[martin08]

Had a very decent day at the gun show. Found a Long branch extractor spring, a bolt body for my RIA 1903, and 60 rounds of .303.

But the highlight was this non-import 1942 Savage No4 MKI*. Though it has the FR on the buttstock, but doesn't appear to be FTR'd (?). Looks like original fitted wood, zinc alloy buttplate, matching bolt, stamped most everywhere except mag and possibly the front sight protector. I haven't looked at the back side of the safety, but it looks consistent with the rest of the age/wear.

No serial number on the barrel, is this correct? It's a fair looking two groove bore, flaming bomb stamped. There is also a 41 stamped on the right side collar, for a reason, I'm sure. There may be a few other things you gents could tell me, too.

Rather thin on the bluing, but I like it just the same. For $250, I couldn't pass. Lots of pics, and thanks for looking.

 

[tahoe]

ME LIKEE !!!!

 

[Ronbo6]

That is FR (Field Repair), not FTR. Something minor got out-of-kilter with it, and it was handled by the regimental armorer. FTR means a visit to the Armory.

I have a virtually mint Long Branch with a big FR on the stock (different stamp font, though) and I am having a hard time figuring out exactly what the problem was (I SUSPECT the safety was replaced, as it is marked differently from the one on my all-original Long Branch. The suspected replacement part has a big, swoopy, S on the outside surface of the safety lever).

NEAT-O!!!!

 

[car99]

Very nice indeed! I have one very close to yours: 17C5650, also with a FR stamp. The crown stamp on mine is more to the right side of the receiver and shows no letters.

 

[buffdog]

This is an early 1942 made rifle. Possibly the "41" is when the receiver was made, and the 1942 when the rest of the rifle was made.

The rifle has British Commercial proof marks on the barrel, so it was Exported from England and Imported into the United States. However, the interesting thing is that it has a very desireable early cocking knob on the rear of the bolt. These were put on early rifles, but simplified to the flat sided cocking knobs on later ones.

A nice find, and you will probably find that the two groove barrel should shoot as well as a five groove one.
.

 

[martin08]

I'm also wondering what might have been Field Repaired. The mag is obviously not original (origin? no references pop up to the QF stamp), and I can't find a squared S on the front sight protector. The bolt head also appears to have a strike-through mark on top, and a 2 stamped on the side. No obvious FTR features like rebluing, replaced wood, etc.

I had assumed that this one was an Early Savage, as most serial numbers I've viewed are 20C and later and these seem to be more common. I'll go back and look at the cocking knob styles to compare.

The 41 stamp on a later assembled gun makes sense, as does the Birmingham Nitro Proof marks showing its testing overseas and subsequent return to the US. May have been pre-1968, as there are no modern import stamps. Still wondering on the barrel. Were these supposed to be serial numbered to the receiver, or was that a feature of the FTR?

Thanks.

 

[CosmicCharlie24]

I can't answer your questions but that is a great piece! That's how I like em. As for the "FR", I thought that was still an open question as to the meaning. Field Repair is plausable but I didn't think it was definitive. Anyway great find. I'd have scooped it up for $250 and been very happy.

 

[milprileb]

My Skennerton book says FR is a Indian marking. Several Savages have surfaced in my local area with FR on them and they are in very fine condition and one cannot see any repair done to them so my suspicion is it really is Field Repair and is some minute thing like safety replacement done in British service.

I have never seen a FR marked No.4 with a Ishy screw in it but maybe I just have missed seeing all of them.

Anyway: I think FR is not fully locked down for a Indian marking.

 

[CosmicCharlie24]

Just to clarify Skennerton's book states that F.R. = Factory Repair India but he also places this stamp on the Receiver not the wood.

 

[Ed Novak]

Ah, Martin. You post interesting stuff. Your Savage is lovely. I have previously said that early, and maybe most Savage-built No.4s seem to have the poorest finish wrt 'bluing' of any No.4s, worse even than 'the pool's' rifles. Typical finish. Early cocking piece does not mean a lot, cocking pieces can be changed out by the armorer but on this Savage, I will stake my next free beer on the fact that it is original to the rifle. Looks to me that all, maybe I missed something, parts contain the beloved S stamp save the magazine which appears...to have a Large D and arrow...reminds me of the Australian ownership mark but that would be a long shot to make. I'm not at all good with Savages' production number sequence but the buttsocket clearly shows 1942 and later production, IIRC did not include a year date there. The left receiver wall clearly shows Mk.1*. Savage, IIRC, did not serial number the barrels and I can't recall any other No.4 mfr doing so but... FR: Many years ago, and in a gal...oh no, different story...I bought a '42 sequenced sported Savage Mk.1 (a Mk.1 rcvr built into a rifle in '42) from Kevin Carney, North China Arms, no import marks that had a birch butt with the big FR stamp on it. I restocked the rifle with WWII Savage contract WWII wood courtesy of BDL (fabulous bit of luck there) and my eldest son now holds the rifle (Which I'd love to have again but I'd have to give it back to him on my demise). Your Savage is, in my humble opinion, a $300+ rifle. Two-groove; BT bullets tend not to work well in these, stick with FB, IMHO. Lovely rifle! Savage rifles tend to sell much better in the U.S. ("Made in the USA"). The Mk.2 backsight is typical. If the rifle had gone through FTR it likely would have ended up with a Mk.1 backsight. I keep the Mk.2 backsight on my early '43 Savage for 'old times' sake'. Congratulations. Clean, BLO, oil, shoot often, enjoy! ed

 

[milprileb]

Just to clarify Skennerton's book states that F.R. = Factory Repair India but he also places this stamp on the Receiver not the wood.

A Skennerton nuance I did not catch ! So if the "FR" is on the wood.... we know precisely, what ?

 

[FIVESHOT]

nice looking rifle .



FIVESHOLT

 

[muffett.2008]

A Skennerton nuance I did not catch ! So if the "FR" is on the wood.... we know precisely, what ?

Now that is the question.

 

[Ed Novak]

The 'FR' stamping on the wood has been a subject of many years of speculation. I, personally, doubt that it has anything to do with India when it is on the wood, only. Finding it on my Savage Mk.1 with its serial number in the Mk.1* range originally made me wonder if it was peculiar to such a production anomally. Is 'FR' speciific to a manufacturer or a year of production? As of this afternoon I now know, for certain, of two FR butt-stamped Savage rifles but that 'data' means nothing at this point.

 

[DEMO]

It's interesting that I have a MkI no star that is serial numbered higher than this one. Round cocking piece very possible from new manufacture.

 

[martin08]

Now that is the question.

Yeah.

And from what I've read in a dozen or more threads on FR, and the general variances in references and opinions, my answer remains the same.

Yeah.


Thank you for the compliments, folks. And yes, Ed, I would surmise that the cocking piece is original. Though I don't have it pictured, it also sports the S stamp. I would say that the main item that is missing from original production would be the S stamped mag, and another board member has already taken pity on me to provide one at a nominal fee.

 

[tlvaughn]

This is an early 1942 made rifle. Possibly the "41" is when the receiver was made, and the 1942 when the rest of the rifle was made.

17C would put the production of this rifle around mid-1942 (June/July would be my guess). As far as the "41", I do not believe this is the date of the receiver for several reasons.

1. As stated by Ed, Savage did not stamp the dates on the right side of the butt socket.
2. I have two Savage rifles stamped "47" and "74" in the same location. The 4's are the same size and font as this rifle.
3. The font of the "4" is different than the font used by Savage.
4. A 1941 Savage receiver would be a MkI, not a MkI*

My guess is that the stamps were added after they left the plant.

I have never seen a FR marked No.4 with a Ishy screw in it but maybe I just have missed seeing all of them.

I have a late production Savage with "FR" stamped into the right side of the butt stock and it has the "Ishy Screw" -- the wood is also Savage.

 

[Ed Novak]

It's interesting that I have a MkI no star that is serial numbered higher than this one. Round cocking piece very possible from new manufacture.

Somewhere in the Savage Serial Number survey is my listing of a Mk.1 with a serial number amidst the Mk.1* series; probably an action held over/found on the floor that was put late into production. My eldest son now holds this rifle.

 

[Ed Novak]

Yeah.

And from what I've read in a dozen or more threads on FR, and the general variances in references and opinions, my answer remains the same.

Yeah.


Thank you for the compliments, folks. And yes, Ed, I would surmise that the cocking piece is original. Though I don't have it pictured, it also sports the S stamp. I would say that the main item that is missing from original production would be the S stamped mag, and another board member has already taken pity on me to provide one at a nominal fee.

No reason to not think the cocking piece is original to your rifle, none at all. Magazines got mixed around easily and for simple reasons. I've never chased magazines to 'match' them to the rifle wrt manufacture, never gave them a thought, in truth, so long as they work they all belongem.

 

[tlvaughn]

It's interesting that I have a MkI no star that is serial numbered higher than this one. Round cocking piece very possible from new manufacture.

The earliest MkI* rifle I have recorded is 12C6226. I also have MkI rifles recorded that are in the 13C, 15C, 17C, and 22C blocks.