interested in approx. value of a 1942 No.4 Mk.1* Long Branch

[rondog]

I have a chance to pick up a 1942 No.4 Mk.1* Long Branch in what appears to be very nice original condition, but haven't seen it in person yet. Price is $250 US, and I'd just like to know if that price is in the right ballpark? From the photos I've seen it looks like a nice rifle in the condition it should be in, not Bubba'd or refinished, etc.

Thanks!

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[rgg_7]

Excellent price!

[Roger Payne]

Sounds good to me too. Over here in the UK you won't get a sniff of a decent No4 for less than the equivalent of 450 dollars, & people often ask rather more.

[bigduke6]

Sounds good to me too. Over here in the UK you won't get a sniff of a decent No4 for less than the equivalent of 450 dollars, & people often ask rather more.

I,ll second that, there are some realy nice examples in the UK, but looking down the barrel reflects the price.
I had a nice No4 Mk1 not so long back with an excellent barrel, rest of the rifle was in a used, but not abused condition, but shot excellent and had it up for $450

Had a guy interested but said he would look for one in better condition, so he bought one from an auction, ( I did try and warn him about auctions regarding firearms, but it fell on deaf ears) not long after his new purchase he soon contacted me regarding the price for a new barrel.

He seemed quite stunned when I told him if he could find a barrel for half the price of his no4, and if he could get ten of them I would fit his for free, still waiting to hear from him.

Am sure Roger will agree and as strange as it sounds, obtaining SMLE barrels no problem, but a No4 barrel is getting more like looking for the holy grail.

[Peter Laidler]

Good job that I kept a few............

[Roger Payne]

Yep,
About twelve years ago there were a number of lots of them (No4 barrels, I mean) that were going through Weller & Dufties here in Brum. They were assorted, some 2 groovers & some 5 groovers. They also varied in condition, from well shot but still serviceable through to pretty much unfired. They went through in batches of ten & fortunately enough I bought (IIRC) four lots. I did a little hand selecting & fortuitously all of my barrels were excellent plus & all 5 groovers. Fluke good luck that! My only regret was that I passed on the other half dozen lots...
I still have a handfull left, but they're jealously guarded for possible 4T rebarrelling.....

On the other hand, if you don't mind South African post-WW2 mfr., then new SMLE barrels are still available from a dealer over here, & at a fair price (or at least they were when I last had some from him a few months ago)...........

[lawrence_n]

I was just at a gun show here in Orangeville, Ontario, Canada. You can't LOOK at a decent Long Branch No.4 now for under $450.00. The birch stocked are not as highly sought after as the walnut stocked models, but if the bolt is serial number matched to the receiver, and all the metal parts have the correct stamps, the price you quoted is about half current market value. If there's any other advice I can help with, feel free to contact me. I have a lovely 1950 Long Branch which was unfired until a couple of weeks ago. The old Canadian Arsenals Ltd. is actually in my area.

[rondog]

Well then, guess I'd better jump on it like a horny chimp! Thanks guys! Here's the only photos I have of it.

[boltaction]

If the bore is good, that's a good price, and if the bolt is matching, it's an excellent price. I see the bolt has the earlier style button type cocking piece from the Mk I series--quite possibly original on a 1942 rifle, or maybe mixed in later from a different manufacturer. Interesting to see if it is LB stamped.

Ed

[rondog]

If the bore is good, that's a good price, and if the bolt is matching, it's an excellent price. I see the bolt has the earlier style button type cocking piece from the Mk I series--quite possibly original on a 1942 rifle, or maybe mixed in later from a different manufacturer. Interesting to see if it is LB stamped.

Ed

Well, consider that I know nothing about Long Branch rifles, but the bolt and left side of the receiver buttstock socket (if that's what it's called?) both have the same s/n, which is 4L4093. I don't know what the "LB" stamp should look like or where it should be, but on the front part of the bolt, the part that unscrews where the extractor is, there's a flat area on top with what looks like an L and a B almost on top of each other. The B is sitting on the lower leg of the L, like right "in its lap". That round cocking knob you mentioned also appears to have that same symbol stamped on the lower right side. There also appears to be some other stuff stamped there, but way too small for me to see, although I can make out a very tiny 5 there. The other "stuff" may just be from wear marks too.

What I really need is an "Enfield Expert" to look this rifle and my others over. Does anybody know of any Enfield Experts in the Denver, CO, area?