Mystery bracket

[Neuraleanus]

Just acquired this Savage N0 4, Mk 1*:
[IMG][/IMG]

Can anyone identify the added bracket:

[IMG][/IMG]

Possibly for a scope. This rifle has the Mk II sight as well.

From the serial number it looks to be a 1944 vintage.

[rgg_7]

A non military modification. Bases for "scope claw mounts" have been added. Is the rifle sporterized or full military configuration? Very difficult to find a set of scope rings that will fit. Ron (Canada).

[Neuraleanus]

The rifle is not sporterized. All military except for the added bracket. Any idea who the manufacturer may be? It would be nice to mount a scope.

[rgg_7]

Anybody's guess as to who did the work. If you know rifles history that would be a good start. Does the previous Owner have the scope and rings? There's quite an offset to get a scope over the centerline of the bore most likely the scope rings were custom made to match the bases. I would remove them and have the holes plugged and install a Mk1 micrometer ladder sight and go shooting. The 300/600ytd battle sight does not offer any adjustment so I'd improve on this feature. Ron (Canada)

[Neuraleanus]

Anybody's guess as to who did the work. If you know rifles history that would be a good start. Does the previous Owner have the scope and rings? There's quite an offset to get a scope over the centerline of the bore most likely the scope rings were custom made to match the bases. I would remove them and have the holes plugged and install a Mk1 micrometer ladder sight and go shooting. The 300/600ytd battle sight does not offer any adjustment so I'd improve on this feature. Ron (Canada)

Assuming that I could acquire the parts I would like to know how it all went together. The offset is a bit strange looking. But, the bore is excellent so the rifle should be a good shooter. I could replace the Mk II sight, but that is the way Savage rifles came, so I might leave that alone. Maybe add a Parker-Hale sight. Simpson has some.

[Roger Payne]

It will be an over bore claw mount type set up. The Germans used it very commonly, & many of their WW1 Gewehr 98 sniper's rifles used such a system. The rear leg (ring) had a swan neck curve in it, & that is why the rear base sits to the side of the receiver. If you look at the P'14 sniper's rifle mounts, whilst not identical by any means, they are of a similar general configuration in that the rear base is offset onto the receiver side wall whilst the front base sits on the receiver ring. It will be hard to find a scope that fits as whilst a common general system, they are nearly all just a little different from each other!

[rgg_7]

Parker Hale 5C was meant for the No4. Easy install. Performs well - no need to change front sight. The side base will need to come off to mount the 5C. Ron (Canada)

[browningautorifle]

Assuming that I could acquire the parts I would like to know how it all went together.

You're looking for a Mannlicher-Schoenauer scope mount. Here's a link and a few pics of what one with single claw would look like. You can make your own base for the rear... https://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/fo...pe-mount-build

[Neuraleanus]

Mannlicher, Austrian, on an English rifle, Hmm. I'm going to do something simpler and mount a Parker Hale sight. It has been ordered.

[Surpmil]

I'd suggest you leave well enough alone for now. The rifle would need to be welded and completely refinished to remove all traces of those mounts, (assuming the receiver ring wasn't machined to fit the front base), and you gain nothing by doing so.

If the bases are properly set up a lot of work went into getting them there and after you remove them all you have is a well-worn Savage No.4 with extra holes in it. Not worth much.

If the scope was an ex-Gew98 unit, or just believed to be one, it might have been found to have more value than the rifle when the Internet opened many eyes and made a world-wide market for such things.

The first step would be to try to trace back the ownership and locate the scope. If the trail is cold, make up a drawing of the base distances and dimensions and look around the Net for a scope and rings or just rings.

As Roger has said that arrangement of rings and bases is typical for the 1910-1939 era, plus or minus some years.