rare 1931 #4 trials rifle non-sniper

[RJW NZ]

And the Fultons no1 mk3 remains forlornly on its shelf, tempting me ...

[Garandrew]

Ive seen that in person, but am not familiar with them. I was searching for Dispersals.

[miketv]

I know that particular rifle, it's changed hands approximately twice over the last 22 years. Buy the rifle not the story.

[RJW NZ]

I wasn't aware there was a story, interesting ...
I'm just daydreaming though, I really wanted it because I'd never seen one with the top strap/springs set up that hadn't been later modified, but a few months back that gap in the safe was fixed, so I like to look the pictures over and I'd love to visit the store, but its not the incurable itch that it was.

[Garandrew]

For you to visit...its in New Hampshire, about 1 hour outside Boston, Mass...it takes me 2 hours from CT...youre in NZ?

[Warren]

This rifle surfaced several years ago and was on the block for some time. The story is the same that it came from the estate of personnel from the Savage plant. Nice to see it back in circulation.

[limpetmine]

Miketv, good to see you here. Haven't seen you around the boards in a while.
Everyone, Mike is a good guy. He helped me refurb a No1MkV back in the day.

[Badger]

Welcome Mike ...

Thanks for helping out limpetmine ... he does need help ... ....

Regards,
Doug

[jmoore]

Oddly, I think some additional value come from the fact that it WASN'T converted into a scoped rifle. Nice to see there's at least one floating about in reasonably "as manufactured but used" condition.

[Surpmil]

Well, that is a museum piece.

It's actually one of only 57 Model C trials rifles made acc. to IDS.

I had one of these and have since passed it on to a friend who has restored it (it had been made into a 7.62mm target rifle by Fultons.) Interestingly the SN was in the A195- range, so it doesn't look as though a block of numbers was set aside for these.

Note the aluminum alloy buttplate and the sling swivel on the guard (the swivel is missing but the 'eye' is there)

That and the regular No4 backsight plunger showing that the area had been milled out to accomodate it. Interesting that this one appears to be refinished after that cut was made, whereas mine was not.

How interesting that the relief cut for the backsight battle aperture is the same as that used on the Long Branch MkI backsights. Obviously the inspiration for same.

It would have made sense to send this type out to Savage (and presumably Long Branch) when they were tooling up for production, rather than the "B" type Salter mentions, with the non-standard backsight etc.