Savage S/N question

[CaptSimon]

Hello,

I recently took the plunge and bought a savage No4 MKI* for a restoration project. Besides the fact its been sporterized, ive run into an odd issue. Its supposed to be all matching however the S/N on the reciever is 78CXXXX but the S/N on the bolt is 78XXXX without the C. I was wondering if anyone has seen this on a savage before or is it some really odd force-match.
Some answers would be helpful

Bernard

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.

[Peter Laidler]

I would say that if your rifle chs's correctly and using the bolt fitting guide, the bolt fits and bears correctly and is set-up coprrectly, then I'd say that the bolt has been replaced by someone who knopws what he's doing although it might not be original. And don't forget, the actual serial number is 781234. The C, like the L or the T is just an indicator. In the real world of the Armourers shop, this is what it'd be numbered.

Also in the real world of an Infantry unit, the chance of getting THAT bolt mixed up with another rifle with the number 781234 is so unreal as to be, well........

Just my 2c's worth

[Mikesm44]

Once Savage got over one million rifles they incorporated the "C" for the Chicopee Falls plant. Typically the “C” appears ahead of the last 4 numbers. For example rifle one million would be numbered 0C00000 and the next would be 0C00001 and so on. I cannot answer you completely on why the bolt does not have the "C". My Savage has the same serial on both parts. Does the bolt bear any other marks? If it has a savage "S" anywhere on it, I'd guess they were matched as Peter Laidler said. It would seem very unlikely to just happen to pick up a bolt with the same number sans the "C".

[Brian Dick]

All Savage No.4 rifles incorporate the "C" in the serial number. Starting in 1941 with 0C1.

[Brit plumber]

All Savage No.4 rifles incorporate the "C" in the serial number. Starting in 1941 with 0C1.

That's what I believe, I looked at No4 Mk1 No 0C48 but it had been messed with so didn't bother. Had it been the 1,000,048 th rifle it would have been a Mk1*.

[CaptSimon]

Hello,

Thanks for the information so far. I checked the bolt body and the only mark I found was the number 12 under the bolt handle. The cocking piece is marked S and the bolt head has the no. 2 mark only. Here is a pic of the bolt handle.

[Peter Laidler]

It's had a replacement bolt that's for sure as you can see from the badly filed out previous serial number. We used to have a whole trayfull of bolts that we'd use. Just so long as it is fitted up correctly (see article), is correctly matched to and CHS's up with the rifle that's all an Armourer would concern himself with

[CaptSimon]

Peter,

Thank you for the information. I believe the bolt was fitted properly since its definitely been used based on wear pattern and i performed a single shot function test and the brass came out perfect, no tearing and no deformation. The bolt even still has some cosmo in it and so does the trigger group (im gonna start a new working thread). I'm surprised someone went to the effort at all to force match it.

Bernard Simon

[Peter Laidler]

What do you mean 'force match' Believe me, you won't force anything....... And your idea of correct fitting is a little, well.............., anyway. I suggest that you read up a short article about how bolts are fitted when they're renewed or replaced. I might be sounding a bit facetious but I don't recall firing a round and looking at the spent case being a feature. Look, read and do it proiperly is my advice. If it'd done right, it don't matter what it looks like

CVan someone who's a tad computer literate resurrect the bolt fitting article for Capt Simon. I think he needs to read up

[jessehh]

Both of my No4 4's have mismatched bolts but by following Mr. Laidlers article I was able to see that both bolts work for the rifle that they were mated with. Thank you sir for the article. I follow it as best I can when looking at Enfields and doing a pre purchase inspection.