No4 mk1 or no4 mk* for Savage no4s. When was the changover please?

[ssj]

I have mislaid my book but Im looking at some poorish pictures of a no4 Savage for sale with no * but its 1942 and 6Cxxxx. So Im assuming they missed stamping the *? when it was made. Ive asked for more pics....

Information

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[Kiwi]

I''ve owned two 11C prefix no.4 mk1 (no *) savage rifles (one with a 2 groove barrel and the other a very nice 6 groove). I recall reading they made at least 100k no.4 mk1 (no* ) rifles.

[Alan de Enfield]

Although I have no evidence - have read that the change was around the 11C - 12C serial numbers. (about 120,000th rifle)

[lee_enfield223]

please be aware that all the books that I have seen are wrong (not trying to upset anybody) but here's proof that the cutout point is after or about 158,000 please see the picture of my sportco 7.62 conversion and no the number is original just look at the finish ,I bought this rifle as a bubbered target rifle quite a few years ago and had a load of savage timber on hand plus a few minor bits so I converted it back as close as I could to it's original configuration, hopefully this picture may add a bit more knowledge to the pool

[Roger Payne]

I suspect that changeover period was somewhat 'blurred' anyway, as there would have been several production lines going at any one time, & I believe there is probably considerable overlap. I'm sure there are others that have studied the serials in detail & can better comment (my interest is mainly only in so far as serials relate to No4 T conversions), but I suspect we're looking at a 'transitional phase' of somewhere around 11C to 15C.

ATB.

[Alan de Enfield]

...............but I suspect we're looking at a 'transitional phase' of somewhere around 11C to 15C.
..............
ATB.

I have a 13C which is a Mk1*, but anything is possible.

[Roger Payne]

I've owned 12, 13, & 14C Mk1* rifles converted to 4T, yet the photo above appears to show a 15C that is a Mk1. I assume there were several production lines each allocated blocks of serials, in which case overlaps would be likely. But perhaps a forummer out there has made a study of Savage serials?? If so I'd be keen know & to learn more......

ATB.

[tlvaughn]

Based on data I have been collecting on Savage No4 rifles, the earliest No4 MkI* rifle I have seen to date is 12C7223. As stated by Roger, there was an overlap in the changeover from MkI to MkI*, I have seen MkI rifles in the 13C, 15C, 17C, and 22C blocks and even have two in my personal collection in the 54C block (one was converted to a MkI/2).

Based on data I have collected so far, it looks like the conversion started in early to mid 1942 starting with the 12C block. This would put the number of MkI's at approx. 120,000 rifles or approx. 10% of the Savage No4 production.

[ssj]

Hi, I have been doing some digging on the Internet (still cant find my book) and the overlap does indeed seem blurred.

NB not so much the book but the notes I have inside it, bugger if I have lost it.



---------- Post added at 10:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:01 AM ----------

Comment I came across,

"One Savage #4 MKI, serial number 17C5233, 1942 date, has turned up"

Way higher than I thought!

[lee_enfield223]

Wow a 220,000. as a few guys have said and I think are correct maybe there were a few production lines and maybe even some unfinished receivers floating around that were thrown in at a later date , I have seen this done before at an auto parts factory where I worked for 23 years as a toolmaker/fitter and turner I saw old parts reworked after 10 years and slipped back into the shipping crates ready for sale, so these had old date stampings but were still brand new.