Savage made No4 Mk1

[elvis3006]

I have two beautiful Savage made No4 Mk1 rifles in excellent condition, almost looks as though they were never issued. What is the story with these rifles ? I mean my two examples have no import marks or any other foreign markings on them, just the factory applied marks. Is it possible that these rifles were never issued or left North America ?

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[Brian Dick]

I doubt that's the case but could be wrong. Savage produced the most No.4 rifles of all the wartime manufacturers. I'd guess they were culled from service and imported prior to 1968.

[breakeyp]

I know of one that left the factory and remained in the US. Mine was purchased by Robert Rubendunst from a plant employee with all accessories. I never asked the circumstances of the purchase. One was sold awhile back with cardboard box.

[Brian Dick]

I still have one Savage No.4 Mk.1* that's minty with an obscure serial number stamped on. I'm suspicious it was a "lunch box" rifle. I imported one several years ago from Canada that was new in the factory carton. The bolt was in it's own little cardboard carton too. I'd heard a batch of those turned up north of the border and it wasn't just a one off. I also imported a few from New Zealand in near new condition many years ago. There were also a few of Long Branch manufacture from NZ that had obviously never been used much if at all. There were many Savage rifles imported from South African stores by Interarms in the late 80's. The majority were post war Fazakerley but there were original wartime rifles of all manufactures, FTR Mk.1 and 1* plus Mk.1/2, 1/3 and even very early factory original Mk.2's. I had 33 Savages in one lot of a couple hundred No.4's I purchased from a distributor here in South Carolina back in the early 90's. There were even a dozen Savage Mk.1 rifles in that lot. I kept one of those, a 6Cxxxx I think. It's not minty but honest and original. Some of the Mk.1* Savages were near new condition except for handling marks in the woodwork. The good old days. So many lovely No.4 rifles to choose from.

[BruceHMX]

Brian do you remember the Savage I called you about a few months back. Rifle is 71C serial range and also appeared unissued until I shot it and keyholes everything. No import marks or ENGLAND stamped so not a clue where it came from. Kept it as part of the collection because it is so nice but man I wish it would shoot as nice as it looks. I cannot remember why you said this rifle may group like this? I have even tried oversized cast bullets.

[Brian Dick]

Keyholing sometimes occurs if you're using boat tail Mk.8 projectiles in a barrel that has a worn leade/throat from a steady diet of cordite Mk.7. Try some flat base bullets if that's the case to see if accuracy improves. If that doesn't work, ask Dave at Sarco if he can sell you a good barrel and I can install it for you properly.

[André]

My Savage Mk I* marked "U.S. PROPERTY" was built in 1943. However, it was FTR'd in 1953 and got a new stock (center bedded) and barrel. The stock bears no other stampings than a "F53" under the grip. Maybe these rifles were lately FTR'd and never reissued ?

[Stanforth]

Brian do you remember the Savage I called you about a few months back. Rifle is 71C serial range and also appeared unissued until I shot it and keyholes everything. No import marks or ENGLAND stamped so not a clue where it came from. Kept it as part of the collection because it is so nice but man I wish it would shoot as nice as it looks. I cannot remember why you said this rifle may group like this? I have even tried oversized cast bullets.

I have a Savage MK1*. Not like new but good, 2 groove barrel and is one of the most acquarate that I own even with boat tail bullets. The only rifle that I own that will beat it is my Envoy but I put that down to the quality of the sights..

[Peter Laidler]

Andre, you can take it from me that your rifle was not centre bedded as part of its FTR in 1953. Somebody has got at it to make it shoot a bit worse than it should for some reason

[Brian Dick]

You took the words from my fingers Peter!