Savage .303 No4 Mk1*

[Jacques No4 mk1*]

Hi guys i have recently inherited a Savage .303 No4Mk1* rifle from my Great Grandad. The problem is no one really knows ( that is still alive ) where he got the rifle from. My guess would be the South African millitary. I have searched the web and came up short. The serial nuber is 15cXXXX with the number 42 stamped below it. im guessing thats the year it was made. the firing pin also differs from all the pictures i see on the web as to where the standard No4Mk1*has a sort of long flat metal piece mine has a round one at the back.

Any help would be welcome.

Kind Regards.

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.

[Ridolpho]

Jacques: the rounded (button) cocking piece you're describing was the early version on No.4 Rifles. You should try to upload some photos- look at the "sticky thread" 3 up from the bottom. If you can save images to your hard-drive you can upload them very easily. Get shots of the left cheek, left side of action, and any other markings you can find. You'll get lots of feedback from the experts here.

Ridolpho

[EO1]

My good friend who is from SA also has a Savage with button cocking piece. I cant remember where he said got it there. I do recall that he said the Govt made Enfields and ammo available for purchase by individuals. Of course this was way before your country was given away to the ANC.

[Jacques No4 mk1*]

I have not checked the barrel yet

Kind Regards
Jacques

[Jacques No4 mk1*]

Left Shoulder. Im guesing the 42 is the year

Kind Regards
Jacques

[Tom in N.J.]

It read "1942" before the hole was drilled.

[ssj]

parker hale ph5 range sights and no safety....might shoot very well...

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

The arrow within a U is a South African property stamp. The rear target sight was actually made for a Lee-Enfield No.1 and this rifle has been modified to make it fit which does affect it's collector value. It's still a nice rifle to have and I hope you enjoy it. The only item I have to remember my Grandfather is a pair of pliers he stole from IBM when he retired in 1973.

[Jacques No4 mk1*]

Thanks for the Info. Yeah i found out that my grandad modified the sights and the saftey works too. it was passed on from my great grandad to my grandad who then used it for target shooting. The fact that it reduces the value has no effect on me tho. Its a Family rifle and ill still shoot game with it.

Kind Regards
Jacques

[ssj]

That's the spirit!

My biggest interest is targetshooting, hence why Ive started to take an interest in Enfields in NZ they have a huge history. What I am seeing its lots of un-loved obsolete ex-target guns. Rather sad for something so well looked after at one stage to now be almost discards so i think its great you want it and to keep using it. I can see me collecting such old target guns and pulling them out on short range days and having fun with them just as they were intended for. I certainly intend to shoot a no4 up to 600 yds from now on....

regards