Manufacture dates on a Savage-made Mk1 No4

[Snowdog]

Can anyone tell me or post a link on how to determine the manufacture date on a Enfield marked "US Property"? I know on most Enfields the date can be easily found on the wrist of the stock, but there is no such conspicuous date on the Savage.

Also, the Enfield I am looking at does not appear to have a bolt catch needed to remove the bolt from the action, any ideas as to why?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Detritus]

the Enfield I am looking at does not appear to have a bolt catch needed to remove the bolt from the action, any ideas as to why?

Most of the Savage made guns are No4 Mk1* rifles, meaning that the catch you are looking for was deleted to speed production, etc. in it's place for Bolt removal you'll find that there is a small bolt head sized slot in the right receiver rail that allows you to rotate the bolthead counterclockwise out of it's track (if the rifle is cocked, the Firing pin spring usually pushes the bolthead rearward past the slot when the bolt is open, so many times slight forward pressure is needed to line things up), the bolt can then be withdrawn to the rear.

as for date of manufacture, the only way i am aware of is through a reference of serial number ranges and pre/suf-fixes. maybe the guys over at the gunboard enfield forum cna help on that score, i still haven't checked the date on mine.

 

[Snowdog]

Thanks Detritus, that's good news about the bolt removal. I was becoming concerned the stop was removed for some odd reason.

I'm under the impression the rifle was made 1944, but I'll keep looking.