Savage No.4 Mk.I* Restoration

[m4a3sherman]

Hi Alan- It did NOT come with a matching numbers bolt, but I'm fortunate to have a brother with far too many Enfield parts (though not quite enough Savage parts for me to avoid tracking a few down) AND headspace gauges. We are both aware of the need to make sure swapped bolt/action parts gauged properly. After trying a few bolt heads, we landed on a set that passes the headspace gauges, so safety isn't an issue there. And re: other parts needing fitting, I definitely have experience in that area and I expect (a kind of hope!) to need to fit some things here and there. I think that's part of the charm in rebuilding these old rifles. Mass produced and interchangeable, yes, but you still need to hand fit!

Well done. So a Savage sling might not be that impossible.

Fingers crossed! It may still be a little out of the ordinary, even if there are Savage made slings (and frogs?? I have a Savage bayonet, but what about those fittings too! ) to have encountered an all-Savage rifle in the field. No idea how these were shipped but if it was like most period rifles I have seen, it was slathered in grease stacked in crates- not kitted out with webgear. Still.... if they made those accessories, that would be goal!

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[Alan de Enfield]

After trying a few bolt heads, we landed on a set that passes the headspace gauges, so safety isn't an issue there. And re: other parts needing fitting, I definitely have experience in that area and I expect (a kind of hope!) to need to fit some things here and there.

It is pointless setting the headspace before grinding the locking lugs, as, when you do 'hand fit' the locking lugs it will affect the headspace.

As important as headspace is bolt head under / overturn, so need to ensure that the bolt head clocks correctly, and THEN ensure it meets headspace specs.

[m4a3sherman]

Hi Alan; All is good on this rifle/bolt/bolt head. Bolt head does not over-rotate/indexes properly. Locking lugs engage properly and all appears good to go with the gauges. My brother who I had fit the bolt has been doing it a while, so I feel pretty good about it.