Longbranch odd marking.....

[Dante]

I have PM'd a couple of guys about this but then decided to ask all. This a Longbranch 1943 with a S/N 41L90XX. Directly under the S/N is stamped "G23". Does anyone know what significance this has. Rifle has two groove barrel and is in VG to EX condition. Thanks, Dave

[Badger]

I can't recall seeing this kind of marking on any of the Enfields in our collection.

Perhaps it's a "rack" number used by the unit that held the rifle?

Regards,
Badger

[Dante]

Badger, it appears to have been stamped into the rifle at the same time as the S/N as it is crisp and straight and is in the same size print as well. Someone on the other forum or one of the replies I got from my PM's said it was the type steel used and only some rifles in 1943 and 1944 production had this.
Advised by Lee Enfield....Dave,
They appear to be batch or steel lot numbers. They first appeared in late '42 early '43 IIRC.
....Does this ring any bells with you?

[Badger]

Well, that's the first time I've heard it, but it does make sense. :thup:

Regards,
Badger

[Dante]

For all of the Longbranch specialists out there I can't believe that I didn't get more difinitive answers. I have searched my resource material and Skinnerton's book. Anyway. Still contemplating the purchase. Thanks..Dave

[stencollector]

Could your rifle have been refinished??
I might have the answer, but it will be vague. I have noticed it on some #4LB receivers as well, including one I saw this weekend. The stamps were very small, as small as the serial, and perhaps even a touch smaller. They appeared at the very bottom, just above the trigger guard screw.
A similar number can be found on LB sten receivers, consisting of a single letter and 2 or 3 numbers. They are only found on stens that have been parkerised, likely post war. Origionally the Cdn stens were a dark black, and I have never seen these numbers on one of those. The letter/digit combination also shows up on British made stens which were parkerized the light gray colour in Cdn service.
I recently found two sten magwells with sequential numbers (in the high 12L series). One was grey, and had the extra numbers, while the other was it's origional black, and did not.
Occasionally I find the numbers also on the trigger housing, and on the barrel underneath the barrel nut.
Now whether this number is a batch number on FTR, a new style serial number, or a inspector number has always perplexed me.

For those who have deactivated stens and have this number on them, ignore the black/grey guideline. Most cdn deacts have been refinished to the black colour; the extra numbers will merely indicate that it was once grey parked.

[Claven2]

Much is still nto known about Longbranch production, and along with Savage, this maker has the least amount of info found in reference works like LES by Skennerton. Compounding the issue is LB's bad habit of never marking FTRs.

I've owned dozens of LB (most were not rebuilds) and never saw that mark, I would lean towards it being applied during an unmarked FTR, but that is admittedly speculation.

[stencollector]

Just checked the half dozen LB rifles I have on the rack, and I find similar marks on 2 of them. One is my LB sniper. Neither of the rifles have the Cdn C/i\ on the area above the breech, for what that is worth. I'll have to get the magnifying glass out later to read them.
One also has FTR in tiny letters in this same spot. That one has a British proof house stamp on the receiver ring, so it is likely not out of Cdn service.

All the stens I referred to in my earlier posting were out of Cdn service.

[Dante]

I will see if I can get a pic. I actually should bring it home for $275.00 after some of the LB's I've seen for sale on Gunnutz. The serial and this number are on the left side of the butt socket. Interesting mystery.....Sherlock Holmes.

[Cantom]

I will see if I can get a pic. I actually should bring it home for $275.00 after some of the LB's I've seen for sale on Gunnutz. The serial and this number are on the left side of the butt socket. Interesting mystery.....Sherlock Holmes.

I just had a look at my 44 LB, which appears to be a 50's LB FTR as it's green parked. There is what looks like a 1 or a 7 stamped down just above the rear guard screw on the left side buttsocket.


$275 for a good LB is a no brainer.

[stencollector]

Regarding the letter followed by 2 or three numbers, I have speculated that it might be the identification of an armourer. I have only seen the letters on the low side of the alphabet, and the numbers never seem to go higher than a couple hundred. Perhaps the letter represents the armourer/inspector, and the number represents a sequential rebuild or refinish, or maybe the work order number?

A weapons tech who I used to work with was at 202 depot prior to coming to shilo. He was in a section of a half dozen that would rebuild .303s. Apparently the civilians made it a point to drag out the rebuilds to only a couple a day. When the 4 civilians went on strike at one point, the remaining two military corporals doubled the daily production of the section.