Attention SMLE Guru's!!

[dmftoy1]

I think I might have a line on a good deal on a No4 Mk1. (1942 date) From what I can tell I'm pretty sure it's a numbers matching No4 MK1 (Savage) and not a No4 MKI*. Is there an appreciable difference in value between the two? The gun is in good shape . .the bore is excellent. (Shiny, bright and appears to have sharp six groove rifling) The muzzle has no dings of any kind on it. The stock has the type of dings that you'd expect in a gun that went through WWII but seems to be generally sound. The metal finish is pretty decent but the foreend tip is missing a good portion of it's black finish (paint?). I think it's original as it's got the us flaming bomb markings and an FZR on it.

I pretty sure the serial number is 5C2380 but that's just from memory.

Anyway, just trying to determine what an approximate value might be. I can't pick it up until tomorrow and I'll try to post some pictures.

Is this a good gun to use as a shooter? (my primary purpose) If it is then I'll be shooting primarily cast boolit handloads. I'm tempted to refinish the metal on it but I don't want to destroy any value it might have.

Any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[dmftoy1]

Ok, as promised .here's some gratuitous gun porn

 

[Chipperman]

You are correct that it's a MK1 and not a MK1*. I've personally never seen a Savage MK1*

A lot of the barrels on these have only two grooves (Mine has two). Some people would pay more for one with 6, although the accuracy reports are no different.

I'd put the value at $275-300 given the condition and the 6 groove barrel (assuming it original). Does it have the bayonet?

Sure shoot the heck out of it. .303 is getting harder to come by, but if you're handloading it doesn't matter.

 

[Wheeler44]

I shot a smle for years as a kid. good shooters, moderate felt recoil, easy to aim. I can't tell you about the finish but I'd leave it for some character. I cast my own bullets and had good success with 180 gr. flat points for a 30-30. The .303 is .311 diameter not .308 like a 30-30 so I didn't size the bullets after casting, just loaded and shot them.

 

[DougW]

That is a nice pre-lend lease Savage. Funny, but I have never seen a Savage mk1, only mk1*'s. I have two #4mk1* Savages, a 1942 and a 1943, in my collection of .303's. The value could push past $300 to a collector. It was FTR'ed (Factory Thorough Repair) at Fazakerly Factory in England in '48, so I am sure that rifle has history to it. I would suggest it has more value than later (*) rifles than is does as a shooter. These are kinda rare. If it were me, I would not shoot it, but pack it away as a collectors piece. Your rifle though. Be careful on the cast loads. The bore is .311. Good bullets are available from Speer, Sierra, and a few others.

 

[dmftoy1]

Thanks Doug!

So if it was your rifle you'd put it away and pick up a normal off the rack No4 for shooting? I paid $249 for it so I guess I did alright.

Regards,
Dave

 

[Limeyfellow]

I only seen one Mk1 savage before and it was no where near as good a condition.

I would think it could bring an extra $100 to the cost, so say $300 and a bit and make the Lee Enfield collectors rather jealous.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Nice No.4 Mk.I. The stock looks like a nice piece of walnut. I have a No.4 with similar wood.

Your rifle was arsenal refurbished in 1948 at Fazakerly; that's what the "F(FTR) 48" means.

BTW, it is not a "SMLE." The No.1 rifle was the SMLE.

 

[DougW]

dmftoy1, the loud "klunk" you just heard was my jaw hitting the floor! Tell you what, I'll give you $250 for it, and even pay the shipping to Texas!

AIM and SOG still have some nice #4's for less than $150 if you have a C&R. If not, see what your best friend dealer would charge you to get a nice #4. Be proud of that baby! You done GOOD. (BTW, run out tonight and buy a lottery ticket!!)

I thought I did good by getting one of the "U-Fix-Em's" Savage #4mk1* from Century for $80 C&R, then adding $28 in Savage parts from Springfield Sporters to complete out a NICE rifle, all Savage, with a Savage "L" (long) butt stock. Helps me because I am 6'3". (Trade ya!)

 

[dmftoy1]

LOL . . . . I "think" that the local gunshop must've had a local collector die or something because they've never carried any mil-surp in the past and now he's got another in there to replace the one I had. (7x57 Mauser 98 - I wish I knew how to ID that one . .it says "fabrique" on the side and there's a faint crest on the forward receiver ring)

There's still what I believe is No 3 Mk ?. I wonder if there's any special variations on those that I should look for. (it's about the same condition and the same price)

So it sounds like I've got a nice rifle . . .shooting it off the bench or in range conditions is ok, but I probably don't want to bubba-ize it or use it as a truck gun.

My apologies for mis-using the SMLE term. I've always admired these from afar but I've never delved into them enough to know much about them. (I do like the looks of the No 4. much better than the No 3's though)

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[Belgiboy]

Go get that Mauser if it is in good shootable condition. I am not a Mauser specialist but any of those made by Fabrique Nationale are bound to be superior. If it's from Belgium, it is quality all the way (beer, waffles, chocolate...)
The No 4 mk1 is the best looking milsurp boltaction of them all

PS I am from Belgium too

 

[cracked butt]

Nice rifle.

All of the Savages I've seen and the one that I have is a No4Mk1*