Quick question. I am looking at a 1950 Long Branch, and I was wondering what I should be looking for to identify whether or not the rifle had been refurbished at Canadian Arsenals at some point (i.e. markings, finishes, etc). The rifle is in overall very good condition, and I can get it for $350 (thank goodness I invested in my C&R lol), but I do not know if that is a reasonable price at this time.
There are no markings except perhaps the barrel date. The finish changed to phosphate (parkerized) during mid 1950 production.
@1/3rd of 1950 dated actions have 1951 dated barrels.
I have recently aquired 3 Long Branch rifles which I believe to have been rebuilt/overhauled at Cdn Arsenals. Two of them have a unique marking on the receiver side above the ejector screw which would appear to indicate this. Details are as follows;
Rifle #1 is a 1945 LB with a replacement barrel dated '46. Left side of receiver is marked " R LB(superimposed) 11/46. Finish is blue. Rifle is re-numbered on the butt socket with a 30L s/n in larger font than the original.
Rifle #2 is a 1943 LB, 30L series, with original barrel. Finish is blue. Left side of receiver is marked " R LB(superimposed) 12/46.
Rifle #3 is a 1945 LB, 89L series, with original barrel w/o the additional rebuild marking. Finish is blue.
These rifles came with a jumble of LB, Savage, and Brit parts and were all sound and servicable. They are Indian surplus by reason of the forestock screw. They were in very scuzzy shape with a heavy coating of dried grease. Once cleaned up, the metal finish and bores were pristine and matching bolts were fully blued with little evidence of use/wear since rebuild. I have since restored them with original Long Branch and/or Cdn Arsenal marked parts.
Yes, the "R LB + mm/yy" marking appears to have been used immediately after the war.Quote:
Originally Posted by purple
Can anyone report one dated after 12/46?
I suspect the reason it fell out of use may stem from the adoption of the "CA" marking refered to in Warren's previous post (Aug 29, 1947), just because the CA markings seem to show up for the first time in the '49 manufactured rifles.
Stencollector has done some research on what appear to be depot level Sten rebuilds