Looking for gunsnith for repair needed to Savage No.4 Mk1*

[Brightonknight]

HI,

I have a project that I pulled from storage. Its a Savage No.4 Mk1* .303 Enfield, serial number range is 72Cxxxx. The picture below shows that it has some chipping on the bolt rail near the slot that the bolt head would be rotated out for bolt removal. Obviously with that chipping present, the bolt head will pop out at times and lend itself to more damage on the rail. Since there is the sentimental value attached to the weapon, I was looking to see if it can be fix.

First, does anyone know of a gunsmith who can repair the small chips missing in the rail and return it to spec.

Second, if a fix is available or I have to look towards the purchase of another No.4, is there a problem with the bolt/bolt head to look for that would cause the bolt head to jump out and damage the rail. I can see that the further upgrades to the No.4 change the location of the removal slot, possibly move up to the next revision of the No.4 and avoid an inherent problem.

I've included a few pictures below. The picture with the chipped rail is mine and the picture with the good rail is an internet stock photo, to show the difference.

Thanks, James

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]

You don't need a gunsmith, you need a good careful welder. There is a repair for that kind of damage. But in UK military life, it would be scrapped without thought as too far gone. But we did repair them if the rail was slightly chipped away. I detail the repair on a thread of a couple of years ago. Maybe someone could bring it up...... Make sure you take the details to the welder doing the job.

[Seaspriter]

Peter is Prolific
Here are some of his posts on Chipped Rails (go to top right hand corner search function, type: Chipped Rails Laidler and see what emerges)

https://www.milsurps.com/archive/ind...t-32461.html?s...
Having trouble closing the action on my No4 Mk1*, need advise ...
Worn/chipped portions of the rail can be carefully peened inward far ... Peter Laidler ... IF the bolt head is jumping out of the bolt head track on a Mk1* and the gap in the trackl guide is chipped, then there is ONLY one repair.
https://www.milsurps.com/archive/ind...t-52181.html?s...
Bolt head jumping track, wot, again? yup, fraid so [Archive] - Military ...
Peter Laidler ... When it does start to lift at the track opening, that's when it chips away ... I surmised the bolthead might have been swapped to fix another rifle, ... the bolt head coming off the rail meant you could not fire the rifle.
https://www.milsurps.com/archive/ind...t-36975.html?s...
No.4 bolt problem [Archive] - Military Surplus Collectors Forums
It's most likely the receiver rail. They can chip or wear on Mk.1* rifles which causes the problem. Some weld them up and recut with a good ...
https://www.milsurps.com/archive/ind...t-29890.html?s...
Bolt head jumping track, wot, again? yup, fraid so
Index of Peter Laidler's series of formal Knowledge Library articles and ... One this starts to cause chipping, you are in real trouble unless you get a new bolt ... Couple that with wear or damage to the receiver rail and bolt head, and ... It was quite easy and I detail the repair elsewhere if anyones interested.
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=36975&page=2