Rifle also has no staking.

Now, some questions and seeking the brutally honest feedback. To preface, I am a collector of artifacts. I assume that the parts (bruises, scratches, grime) which accompany a specimen are present for the reason that they left service in that condition. I rarely even clean a gun beyond a cursory wipe down, light oil if needed, and only affect repairs if I plan on shooting. I have a climate controlled vault, so even light corrosion can be preserved without disturbing history....

... but if I look at my Savage sniper and see that the only glaring deficits are the non-Savage rear band and handguard, would the gun have left Holland and Holland with those parts attached? Could it have had alternate repair at another armory to replace those parts? Would it be sacrilege to swap them out?

A new rear handguard would not have the original penciled serial, and I would not introduce one.

I don't need to look very far for the needed furniture items. They are resting on the rack, right beside my Savage, and on my '33 Trials rifle.

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=53917&

[Surpmil]

A veritable time capsule. S51, but nothing else, so that marking arrived before the "T" and "TR"

Someone had a go at taking the front pad screws out and then thought better of it!

One little ding on the front pad to take off a needle file?

No ENGLAND stamp so brought in from another country for re-export? No pad staking a sign of early departure from UK service?

[Gil Boyd]

Pad screws unstaked was that typical of Savage?