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  1. Default Did Springfield Armory (IL) ever import or sell Enfield rifles?

    Saw a Savage No4 Mk1* today that had Springfield Armory stamped on the left side of the butt socket.

    Did they ever sell or import Enfield rifles back in the day?

    The left side of the receiver ring was marked BDF as well. Did not appear to be factory but was much older than the SA stamping.

    Just curious.
    Last edited by M1Garandy; 12-31-2016 at 09:43. Reason: Typo

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Pittsburgh, PA
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    A photo would help.
    Last edited by Merc; 12-26-2016 at 03:48.

  3. Default

    Not my rifle, did not have a camera at the time I observed it. The rifle in question is about sixty miles away unfortunately.

    This was the only thing I could turn up online: http://www.sksboards.com/smf/index.php?topic=112675.0 and it wasn't much help.

  4. #4

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    Things which ran through my mind:

    If it was/is an import marking then it was done post 1986 and the SA address should have been included along with the country of origin. At least in an abbreviated form.
    SA wasn't in business prior to the '68 ban on surplus imports.
    Did/does SA have a collection and is/was it a property marking?

    Thought about the original Springfield Armory being solicited for contract manufacture during WW2 and this might have been a sample sent for evaluation. The government didn't allow Winchester, Remington, or High Standard accept the offers due to recent memories of the Pattern 14/US M1917 debacle just a couple decades earlier.
    The rifle being a MkI* debunks that approach as it's too late.

    Did Savage send a rifle for study at SA for the sake of opinions on other manufacturing shortcuts? Is the stamping counterfeit intended to raise confusing conversations?
    More questions without answers.

    Does the rifle belong to someone you know, or was it just seen in passing?
    Last edited by JB White; 12-27-2016 at 08:05.
    2016 Chicago Cubs. MLB Champions!


    **Never quite as old as the other old farts**

  5. #5
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    Sep 2009
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    "...had Springfield Armory stamped on..." As in "Springfield Armory"?
    Springfield Armory the U.S. government's arsenal did not sell or import anything for civilians. SA Inc. is Springfield Armory in name only and didn't exist until 1974. No Lee-Enfields made by them. No bolt actions at all mentioned on their company history page.
    Savage made No. 4's were made under contract to the Brits before(Not by much though.) there was such a thing as FDR's Lend/Lease Act. When the contract ended(1944), all remaining rifles, parts, machinery and tooling was packed up and sent to Canadian Arsenals-Longbranch Plant in what is now Mississauga, Ont.(big bedroom community west of Toronto. Across a creek west. Grew up about 5 miles from the where the plant was. Been in the old building that's just a concrete pad now.) and subsequently issued to CF units. Had one on my MIU, long ago.
    I'd guess it was stamped by somebody who bought one of the stamps. Mind you, it may have gone through SA on its way to either Long Branch or England. Not likely though.
    Spelling and grammar count!

  6. Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JB White View Post
    Things which ran through my mind:

    If it was/is an import marking then it was done post 1986 and the SA address should have been included along with the country of origin. At least in an abbreviated form.
    SA wasn't in business prior to the '68 ban on surplus imports.
    Did/does SA have a collection and is/was it a property marking?

    Thought about the original Springfield Armory being solicited for contract manufacture during WW2 and this might have been a sample sent for evaluation. The government didn't allow Winchester, Remington, or High Standard accept the offers due to recent memories of the Pattern 14/US M1917 debacle just a couple decades earlier.
    The rifle being a MkI* debunks that approach as it's too late.

    Did Savage send a rifle for study at SA for the sake of opinions on other manufacturing shortcuts? Is the stamping counterfeit intended to raise confusing conversations?
    More questions without answers.

    Does the rifle belong to someone you know, or was it just seen in passing?
    Seen in passing. I might, might be able to get pictures as I have a buddy that passes that way semi-regularly.

    I kind of doubt this anything to with the real Springfield Armory in Mass. The stamping had been applied much more recently than the other markings I briefly observed on the rifle in question. I guess I should have paid more attention when I was looking at this rifle but I didn't think my observation would generate more questions than answers.

  7. Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Sunray View Post
    "...had Springfield Armory stamped on..." As in "Springfield Armory"?
    I think it is much more likely to be SA Inc, that is why I put (IL) in my thread title. But who knows?

  8. #8

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    I would not be surprised to see it is one of the ultra rare US Springfield approved for use by the US government during WW2 at special armament plants by guards.

    Fake Springfield stamps are everywhere and dealers will stamp them on anything and will say anything they think will help them part money from the public as they walk by their tables at gun shows. Years ago I saw an Arisaka stamped as such at a gun show in Connecticut. Dealer was saying it was an early capture taken to Springfield Armory for testing. People will do and say anything to make a buck if they can.

  9. #9

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    M1Garandy, from the link you provided I browsed a bit further. Nothing of any interest except for another turned out being a Long Branch. Dead end but for the fact two have surfaced with questionable pedigrees.

    For now I'm standing with Tuna. A collector might pay for a disfigured rifle, but nobody is paying for any story. Nobody but the gullible.

    If they are paying big, then I'm stamping US PROPERTY along with a fake ordnance bomb on anything I choose to part with...including muzzle loaders!
    2016 Chicago Cubs. MLB Champions!


    **Never quite as old as the other old farts**

  10. Default

    JB, I'd agree with both you and Tuna if the seller was playing up the SA angle, but as best I can recall, this rifle was being sold by the shop that had it as a bog standard No4 Mk1* with no premium for or mention of the SA marking.

    Not to say it wasn't stamped to fool people at some point.

    I'll post back if I can get some pictures.

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