First No.4 MK1* 1942 - questions!

[mzjett]

Hey all, I've enjoyed reading this forum, and many of my questions have been answered. This is a great resource. I am hoping you can help explain something regarding my No.4. as seen in the pics below.

What would the significance of the polish be? It appears to be nickle or chrome (for lack of a better description). I have not seen any other No.4's with so much polish. The clip, bolt and rifle all bear the same serial #, each of the other pieces bears the square S. I'm just wondering. I recieved this as an inheritance and have fallen in love with it as I do the research and discover new things about it as NO documentation accompanied it. I have yet to take it to a firing range to test it out.

I do need help with one more item - the rear sight. Someone put a scope base and removed the sight. I would like to replace the base with an original sight and need help locating one. Any advice would be great!

Information

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[tiriaq]

You will not be able to replace the original sight - the lugs on which a sight would mount have been removed. Replacing the lugs would be a major restoration involving welding. The Weaver base was installed using holes which have been drilled and tapped in the receiver. Undoing this work is also major restoration. I suspect that someone wanted an accented two tone rifle, and had the parts plated.
Enjoy the rifle. Mount a scope on it - you will need to use "Tip Off" style rings.

[mzjett]

Thanks, that helps a great deal. A scope it is. Thanks again - as I would not have known where to begin in looking for a scope, etc.

[Badger]

I've seen chromed parts on rifles that have been used as cermonial "honor guard" pieces. Often in veterans associations and legions etc...

Regards,
Badger

[tiriaq]

Those Weaver bases use .22 rings. Get quality ones, cheapo aluminum ones might not resist .303 recoil very well. Note that there are little recoil shoulders at the front of the base dovetail - the front ring should be up against these.

[limpetmine]

Survey of Long Branch #4 serial number ranges - Gunboard's Forums

Please consider placing you rifle serial number and year in the data base. Your rifle is a very early 1942, probably a 2l or 3l if I had to guess. Thanks,
limpetmine

[Lee Enfield]

Survey of Long Branch #4 serial number ranges - Gunboard's Forums

Please consider placing you rifle serial number and year in the data base. Your rifle is a very early 1942, probably a 2l or 3l if I had to guess. Thanks,
limpetmine

The "US Property" marking on the top of the receiver rail indicates that this is a Savage No4MkI*