Re-barreled Longbranch (6 groove)

[Ridolpho]

Current interesting thread on DCRA rifles has prompted me to post about this one. Actually was my first L.E. and a mighty fine shooter but I've always wondered about it origins. Seller was a Canadian Forces armourer who indicated it had been used as a target rifle. Has the 50's six groove Cmk4 barrel and the serial number on the wrist has, obviously, been scrubbed/ restamped. The body has a '43 date on it while the serial is, I believe, from '42. So my questions to the Long Branch experts are: 1) Do the markings on the barrel indicate it was installed at the factory or were barrels like this available as spares?; 2) Why would the body be scrubbed and re-stamped to (apparently) match a bolt instead of vica-versa?

I've always assumed this was all done post service but was very well done. The bore is essentially as new and someone set up the headspace extremely tight. I've added PH sight and have made it my designated "target rifle".

Anyone see anything that might explain its origins?

Ridolpho

Information

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[browningautorifle]

I knew many armorers over time and several fancied themselves master shots. I suspect this rifle was built from spares at hand, carefully selected and assembled and then laundered as to avoid complications in later life. All the parts would be available...source would be right...

[Brian Dick]

I was just going to ask where's Jim and boom! There he is!! I'd have to agree with him. I'm curious about the 58 on the barrel. Build date or barrel mfg. date? Need to pull a handguard and check a factory installed barrel on a 1950 rifle.

[tiriaq]

I once observed a bottle of whisky get swapped for a brand new 6 groove barrel.

[Peter Laidler]

Agree with BAR a zillion percent. Neither that body nor the bolt are original if you ask me! Barrels were a Base workshop job unless it was a designated static large Field workshop that had not only the facilities but the body gauges too

[browningautorifle]

I know we didn't have the facility at our base for barrel change, perhaps at the Navy base close by as they had Parkerizing facilities. Once I mentioned changing an FN barrel to the effect of unscrew it and change it...the weapon's Sgt just made fun of the remark. It was like it was the hardest thing to do. Not all of them seemed to be savvy to changing a pipe... The stampings on the knoxform are crude, not a CAL type of job.

[Surpmil]

I know we didn't have the facility at our base for barrel change, perhaps at the Navy base close by as they had Parkerizing facilities. Once I mentioned changing an FN barrel to the effect of unscrew it and change it...the weapon's Sgt just made fun of the remark. It was like it was the hardest thing to do. Not all of them seemed to be savvy to changing a pipe... The stampings on the knoxform are crude, not a CAL type of job.

HMC Dockyard did indeed have all the tools and jigs for the No4, also the Bren and the Sten. They overhauled thousands there for our grateful NATO allies in the 50s and 60s.

[browningautorifle]

HMC Dockyard

That's EXACTLY where I was meaning...I know they had full facility, including parkerizing and plating. They could have done a gold plated FN if they wanted.

[Ridolpho]

Returning to the posted rifle for one final kick of the dead horse! It's obviously a "put-together" but I'd still like to think it might have been put together at CAL- found this thread from last year with photos of a Long Branch that several suggested was an example of use of a replacement receiver (dated '55). I've attached one photo of the left wrist which shows a rather crude grinding of old markings and stamping of serial in font remarkably similar to that on mine (strangely mostly the same numbers that are on mine). However, this other rifle has additional CAL maple leaf proofs that mine doesn't. So, final question- if CAL used a wartime receiver (as on mine, '43) that was already proofed once, would they re-proof the receiver in addition to the new barrel or just the barrel?

Ridolpho

[Ridolpho]

Thanks for the comments, everyone. It would appear, then, that my suspicions were correct. But regarding the stampings on the barrel, BAR, would not the factory have stamped something on them after manufacture? It is definitely a six groove reverse twist barrel.

Ridolpho