90L LongBranch Sniper rifles serial/scope list

[smle addict]

Just found this on Gunbroker:

Enfield No. 4 Mk1 (T) British Sniping Rifle 303 S-51 - Curios Relics at GunBroker.com : 854570551

Mis-matched pair; British No4T (less telescope) with a Canadian scope/mount. Serial number on mount 90L8296 and scope number 269-C. Even has matching scope case.

[Seaforth72]

Just found this on Gunbroker: Enfield No. 4 Mk1 (T) British Sniping Rifle 303 S-51 - Curios Relics at GunBroker.com : 854570551 Mis-matched pair; British No4T (less telescope) with a Canadian scope/mount. Serial number on mount 90L8296 and scope number 269-C. Even has matching scope case.

The rifle appears to be a No. 4 Mk. I (T. LESS TELESCOPE) with its matching type No. 15 Mk. I (T. LESS TELESCOPE) marked chest [numbered to BSA No. 4 Mk. I (T) L30940] , and the Canadian R.E.L. C No. 32 Mk. 3 scope and bracket with its scope case C No. 8 Mk. 2, was added either by a surplus dealer or by a civilian owner later on. Note that although the C No. 8 Mk. 2 scope cases were usually not numbered to the scope set, this one is due to the packing label filled out by the famous (to us) "V. BALL" who packed many of these rifles for long-term storage in the early 1960s. Nice items but expensive. The matching rifle 90L8296 has not surfaced yet to my knowledge. Chances are it is in the USA or Canada. The rifle is a 1944 BSA Shirley appears to be serial number M33848 It has the "TR" "S51" mark but not the "T". A 1944 BSA completed as a sniper equipment should have the "T".

[superbee]

90L8159 for sale here with a early REL MkI scope 2647C

Full Bore, Service and Sniper Rifles for Sale - Devizes Gunsmith

[jawes]

Gun is now marked as sold.
Colin scope 2647c is way out of the normal range. Is it a legit serial number for an REL scope?

[Lee Enfield]

Gun is now marked as sold.
Colin scope 2647c is way out of the normal range. Is it a legit serial number for an REL scope?

Yes this is one of the "double strike" numbers.

It appears that REL double numbered somewhere over 20 scopes - this scope would have originally been 264-c, and then corrected by adding the 7, which implied 8 scopes (2640-c, 2641-c, 2642-c, 2643-c, 2644-c, 2645-c, 2646-c, 2647-c) all originally marked as 264-c !!

If you go back thru my posts, eventually you will find the photos that I posted of this series of "double strikes" showing that the extra digits had to be added to the serial number.

however we have the duplicate numbered MkI/MkIA/MkII scopes:
264c [ 68L3244-264c (‘43MkIA ******* rings & scope)]
2647c [2647c (44 MKi) in brit mount on Brit action]
2650-C [68L3255-2650-C (’44 mkI)]
2651c [68L3260-2651c (tin)]
3840c [71L0332-3840C (MkIA)]
3845c [71L0355-3845c (tin)]
3854c [71L0439-3854-c(44 MKii)]
Implying a minimum of 21 repeated serial numbers - fixed by adding an extra digit to the serial number.

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=39421

The interesting serial numbers are 2647c because "647c" is FAR too high to be a MkI (so the parent number must be 264c), and the 3840c thru 3854c as "854c" is FAR higher than the highest (currently) known MkII scopes are in the early 700c range (so the parent numbers must be 384c and 385c).

[Roy W]

Gun is now marked as sold.
Colin scope 2647c is way out of the normal range. Is it a legit serial number for an REL scope?

The rifle butt shows the number 201C stamped in as the original scope For info

[Roger Payne]

I've seen several of these four digit serial REL No32's over the years & they've always seemed somewhat of an enigma. Out of curiosity, does anyone know WHY they were given the extra digit? I've no idea, but wondered if maybe REL inadvertently gave a small number of scopes the same serial number, & once noticing the error added the extra digit at the front to make each one uniquely identifiable once again. Just a thought....

Sorry for veering slightly off topic.

[jlacy]

I just picked up No32 MK 1A 249-C in bracket 74L0409

[bros]

I just picked up No32 MK 1A 249-C in bracket 74L0409

Are you able to post a significant quantity of quality pictues......I'm sure we would all love to have a look!!

[Lee Enfield]

I just picked up No32 MK 1A 249-C in bracket 74L0409

There were a number of 71L block scope mounts miss numbered as 74L