Do you have a 1950 Long Branch?

**Claven2** · 10-22-2007 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by 303Nut

's LES says that a l,000 of these rifles were ordered and that only about 200 were made because of the action body being stressed by the 7.62 cartridge. His new book may give different figures on the production.

Well, I don't recall Skennerton claiming that only 200 DRCA 7.62 conversions were made. I know for a 100% FACT, however, that such info would be inaccurate. I've seen over 20 of these personally, and the serial ranged from low 2 digits up to at least the 2500 range on the examples I have seen.

Bear in mind, these were built for all DCRA affiliated clubs that could pay for the conversion, not just Connaught.

Perhaps the military ordered only 200 for troop trials, but this has little to do with the effort to build target rifles.

There's one at Gunco right now with a serial number into the 1000 range. Clearly higher than serial number "200". Also note the conversion serial of the above rifle is 1253.

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**Cantom** · 10-22-2007 06:26 PM

Claven- Maybe he's refering to the ones that were actually made for the army. Not DCRA conversions. I've seen one at a gun show. Similar but different.

**Lee Enfield** · 10-23-2007 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by Claven2

Well, I don't recall Skennerton icon

claiming that only 200 DRCA 7.62 conversions were made. I know for a 100% FACT, however, that such info would be inaccurate. I've seen over 20 of these personally, and the serial ranged from low 2 digits up to at least the 2500 range on the examples I have seen.

Bear in mind, these were built for all DCRA affiliated clubs that could pay for the conversion, not just Connaught.

Perhaps the military ordered only 200 for troop trials, but this has little to do with the effort to build target rifles.

There's one at Gunco right now with a serial number into the 1000 range. Clearly higher than serial number "200". Also note the conversion serial of the above rifle is 1253.

I had one in the high 19xx range, which I flogged some time ago.

IIRC I also had one in the 002x range

"whats'is name"??? in Saskatchewan? was compiling a list of DCRA conversion numbers IIRC

**David1974** · 11-09-2007 07:12 AM

I just picked up a 1950 Long Branch. The serial number is 96L0012. It doesn't look blued so I'll assume it's parkerized. I haven't taken it apart yet. I'll fill in the rest once I do.

**Cantom** · 11-09-2007 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by David1974

I just picked up a 1950 Long Branch. The serial number is 96L0012. It doesn't look blued so I'll assume it's parkerized. I haven't taken it apart yet. I'll fill in the rest once I do.

That's a pretty high serial number, very late production. Is the parkerizing kind of blackish vs greenish?
Is it one of the batch of unissued ones that were around a few years ago? All original?
I think you'd find if you took the handguard off that the barrel might be stamped 51, which IMHO means that's when it was made.

**David1974** · 11-09-2007 11:37 AM

The parkerization is blackish. Once i get it back home i'll have it apart and have pictures. As far as I can tell it's all original except the magazine, which has the canadian arsenal proof but doesn't have a serial number.

**Cantom** · 11-09-2007 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by David1974

The parkerization is blackish. Once i get it back home i'll have it apart and have pictures. As far as I can tell it's all original except the magazine, which has the canadian arsenal proof but doesn't have a serial number.

The magazines are not usually numbered.
Did you find this in Canada icon

or the US?

**David1974** · 11-10-2007 08:06 AM

Now that I have the rifle under much much better light... The parkerization is green, very green.

**Cantom** · 11-10-2007 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by David1974

Now that I have the rifle under much much better light... The parkerization is green, very green.

I've seen green ones and I've seen black ones...both appear to be completely correct.

**David1974** · 11-12-2007 01:43 PM

Here are several pics of the rifle. This will give you an idea of the parkerisation. Cantom, I picked this rifle up in Canada icon

( around Barrie ). Also as you guessed the barrel is stamped '51'. Note the bolt stem. It has the arsenal proof but no serial number. Is this a replacement bolt? Speaking of the arsenal proofs, I think every single part on this rifle has a proof stamp on it... literally. I think every part except the safety spring has a arsenal stamp.

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