Mystery of the Missing Wartime Long Branch Snipers

[tiriaq]

I recall seeing one of the 74L 32TP scopes with its rings at an ORA shoot at Base Borden. This was from one of the scrapped Netherlands rifles.
It has been a long time since the CF sold any weapons off as surplus. Any No. 4Ts that were held in stores have likely been scrapped.
I do recall that there were 3 LB 4Ts w/32TP scopes that were made available for issue to the Canadian Rangers. As far as I know they went to the Yukon. This would have been in the late '80s, early '90s, just do not recall exactly when.

[Seaspriter]

They were cheap, used hard, and abused much. I worked at a sporting goods store

I remember those days. I was 12 years old in 1959. My father bought me a new baseball glove (outgrew the old one) for $12.95 USD. He saw a barrel with guns in it, poked around and pulled out a full wood Enfield for the same price as the baseball glove. I didn't know any better at the time, but I knew my father -- if the barrel had sporterized versions, he would have rejected every one of them and only selected the original military version. I have ads from gun magazines of the time with the old Enfields being peddled on the cheap.

[tiriaq]

I recall reading a story about the surplus business after WW2. One US dealer purchased 1.1 million guns from the British Government for 1 million dollars, as is, where is. Even had to have the lift in a coal mine repaired to get the guns out. After hauling, shipping, sorting, importing, the rifles retailed for under $10 each.
I bought an unissued LB 4T from Hercules Sales on Yonge Street in Toronto in the late 60s for $79.95. One of the 90L series that had gone to the UK. With an $80 retail price, I shudder to think what the UK received for these.

[Lee Enfield]

I started a thread a couple years ago asking a related question specific to the 71L block snipers
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=39421

[Seaspriter]

asking a related question specific to the 71L block snipers

LE - your question of whether anyone has seen " any 71L block serial numbers below x200?" is a very intriguing one.

I have been running a spread sheet linking Marshall's Production report (1944-46) against the serial numbers for blocks 71L, 74L, 80L & 90L.
.
Bottom Line: The Production report is off by ~200 Snipers unless the 71L block starts with 71L000. IOW, there are 200 rifles that are missing in action that belong to the 71L000 - 71L200 range. The Mystery continues......

[Sentryduty]

I have a request for information out with a resource I have available, if we get a positive return I can set to travel and obtain more information and do some research. If it's a dead end, then nothing wasted in asking.

[Seaforth72]

A MATCH HAS BEEN MADE as a result of this forum's discussion! :-)

mike1967 in Australia has rifle 74L0303 stamped 4407S on the wrist.
Colin Stevens seaforth72 in Canada has No. 32 TP MK. I scope 4407S

As with other matches, finding them is one thing (e.g. Valleysniper has the rifle for my REL C No. 32 MK. 3 scope in Wales.) Mating them up again is a whole other matter!

Another member has the scope case for one of my Long Branch sniper rifles. It is numbered to my rifle and to the as yet to be found scope 690C. He is willing to trade but my only REL scope case went in a recent trade that was just too good to resist.

Colin Stevens

[Peter Laidler]

I have also mated up 10 or so No32 telescopes to rifle/can owners. And regularly go through the matchmakers part of the forum. Tell them how it happened Brian.......

[Seaspriter]

One US dealer purchased 1.1 million guns from the British Government for 1 million dollars, as is, where is. Even had to have the lift in a coal mine repaired to get the guns out

This is a very intriguing insight I had not heard before. Was the UK storing guns in abandoned coal mines after (or during) the war? A coal mine can fill with water. Perhaps many were damaged and scrapped. Does anyone have any more info on the coal mine storage?

[Peter Laidler]

You're right Seaspriter. Not only that, compressed air, at any pressure/depth creates condensation = water. Urban myth I'd suggest. There were hundreds of Ordnance storeage depots used for storing weapons together with necessary security.