+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 22

Thread: Salvaging my Savage No4 Mk1/3 (F)

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    dseder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    01-06-2017 @ 09:31 AM
    Location
    DACULA
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:13 AM

    Salvaging my Savage No4 Mk1/3 (F)

    Well, hopefully not too destroyed. I want to bring some respect back to this girl -correcting some things her previous owner did.

    First - just your standard Savage No4 Mk 1/3, stock cut back and some interesting "modifications". From this angle, she doesn't look too bad.



    First, it appears that the barrel has been cut behind the bayonet lugs. I'm fine with that, I believe I should be able to remove this atrocity of a front site and put the original back on. I'm unfamiliar with using solder - is this a type that I can carefully remove with a propane torch? Or definitely a gunsmith in order?



    Biggest question/concern, is the bolt head slot - I'm not sure if it has had material removed, or if it wore this way. In some instances the bolt head will bind on this. When I replaced the bolt with another, it seemed to run a lot better. Maybe just get a new bolt head and polish what is there? Could material be added to build this back up?



    And just for your entertainment - he even modified the magazine. Obviously this can be replaced



    Thanks again for your wisdom!
    Don
    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.

  2. # ADS
    Friends and Sponsors
    Join Date
    October 2006
    Location
    Milsurps.Com
    Posts
    All Threads
    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

  3. #2
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    dseder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    01-06-2017 @ 09:31 AM
    Location
    DACULA
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:13 AM
    Thread Starter
    I ran across Alan Enfield's post about the Savage and Long Branch having a chamfered bolt head due to this space. It looks like I have the wrong bolt head first of all, so I need to replace this. I don't see a number on the actual bolt head - does this mean it is a "0"? Is there a way to measure these with a micrometer?

  4. Avoid Ads - Become a Contributing Member - Click HERE
  5. #3
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Seaspriter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Last On
    09-23-2019 @ 02:42 PM
    Location
    Naples, Florida USA
    Posts
    718
    Real Name
    R. Porter Lynch
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    03:13 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by dseder View Post
    Biggest question/concern, is the bolt head slot - I'm not sure if it has had material removed, or if it wore this way
    I compared the bolt head slot on your pic with my FTR Savage Mk1/3 (F). It appears there has been some material removed just rear of the slot. There was a thread about a year ago on this problem where a chip from the slot had caused binding. IIRC, the solution suggested was to weld a small bead then grind it down to original specs.

    Good luck with the front sight. Did Bubba cut the barrel down too, or is it original length? It looks like the poor imitation of a Parker Hale sight was brazed on, not silver soldered. Brazing is a far higher temperature, closer to welding. I will leave it to the more informed members as to whether you should reheat the muzzle to remove it (possibly warping the barrel) or cut it off and grind the remnants.

    Good luck

  6. #4
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:13 AM
    Without putting too fine a point on it, the body and barrel of your rifle are finished, knackered, kaput, dead......... The bolt head guide slot is far too far gone to be built up - as is the barrel. I know everyone means well, but you'll need more than good luck. You need a miracle.

  7. The Following 5 Members Say Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


  8. #5
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    dseder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    01-06-2017 @ 09:31 AM
    Location
    DACULA
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:13 AM
    Thread Starter
    When I hear "you'll need a miracle" I hear a new challenge (But I do recognize your experience and know that you are correct)

    I did drag out my all original Savage No4 MkI* and sure enough the bolt head was chamfered. It worked beautifully in the action with no binds. With the bolt head in the position to the rear of the slot, the bolt stayed on track nicely. I'm going to get the correct bolt head for this rifle and just baby it until/if it becomes totally irreparable.

    Given the state of this barrel - would you all shun me if I played around and made it a "tanker" version?

    Anyone like me to send them the magazine for their museum/collection?

  9. #6
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    martins8589's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Last On
    03-12-2024 @ 07:57 PM
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    127
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    06:13 PM
    AA "Tanker" version sounds like a great project for the rifle.

  10. #7
    Legacy Member vintage hunter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Last On
    @
    Location
    S.C.
    Age
    56
    Posts
    1,680
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    03:13 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by dseder View Post
    I'm going to get the correct bolt head for this rifle
    Just chamfer the one you have now with a needle file. There's more to swapping bolt heads than just screwing one off and another on.

  11. Thank You to vintage hunter For This Useful Post:


  12. #8
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    Seaspriter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Last On
    09-23-2019 @ 02:42 PM
    Location
    Naples, Florida USA
    Posts
    718
    Real Name
    R. Porter Lynch
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    03:13 AM
    Quote Originally Posted by dseder View Post
    would you all shun me if I played around and made it a "tanker" version?
    When you've got lemons, make lemonade! Turn this baby into something you can appreciate and is your personal work of art. My "doomed LB sniper reborn" resulted in having a left-over shortened barrel and a messed up receiver that had been attached to the donor barrel. I will be building a tanker carbine out of the remnants. The finished product will be a better result than a pile of parts.

  13. #9
    FREE MEMBER
    NO Posting or PM's Allowed
    dseder's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last On
    01-06-2017 @ 09:31 AM
    Location
    DACULA
    Posts
    20
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    02:13 AM
    Thread Starter
    Quote Originally Posted by vintage hunter View Post
    Just chamfer the one you have now with a needle file. There's more to swapping bolt heads than just screwing one off and another on.
    I was studying that tonight - I think I can at least try - if it get's mucked up then at least I'm in the same boat, right?

    ---------- Post added at 11:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------

    I was envying that LB sniper - awesome and really enjoyable thread! I look forward to seeing you post your tanker carbine!

  14. #10
    Advisory Panel
    Peter Laidler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last On
    03-24-2024 @ 09:52 AM
    Location
    Abingdon, Oxfordshire. The home of MG Cars
    Posts
    16,507
    Real Name
    Peter Laidler
    Local Date
    03-29-2024
    Local Time
    09:13 AM
    The strange thing about this chamfered bolthead thing is that it doesn't seem to feature in any of our official literature and to be truly honest, I'd never even heard of it until I came onto this forum! You'd have thought that the bible would have pointed it out or the modification instructions might have or the parts list in relation to Ml1* or 1/3 rifles etc etc. But no...., nothing! We could and regularly did repair chipped boltway guides but yours has gone beyond any salvation. Just my opinion of course, based on nothing more than limited experience over a couple of years............... And a chamfered bolthead ain't going to repair it - or make it better either!

  15. Thank You to Peter Laidler For This Useful Post:


+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Value of a Savage No.4 never used
    By RTCB18 in forum Milsurps General Discussion Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-25-2013, 04:10 AM
  2. Savage .303 No4 Mk1*
    By Jacques No4 mk1* in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 08-17-2013, 11:07 PM
  3. Savage No4 MK1*
    By SVT-40 in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 05-20-2013, 12:49 AM
  4. ? on Savage No4 Mk1.
    By nashorn in forum The Lee Enfield Knowledge Library Collectors Forum
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 03-27-2012, 04:33 PM
  5. Salvaging & Reloading 30-06 Blanks
    By CarlC in forum Ammunition and Reloading for Old Milsurps
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 07-03-2009, 10:22 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Raven Rocks