Question on Long Branch #4 (T)
I have come across an LB #4 (T) which has me somewhat puzzled. The rifle is a 1945, all matching, in that the bolt, receiver, stock, magazine and scope mount match each other and the scope number in the mounts matches the number stamped on the top of the butt stock, etc. The rifle is in pristine condition, and was obviously sent to England at some point, as it is stamped England on the receiver. However, what puzzles me is that
a) it rides in a British transit case (3 screw hinges, folded not stitched leather handles) and the scope rides in a metal tin more commonly seen with the Brit snipers as opposed to the Canadian softie case. However, the tag tacked to the transit case has the scope and rifle number on it, and the tag stuck inside the scope tin also has the scope and rifle number on it, with a packing date of 1962. The fellow who had the rifle got it at Milarm in 1977, and it came in that box.
b) the rifle has C Broad arrow stamped wood on it, which is in pristine condition, but the buttplate is the Brit looking brass type, not the more typical LB buttplate.
Were some of the LB's sent to England, and put in stores there, then perhaps put into British cases if the Canadian ones were trashed? The purists would say that this needs to be in a 4 screw Canadian chest and proper Canadian scope case, and would be correct, but this one has been matched to a British case and British scope tin, with appropriate armourer tags on them. Has that been observed before, and is it considered still "matching"? My other LB rides in a Canadian chest but has the wrong card. This one rides in the "wrong" type of chest and scope tin, but they are matched to it. Also, were any of the 1945 LB's fitted with the British "brass" type buttplates--I didn't think LB was using those then. This rifle looks like it was hardly if at all used, and the wood is original Canadian (with all the little tiny proofs etc nice and crisp), but I don't get the buttplate thing.... :confused:
Interestingly, the case also contains a sniper veil and a 1942 dated copy of a book called Fieldcraft Sniping and Intelligence by Major Neville Armstrong, with inscribed names inside of Arnold Hopkins 1942 and Capt. CM Stevens, Seaforth of Canada.......... I would assume that the book was added later, but it's a nice touch.
Any thoughts on this would be appreciated. If folks want me to post a bunch of pictures, I can take some when I have time.
Thx
Ed
