Savage Wood???????

[HRA466]

I have a Savage No. 4 MK1*, all matching. SN is 60C4996. Grooved handguard. All wood marked "S," and color matches. This wood doesn't look like walnut to me. I had a friend who is an experienced woodworker and rifle collector look at it and he feels very strongly that it isn't walnut. It has a reddish tint but is lighter. It looks like the coloring was the result of a stain possibly. It looks like the wood on the two Savage's pictured in this forum though which also doesn't look like walnut to me.

Is there any evidence or knowledge that Savage used something other than walnut or should my friend and I take Botany 100 again????????

Also, anyone know when this rifle was made?????

Thanks for your patience.

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.

[jona]

Savage No. 4s were stocked in birch. The early ones were stained walnut, the later ones left natural. When treated with linseed oil, the wood turns a reddish orange color.

[tlvaughn]

"Also, anyone know when this rifle was made?????"

1943

[Amatikulu]

It was made late in 1943. 60C7797 is the highest recorded serial number for 1943 according to a survey on the internet.

[HRA466]

You guys are incredible. Thanks for putting up with a novice's questions. I appreciate it. Interesting stuff.

[tlvaughn]

Amatikulu

I need to get some additional info from you so I can update my notes. I have a note that the 1943 Savage production went from 40C to 80C or 81C. I have one with S/N 70C87XX that I listed as a 1943 in my inventory book. Based on the info you provided, it is actually a 1944.

Any links or additional info you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

[Amatikulu]

This link is my source

http://forums.gunboards.com/showthread.php?t=735

the summary is:
0C1 - 1941 MKI lowest # 1941 date
0C2804 - 1941 MKI highest # 1941 date

0C3870 - 1942 MKI lowest # 1942 date
13C2752 - 1942 MKI highest MKI # 1942 date

13C2845 - 1942 MKI* lowest MKI* # 1942 date


36C1916 - 1942 MKI* highest MKI* # 1942 date

38C2632 - 1943 lowest MKI* # 1943 date
60C7797 - 1943 highest MKI* # 1943 date

51C7693 - no date lowest MKI* # with no date
0C63110 - no date highest MKI* # with no date

I may have misinterpreted the data above as 60C7797 could be the highest "dated" with 1943 rifle. After that rifles were no longer dated but may have still been made in 1943

[Amatikulu]

I have been collecting serial number information off the internet for a while and host the information on this web site:

http://home.earthlink.net/~smithkaia...sts/index.html

The information is simply that of an observer and not from independent research. However, the patterns are pretty clear and if you go to the No.4 data, under savage you will see I have reported 1943 rifles at a higher serial number than shown on gunboards

[tlvaughn]

Great information, I appreciate you sharing it.

[bearhunter]

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here.

I'm under the impression that many wartime production rifles were stocked with timber from Long Branch suppliers and maybe others. I have seen Long Branch rifles with Savage marked stocks and different British No4s as well with both Long Branch and Savage marked wood and even metal parts.

Given wartime difficulties in obtaining parts and given that the three countries procucing the rifles were held to agreed upon specs, I don't think it would be practical to expect them not to mix and match the furniture or hardware.