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HoosierEd323
Newbie Joined: January 18 2020 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Posted: January 20 2020 at 3:05pm |
Good afternoon, everyone.
I saw this No.4 Mk.I* at an area auction and decided that it would make a good addition to my slowly growing World War II firearm collection if I could get it at the right price. From what I can tell with the two days of rushed research that I did before the auction, it was made at the Long Branch arsenal in Canada. For the rest, I would love it if you guys could shed some more light on it, as there are a number of symbols that I have been unable to identify after purchasing it. The serial numbers on the receiver, magazine, and bolt match up, but it looks like there is a weird "4" after the bolt serial number or some kind of symbol. The serial is also on the lower forend near the upper band, but it looks sloppy and maybe done by a previous owner. Also, below that serial is what looks like a number 4, followed by some letters and then 51. I don't know if it is the previous owner's initials or what. I also included pictures of symbols on the barrel and the inside of the woodwork. Finally, the rifle appears to have been lacquered. I'm not sure what the original factory finish would have been, but I don't know if I would want to take a shiny rifle into battle. Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated!
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Goosic
Senior Member Joined: September 12 2017 Location: Phoenix Arizona Status: Offline Points: 8792 |
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he!!o and welcome from Phoenix Arizona.
Before you fire that rifle,screw the bolt head in all the way. One more revolution so it seats against the bolt. The stock is not original to the rifle,it was originally produced at the Savage plant in Chickopee Falls Massachusetts. Just above the serial number on the forestock where the upper band is you can see a square S inside a square. That is a Savage stamp. At some point in time that stock was at the Ishapore plant where it received that screw through the stock forward of the magazine as well. The tiny stamp on the trigger guard is the Canadian Arsenal stamp. The two stamps on the barrel with the numbers are also Canadian Arsenal stamps. The bolt head being unscrewed one turn out has me concerned that you might have a headspace issue that needs to be looked at by a reputable gunsmith. What number is stamped on the bolthead near the extractor spring? Not the 1 next to the B. It will be in the outside edge where the bolthead has a cut in it that sits in the raceway channel.
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HoosierEd323
Newbie Joined: January 18 2020 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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That is an excellent observation with the bolt head. When I tried to put the bolt back into the receiver, I was racking my brain as to why it wouldn’t lock into place. I finally realized that I had inadvertently unscrewed the bolt head a couple times. Below is a picture of it fully tightened and ready to be inserted. Also included is a picture of the number ( am assuming 1) next to the extractor. Is this what you were asking about?
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Zed
Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 5585 |
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Raw Linseed oil would have been the original finish for the wood. It would be worth removing the varnish and refinishing with linseed oil.
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It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!
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britrifles
Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Atlanta, GA Status: Online Points: 6539 |
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That is a #1 bolt head, they came in four sizes, 0 thru 3 (and some rare #4 bolt heads). They were used to correctly set the headspace at the arsenal. If you have the bolt head turned down just until it stops (don't force it) and looks like the photo above and does not rotate much past the long bolt rib, the bolt should be fine. Otherwise, it will load up the bolt head screw threads. That is a Long Branch bolt head as well.
As long as the serial number on the bolt handle matches the receiver, should be good to shoot.
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HoosierEd323
Newbie Joined: January 18 2020 Location: Indiana Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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Thanks for the information, guys!
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