odd serial# on a 1942 longbranch.Any ideas?

[superbee]

Hi,Just picked up a 1942 dated #4 longbranch.It is like new condition.Appears unfired.
A few things seem odd.
Rifle is completely parkerized.Looks just like my 1950.
barrel is dated 1952.Canadian arsenal marked.
MK3 back sight.Only part that is blued.
Serial# has been ground off and replaced with 10Jxx.Same for bolt.
Front band and middle band Canadian Arsenal marked.All other parts LB marked.
New walnut stock.Clear C broad arrows and LB marked.Looks original.Not sanded or refinished.
A check piece has been added that matches in color and texture.Same finish as rest of stock. Looks like factory installed.
Target swivel added.Also parkerized.

Is this a post war factory rebuild?For a specfic contract?would this explain the odd serial#?
Like to know all your "expert" opinions.

Cheers,Eric
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q103/superbee426/IM001268.jpg

[Claven2]

From your description IMHO it's a post-war refurb that someone put 4T parts on to use as a range rifle. Can't see your pic though.

[Claven2]

OK, fixed your pic. My opinion remains unchanged though. Nice rifle by the way.

[stencollector]

Can you show us the serial number. Is it stamped fairly proffesionally or does it look like some guy stamped it out in his garage.
The origional LB stamps are quite small. I know I have not found the exact size commercially available.
As to the strange serial number, I can relate that out of many hundreds of ex-cdn stens I have worked with, virtually all were your typical 1 L 1234 type number, with the exception of a total of four I have seen with a serial number like XR123. I don't know if XR was a special project or a contract.

[tiriaq]

If you look carefully at the magazine, you will see that it a SMLE pattern that has been altered. Its Parked finish matches the rest of the rifle. I suspect that the rifle was assembled by someone with access to quality parts. What is unknown is who, where and when.

[Claven2]

The modded SMLE mag, the restamped serials, etc. points to a refurb somewhere else besides Canadian Arsenals IMHO. Probably an Asian country such as Pakistan, Singapore, India, etc.

[tiriaq]

The workmanship is better than what I have seen on South Asian refurbs. The wood matches in colour, and the Park. finish is very even and well done. The rifle gives the impression of quality work, and presents very well. A lot of care went into it. With the exception of the magazine, all the parts seem to be Canadian. I think the rifle was set up as a range rifle. It was accompanied by a conventional LB with 5C sight.

[Cantom]

[QUOTE=superbee;3186]Hi,Just picked up a 1942 dated #4 longbranch.It is like new condition.Appears unfired.
A few things seem odd.
Rifle is completely parkerized.Looks just like my 1950.
barrel is dated 1952.Canadian arsenal marked.
MK3 back sight.Only part that is blued.
Serial# has been ground off and replaced with 10Jxx.Same for bolt.
Front band and middle band Canadian Arsenal marked.All other parts LB marked.
New walnut stock.Clear C broad arrows and LB marked.Looks original.Not sanded or refinished.
A check piece has been added that matches in color and texture.Same finish as rest of stock. Looks like factory installed.
Target swivel added.Also parkerized.

Is this a post war factory rebuild?For a specfic contract?would this explain the odd serial#?
Like to know all your "expert" opinions.



My opinion is, nice rifle! Nice find.

Did Long Branch ever change their own serial numbers? My friend just bought a LB that had supposedly gone to Bisley. The serial numbers were different than a normal LB.

[limpetmine]

Lots of No.1 MkIII mags were converted early in WWII to fit the No. 4 as there was a shortage. Ref. the big book. I have an ROFM 1941 with the Roll Stamp on the receiver wall that has one of these, and it is very similar to the magazine in my No. 1 MK VI. Don't assume converted mags were done by Bubba. It ain't always what you think! One easy way to figure if it was a No. 1 mag first, the edge of the body will have a sharp turn, while a No 4 mag has a rounded turn. .02

If you look carefully at the magazine, you will see that it a SMLE pattern that has been altered. Its Parked finish matches the rest of the rifle. I suspect that the rifle was assembled by someone with access to quality parts. What is unknown is who, where and when.

[No4Mk1(T)]

Is the bolt LB or CA marked? I’ve seen a few bare Long Branch receivers with the serial numbers ground off. In this case they were 1944. My opinion would lean toward the range rifle built by ether a base shop or possibly CAL. Most of the South Asian refurbs I’ve seen have been coated with a thick coat of black paint. I’m also not sure they would have access to fresh LB wood and a new 50’s dated barrel.
Just my 2 cents.

[breakeyp]

Various reasons for odd ball LB serials based on examples I have or have encountered:

1. Unassembled and often incomplete receivers were sold at auction when Long Branch closed and were made into rifles by various groups/individuals. A number of C No. 7 .22 rifles will be encountered that way.

2. Ordnance people may have changed numbers to cover a missing rifle. Somewhere I have a Long Branch with a Savage xxCxx replaced serial number.

3. A plant fellow may have just picked the wrong stamp. If the stamp size is Long Branch size and done by Long Branch there is the possibility that the fellow grabbed a J stamp instead of an L. They screwed up that way on a few sniper rifles.

4. Various gunsmiths in Canada have built up rifles and altered serial numbers--at one time it did not seem to be a big deal. I saw a No.4 built up as a .308 with the serial number scrubbed. The owner told me it grew a new number to remove issues. A missed opportunity as it was years ago and I was a bit nervous about it. If the guy hadn't said anything, I might have bought it.

Looking at the picture, I think a hobbist/tinkerer has been at it.