No4T pads

[Surpmil]

Amazing what turns up at times. Old photo but notice the RSAF(E) inspection stamp.

[Roger Payne]

Rob,
Would I be right in suspecting that that rifle (still) lives in Canada, with a forum member, or are there two (or more?) Savage T's in existence with EFD examiner marked front pads?!

[Surpmil]

You've got me there; I've not sure where I got that photo now! Do you have reason to believe it is an original fitting to a Savage rifle? That would be quite a revelation wouldn't it? I assumed it was just slapped on by someone. How many trials "T"s did Mr. Whittaker strip to build his target rifles?

[Roger Payne]

Hi Rob,
A well known Canadian forum member owns a Savage T that bears an EFD marked front pad - whether it has always been on there I'm not sure, but he bought the rifle from an old gent we both know in BC (elderly Brit from Kent but who has lived your side of the pond for a number of decades), who certainly believed it to be genuine. I really couldn't say with any confidence one way or the other, but who knows?

No idea on the number of W Specials he made, but I salvaged the last four 4T bodies that Geoff Hart had, & rebuilt them all to original military trim. Incidentally, one of those was a '31 Trials.

[Lee Enfield]

You've got me there; I've not sure where I got that photo now! Do you have reason to believe it is an original fitting to a Savage rifle? That would be quite a revelation wouldn't it? I assumed it was just slapped on by someone. How many trials "T"s did Mr. Whittaker strip to build his target rifles?

My whitaker is not a former sniper. The one purchased in Calgary this spring by a friend of mine is a former sniper...

[Strangely Brown]

My whitaker is not a former sniper.

Could I have the serial number for the Whitaker Special register please, assuming I don't already have it??

[Lee Enfield]

Could I have the serial number for the Whitaker Special register please, assuming I don't already have it??

I believe we discussed it a few years ago.

[Surpmil]

Yes, Roger I know who you mean; it's a privilege to know him too, a true craftsman among other greater things.

As I read your post I realized that it could be an early H&H rifle fitted with a pad made at Enfield in late 1941 or early(?) 1942, rather than an Savage rifle converted at Enfield. Left over stock at Enfield would have naturally been sent wherever the next conversions were done, whether that was BSA (the missing 100?) or H&H.

On the other hand, would Enfield have put an inspection stamp on an incomplete (spigot unmachined?) pad? It would seem rather odd to inspect and pass an item that was missing some of its critical surfaces wouldn't it? It seems the sort of mark much more likely to have been put on after the pad was fitted to the rifle body and machined, and that would suggest a rifle converted at Enfield.

[Roger Payne]

Agree with you 100% Rob - an interesting conundrum for much speculation.
And yes, when I said he is a gent, I meant he is a gentleman. He still phones me every couple of months or so for a natter, though has largely hung up his spurs these days, due to advancing years & an awareness of his own mortality!

[Strangely Brown]

I believe we discussed it a few years ago.

In that case I have it!