Long Branch No4T Butt Socket Marking

[Simon P]

Long Branch 1943 No4T Butt Socket Marking

Just wondered what the relevance of the small marking on the Butt Socket below the serial number on these rifles means, any ideas?

Attachment 62924

The scope is miss-matched; the butt is marked 10C, the actual scope is No 271-C

Information

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[Beerhunter]

A recent acquisition? If so, Irish Army?

[Lee Enfield]

Long Branch 1943 No4T Butt Socket Marking

Just wondered what the relevance of the small marking on the Butt Socket below the serial number on these rifles means, any ideas?

Attachment 62924

The scope is miss-matched; the butt is marked 10C, the actual scope is No 271-C

Yes they seem to be the LB equivalent to a steel batch number.

[Roger Payne]

I thought it looked familiar. I bought it in the mid 80's from Adrian Bull & traded it with Charnwood in 1996. I wonder where it's been in the meantime......??

[Peter Laidler]

I don't think it'll be a steel batch mark simply because they mark the steel batch in a place that has been machined very early on in the machining process. That way the ID number is not lost further along the various proceses. What's the point of marking it at the very end, after the final finish? You'd never be certain that the steel batch related to that item.

[Lee Enfield]

I don't think it'll be a steel batch mark simply because they mark the steel batch in a place that has been machined very early on in the machining process. That way the ID number is not lost further along the various proceses. What's the point of marking it at the very end, after the final finish? You'd never be certain that the steel batch related to that item.

No idea what the actual meaning was then, but most war-time Long Branch No4 rifles have an "alpha numeric" marking in this approximate location.

I would note that FN L1A1 bolts and Bolt carriers have "Steel batch number" markings in machined areas which are supposedly traceable?

I popped down into the lockup and looked at:
1- 1941 no marking
1- 1942 Alpha numeric code
1- 1943 no marking
3- 1944 (1 No4T, 2 No4) each (different) Alpha Numeric markings
2-1945 (1 No4T, 1 No4) Alpha Numeric markings
1-1949 letter no code number (could be a poorly struck CA marking??)
1- 1950 CA stamp, no code
1- 1954 postwar CA and "webbed crowfoot/rolled maple leaf" proof marking, no alpha code

[stencollector]

The same alpha numeric code is found on stens from Canadian service that were parkerized in the grey colour. It doesn't matter if it was a Cdn built sten, or a Brit built sten, once it went through refinishing (possibly a rebuild?) it got those numbers. Usually it was on the magwell, but it could also be found on the trigger housing.

I cannot say if the number reflects an inspector's number or if it is a batch/work order number. My own guess is an inspector's number.

[Simon P]

I thought it looked familiar. I bought it in the mid 80's from Adrian Bull & traded it with Charnwood in 1996. I wonder where it's been in the meantime......??

Roger, I have known of this rifle for a while maybe 10 -15 years, and it has been with the same chap just as long, not sure where he got it from, probably at one of the Bisley Fairs. He was a shooter with LERA & HBSA and has now retired from shooting due to age.

[Roger Payne]

Cheers Simon. I traded it with Rob Hallam as he wanted it for his collection, but a couple of years later (1998 IIRC) he sold everything off in the big auction at Bonhams. Maybe your chap bought it there....