Savage No.4 (t)

[Surpmil]

You mean it's about as much use a tXXs on a fish?!?%

Farmed fish - let's not go there!

Interesting, I assume Fulton fitted it as part of the the regulation. I have no idea what is going on in the lower fore-stock as I don’t intend on taking it off at least until I’ve shot it, and even then not unless I have reason.

Thanks Surpmill, I will give that a try. You can make the numbers out a bit better in the flesh, they look like 8461, 9461 or 2461....

Additionally there is a chest with it which I am test to see and only found out about after agreeing to buy it , apparently it is “falling to bits” but who knows maybe a label survives..

Out of interest do we think the lower fore stock is original?

The wood has been varnished, and is now a trifle chipped in places, leaving dry patches. I personally don’t like varnished wood.

I assume the wood in service would have just been oiled as per normal and the varnish is a post service addition. Assuming that to be the case and given the varnish is comming away and exposing rather dry wood I would like to strip it back. However I done what to remove more of the markings, thoughts?

I'm not sure if one could tell whether the forend is original, but am guessing the butt is. Rifle serial number on the tenon of the butt?

Paint stripper is probably the least harm possible; scraping as little as possible.

[Micheal Doyne]

Butt is original, (as far as I can tell) SN on the tenon and as seen ghost of the scope number.

Has anyone done this, and if so what’s the probability of the markings improving?

[Roger Payne]

Michael, you can't say for sure if the forend is the one it left the Savage factory with for sure, as it could be a later replacement that also happened to be Savage made. However, my hunch is it may well be. If you remove the forend & have a look at the lightening cuts in the barrel channel, you will at least be able to tell for sure if it is Savage wood. It looks like birch, which is supportive, but also Savage machined the lightening cuts in a different way to all other manufacturers. In the photo the upper forend shows the typical appearance, & the lower the way Savage did it. I know your barrel channel has been opened out a bit, but I'm sure you will still be able to see which type it is.

And I would also get rid of the varnish & then treat with linseed. The Savage birch was stained at the factory with a characteristic orangey-brown stain, although if you play with some wood stain it isn't too difficult to reproduce it, or at least, pretty close. (The Savage forend shown in the photo has been through refurbishment & has lost its factory stained colour).

[Micheal Doyne]

Thanks for the info I shall take a look, and research the stain a bit, I have to admit I don’t know they stained the wood, always assumed they just oiled it.
I plan to do some reading before doing anything to the rifle.

[GeeRam]

Acetone is good for removing the varnish without doing any other damage.

[Micheal Doyne]

Acetone is good for removing the varnish without doing any other damage.

Thanks GeeRam, any would you expect it to damage the stain?

[Micheal Doyne]

Is any one aware of a good book/study of No4t savages?

[Micheal Doyne]

Hi all, I forgot to update this at the time but three weeks ago I took ownership of the rifle. Thanks for all you help regarding it’s purchase. The rifle is easily the most accurate .303 I own producing a ten round group slightly under three inches at three hundred yards with PPU and using the Hawkins position. I appreciate this is not a military configuration rifle, but I am surprised by its grouping none the less.

[Roger Payne]

Nice to see it has lived up to expectations.

[Badger]

With thanks to Advisory Panel member Lance, there's also a rare "all correct" 1942 No.4 Mk1*(T) Savage Sniper Rifle (less scope) (click here) .....

Lance's article, accompanied by a detailed 165 pic photo montage, speaks to this example as being one of approximately 3,400 Savage rifles converted by Holland and Holland and re-barreled with an Enfield 5 groove barrel, however, it was never fitted with a matching No.32 scope.

Hope this helps...

Regards,
Doug