Tripping Over (T)'s - Savage Less Telescope

[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&

[Lee Enfield]

... snip... Still with the six-groove Savage barrel (is 7C a little late for six-groove?).

...snip...

You scored, my 5Cxxxx is a 1945 dated British 5 groove replacement barrel.

[Gil Boyd]

Martin,
Absolutely right there. It could be that this rifle too did not need staking which means it was simply worked on later in its life. It is by the very nature of the beast that the front pads saw more activity by armourers than the rear, so in short this rifle looks prestine and a good find.

[Brian Dick]

If it doesn't have a scope serial number stamped on the top of the wrist, I'd guess it's exactly as it left H&H as a "less telescope" rifle. I've seen them with the Savage barrel replaced with a British five groove barrel like LE's and also with the forends replaced with British walnut. All were numbered and matching as they left H&H. I don't think I've ever seen the screws staked on a "less telescope" Savage Mk.1/1*T. I have seen them staked on Savage No.4T rifles that were finished and had seen service.

[martin08]

Correct. There are no scope numbers in the wood.

[Brian Dick]

You can get a little bottle of Chestnut Ridge military stock stain which will blend the rear handguard in but that's all it needs if you're concerned with cosmetics. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

[Peter Laidler]

A no telescope No4T is a bog standard rifle so far as we were concerned. The same as a taxi without a sign is a standard car! We would never see a no-telescope rifle in service so there'd be no need for it to pass through an Armourers shop. Hence no staked pads.

In the real world of the Army, and Armourers in working Armourers shops, the rifle is repaired with what is available - just as your has been repaired in its life with off-the-shelf-parts. Who did it and when will never be known.

[RobD]

Very photogenic rifle!
Is the wrist on this Savage more slender than a British No.4?
The usual No. 4 seems to me to look and feel a bit thicker at the wrist, compared to the No 1 and especially compared to the long Lee; this Savage looks as nice as a long Lee.

[martin08]

So, with the two needed Savage parts already in my possession and staring me in the face, in a monumental moment of weakness I succumbed to the urge to swap the rear band and handguard...

... dang, that's a good looking gun. A perfect color match, as well.

[martin08]

I don't often shoot my collectibles, but this one was too tempting.

I picked up a repro bracket from Numrich, and mounted a Weaver K2.5-1 scope which was sitting on my shelf. Sighting through the bore and scope looked very promising. So, I set targets at 25, 50 and 75 yards and worked my way out. All shots made paper. The last group of three shots had two shots touching in the bullseye, and one at ten o'clock in the 8-ring. As soon as the beaver bog freezes, I'll set up at 200 yards, really take my time, and see what this gun can do. So far, it is awesome.

For collimation, I will give the machining of the Numrich mounting bracket a big thumbs-up. My shooting? Need some practice, but O.K.

Below is the Savage on the bench, with '64 dated surplus .303, and followed by a pic of the adjustments for the final three groups at 75 yards.