C No.4 Mk. 1* Long Branch

[Billinwv]

Well I finally after a long time looking, added a Long Branch to my collection. First a little background, I have been a milsurp firearms collector for about 25 years. My collection mostly includes M1 Garands + carbines, K98k Mausers, and Mosine Nagant 91/30 rifle variations and only have two Enfields; a 1917 Remington and a No.4 Mk. 2 (F).

This rifle is a "C No.4 Mk. 1* 1949 Long Branch ser.# 91L30XX. Compared to most Enfields that I see, it is in great condition both wood and metal.



There are a few things that I noticed that I question; one is the Savage marked rear sight looks as someone has ground off the 300 yd. battle aperature?


The bolt, round cocking piece, and #2bolthead are Savage marked and serial numbers do not match the receiver.

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Most of the wood is walnut, however the butt stock is a standard length Savage marked buttstock(birch?).

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It appears like something was mounted on the comb at one time. Could this be an ex-sniper butt stock?

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The wood is in unbelievable shape, however I wonder if it has been refinished? All the stampings are clear and wood does not appear to have been sanded.

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After getting this rifle I stripped it down and inspected and recorded markings found before cleaning and reassembling. I could not find any import or FTR markings but it appears some parts may have been changed? The bore is excellent and appears like it has not had very many rounds through it. It is a 5 groove left hand twist 49 dated barrel. Except for the butt stock, un matching Savage bolt, un numbered magazine and rear sight, most parts are LB or Canadian arsenal marked. It has a zamak butt plate.

Any comments from you Enfield experts will be appreciated.

Information

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[browningautorifle]

Very nice Bill, yes a couple parts look like they used to be on a T model. Sounds like it may have been assembled. It'll still shoot though.

[303tom]

I would NOT kick her out of bed for eating crackers !...................

[Mk VII]

Looks like somebody had fastened a no-drill scope mount on it at sometime in the past and added a cheekpiece. The stamped sight would be normal on a rifle of this era, just the same as their last WW2 production.

[Peter Laidler]

It might be me but I haven't noticed a drill marker line on a butt, to mark the butt holes before!!!!!

[Brian Dick]

I see the S51 H&H stamp on the buttstock and an Enfield examiners mark under the wrist. A possible left over from sniper production in England.

[browningautorifle]

The entire rest of the parts seem to speak of a cobble job. Barrel date on the early receiver, mismatched bolt for a S gun, S butt, milled sight...

[Claven2]

Assembled post-service using some original No.4T parts from the H&H scope-less Savage batch is my guess. Too bad as the original Savage would be worth a pretty penny. Maybe the parts were rescued off a shorter and put onto a 49 LB action.

[Billinwv]

Thanks everyone for you responses. I knew this rifle was a mutt when I got it, bought it as a shooter, not for it's collective attributes and will probably leave it the way I found it.

I like this website and have and continue to learn about Enfields. I feel like around the area I live however that I have arrived too late for the party so to speak. Not a lot of Enfields show up around here and when they do are real beaters or have been super "Bubba'd" up. I do have another lead on another Long Branch, one of my co-workers family members. I first saw this rifle on a deer hunt and it looks good to my untrained eyes. It is for sale and I have been given first dibs because I'm known around here as the guy who likes old war guns. I have been told that I can disassemble it but need to know what to look for. Some questions:
The bolt and receiver serial numbers match, what other serial numbers should match?
Did the Canadians not mark their rifles "FTR" during rebuilds, and how can I tell if this rifle has been?
Should the clip have a serial number as well?
Will the barrel have a date and how many lands should it be?
Should all the parts be Long Branch / Canadian arsenal marked?
Butt plate steel or zamak?

Thanks for your help and comments.

[browningautorifle]

I don't understand, if you want it for a shooter, then what do these points matter? You can't really return that one to factory. All you'd end up doing is parting it out. I think the barrel condition would be the most important? You'll want to replace the battle sight of course...someone here will have one. Otherwise, it's good to go. Good deal...