The No4 Mk1 is a simple, easy to maintain, robust and accurate and it keeps its accuracy even after being dragged through mud and dust and thrown into thr back of trucks by young men on the move.
The star indicates that it was produced in volume by Savage during WWII for Commonwealth forces and as such would be the version most readily available in North America.
"The star indicates that it was produced in volume by Savage during WWII"
No, the star indicates it has the later trigger assy. The early no4's had the trigger mounted on the trigger guard, later, "*" marked rifles had the trigger mounted on the frame.