Savage No.4Mk1

[Rustybore]

Just received a beautiful Savage No.4 today. A couple questions. By the serial no., this one was built in 1943, 71Cxxxx. No year marking, but the book says there is none for this serial range. This one has the two groove barrel, and the buttplate is of the alloy type. Did Savage make the brass buttplates, or steel, like Long Branch, in this serial range? And, were all of these the two groove barrel? Sure is pretty, all matching. Might get my son to take and post a picture later.

Kevin in Or.

[DOGolden]

I know almost nothing about Enfields, sorry. But, I sure would like to see a picture or two.

[No4Mk1]

I had a 43 Savage that sounds a lot like what you describe. Also had an alloy buttplate and two-groove barrel. Alloy buttplates were found on Savage and LB rifles, so this is consistent with a '43 Savage. Two groove barrel's are also pretty standard for Savage rifles. I will also say that the 2-groove was the most accurate No4 I have owned.

Hope that is helpful, and would love to see any pics! Sounds like a nice rifle!

:grinning-thumbsup:

[piste]

Rusty,
Mind sharing where you got it and price? A Savage is on my wish list for this year.....wondering what a good source would be these days for one in decent condition and matching. Thanks!

[Rustybore]

piste,
I bought the rifle from a member of one of the boards. I perhaps paid a little high, $250 delivered, but for the speciman I thought a good price. If I have to pay a little higher than market for a gun in nicer shape, I will do so. The price will catch up and good ones are sometimes harder to find. Last spring I bought the equivalent condition LB for $150 from a pawn shop I happened to go into while working out of town. The LB did have a m/m bolt, a round cocking piece, LB marked but from an earlier year. The rifle shoots great, though. They are out there, patience and looking a lot will produce one.

Kevin in Or.

[piste]

Thanks Kevin. Down here in SoCal the Big5's had a run of No4 Mk1's but they are all junk....can barely even find numbers on them and none matching....$130 on sale.....Think I'll get my C&R and save my pennies and keep looking. I'm with you....I don't mind paying a bit more to get what I'm after so long as it's not a lot more.

[Timbo]

Big5 just got some Savages. I might check that out later.

[Stan in SC]

My Savage built No.4 also has a two groove barrel.Minty bore I might add.
Just my experience but it seems that it does not like boat tail bullets in the least.Keyholes them even at a short range of 25 yards.
On the same range trip I immediately switched to flat base bullets and got 1-1/2" groups at 100 yards.If you get bad accuracy with boat tails switch to flat base bullets rather than suspect a problem with the rifle.

Stan