WW2 British Savage Enfield No.4 MK1 Caliber.303 *Marked “U.S. Property Rifle

SKU: SAVAGE ENFIELD NO.4 MK1 RIFLE

Original/Reproduction: Original

Availability: In-stock

Manufacturer: Stevens Arms Company a division of the Savage Arms Company

Date Manufactured: 1941

Model: No.4 MK1

Serial Number: OC24929

Caliber: .303 British

Magazine: Removable

Capacity: 10 rounds

Barrel Length: 25″

Total Length: 44.5″

Weight: 9lbs

Action: Gas-operated, rotating bolt

Rate of fire:

Effective firing range: 500 Yards

Gun Condition: 96% ? Excellent

Bore Condition: 9.5/10

Sling: Canvas /Brass

Price: $995.00

Seller ID: JMW

Seller Code: 530

Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.

Description:

This is an all-original US Savage No4 MkI* .303 British caliber bolt action rifle. Serial numbers match on receiver and bolt. Receiver stamped “US Property”. Wood stock. Protected front sight. Adjustable rear sight. Bayonet lug. Brass butt plate. Canvas sling. The Barrel as a Light finish loss.

History

There are few guns that capture the imagination like those from World War II. I got into shooting because of my interest in these classic All_weapons and my love of history. Finding these guns at shows or local stores became a sort of sport to me and I loved the idea of getting my hands on what I felt was living history. In this article I will be taking a look at a unique rifle of American manufacture destined for British service: the Savage No. 4 Mk1.

Instead of boring you with a historical commentary that you could easily find in the dustier section of a library or the internet, I’ll give you quick summary of this gun and what its context. My particular example was made at Savage in 1943. It has simplified features as compared to earlier Enfield models. The nature of wartime manufacturing necessitated a reduction in machine operations and many features were either stripped down or made differently to speed up production time.

The gun was actually produced by Stevens, a division of Savage arms, in Massachusetts to fill the British demand for a fighting rifle. During the early parts of the war, Hitler’s seemingly invincible forces were spanking virtually everyone in Europe and the British suffered as their manufacturing plants and industrial areas were bombed to rubble.

The British had little choice when it came to where they got their guns and American machinery began to make the quintessential weapon of the Empire in great number. The Lend-Lease Act passed in 1941 and American help was on the way.  Note the “US Property” stamped on the receiver indicating its origin as the Lend-Lease Agreement with the United States, along with No.4 Mk I.