Savage Enfield date from serial number

[jrfoxx]

I recently bought a U.S. Savage Enfield No 4 MK 1, and cannot find a date on it ANYWHERE. Based on Google search results of responses to other peoples questions of a date based on thier serial numbers, I would estimate mine at mid to late 1943. I dont know where others are getting the info to be able to date them based on serial number, and would like to verify my estimate, or get the correct date if Im wrong.I'd also like to know if these were ever re-arsenaled by us or the British, and if so, find out if mine was and when if possble. My serial number is 84C62**. Thanks for an help in advance.

 

[Sunray]

Savage made No. 4 rifles were not returned to the U.S. They weren't Lend/Lease firearms to start with. The 'U.S. Property' stamp had nothing to do with who owned the rifle. The Brits had a contract with Savage to make the rifles long before the Lend/Lease Act was enacted.
When the contract ended in 1943, as I recall, all completed rifles, parts and machinery were shipped to the Canadian Arsenals plant in Longbranch. In what is now Mississauga, Ont. Next door to Toronto.
I've never seen a serial number search data base for them, but post the same question at http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/. One of the guys may be able to help.

 

[kragluver]

I see this is an old post, but maybe I can help. The Savage-made Enfield's were made into 1944 with a grand total of around 1.2 M rifles or so manufactured. Your rifles S/N puts its manufacture in either very late 1943 or early 1944 (this based on Stratton's book on the No 4 rifles). My Savage was made just after yours as its S/N is 85C. BTW - the S/Ns are basically consecutive with the "C" standing for the Savage plant at Chicopee Falls, MA. A serial number of 84C62** implies that your rifle was the 846-thousandth rifle made at the Savage plant. Longbranch in Canada also made No 4. Mk1* rifles, but they have an "L" in their S/N. Enfields are a lot of fun to research. I recommend both the Stratton book and the latest Skennerton book if you're interested in Enfield history.

 

[Jim K]

The "U S PROPERTY" mark was an offshoot of the Lend-Lease Act of March 1941. While those rifles were made for the British and were NOT used by any American forces, those made after the law went into effect were paid for by U.S. funds. The legalistic theory was that the U.S. could not "loan" what it did not own, so the rifles were marked as U.S. property. (Had that not been done, Hitler would probably have sued or something.)

While none were used by or issued to U.S. forces during WWII, many thousands returned home after the war as the former combatants sold their surplus guns to international arms dealers. The Savage-made rifles did not have to have a "country of origin" marking since they were U.S. made, but the finer points were sometimes overlooked by the minimum wage folks doing the marking, so there are Savage No. 4 rifles marked "ENGLAND."

Jim