Lonbranch No4 MkI* 1942 - HELP

Hi Gents,

I've recently been offered this seemingly nice 1942 manufactured Longbranch No4 MkI* rifle but do not typically collect Commonwealth items so I was hoping I could get your opinions on it? The seller is a friend of mine who also isn't really a Commonwealth collector but he tells me that he believes it to be 100% correct minus the front barrel band.. but the colour of the finish concerns me as well as the lack of grooves on the top hand guard. What are your initial thoughts on this one?

EDIT: I forgot to mention that the bolt and receiver are matching but these are apparently the only serial numbered parts.

- Chris

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Maple stock....most likely a replacement....very nice. I'd go for it! Ron (Canada)

The trigger guard and the rear sights are both the later fabricated types. Overall it looks like a clean rifle, but just be aware it has likely been rebuilt, possibly by the military or just as likely by someone looking to get top value on a LB. Check your barrel at the end of the wood to see if it has been assembled correctly. The barrel should sit in the bottom of the wood, and with about 2-7 pounds lift, go up, and once released should go back to the bottom center of the wood.

Thank you for the quick replied gentlemen. I suppose my next question in regards to the wood would be if there's a way to determine whether or not it's wartime or not?

I attempted to edit the thread and appear to have lost the photos so I'll re-post them here:

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garand123 has had trouble uploading the photos. Here is the Longbranch that is being discussed:

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Hi Chris,

From what I can see from the pictures it looks like what you have is a nice 42 Long Branch that has been restored. Likely done post war by either a private individual or by Canadian Arsenals in the post war period. The stock is a replacement from what was originally on the rifle. The lack of a matching serial # on the lower fore-end indicates this. The stock does appear to be a later war time LB stock. This is not uncommon as an over abundance of stocks were manufactured by LB during the war. You can still find them minty and in the wrappers if you look hard enough. The hand guard looks like it matches the rest of the stock so it is likely correct, but can be investigated further by looking at the internal markings. The lack of groves on the hand guard is not an indicator of period or manufacture. LB produced many hand guards without grooves from 1943 onward. From the pictures the stock appears to be made from Maple. From my experience these Maple stocks are most often seen on later 43 LB’s. The colour of the finish looks fine to me. The rifle does appear to have been reparked at some point the metal work is just to clean to my eye for a original 42. The front barrel band is not LB, but from what I can see in the pictures all the other parts appear to be war time LB parts. Some parts are early period that could have been original to the rifle and others are not because they were not produced until after 42 when this rifle was originally manufactured. Parts/rifles produced after the war when Long Branch became Canadian Arsenals are marked with a large “C” with a large “A” with in it. Parts marked with a “C” with a "/I\" broad arrow with in it and/or “L B” (Described as a large “B” sitting on a large “L”) are likely war period produced.

Cheers,
James

It looks like a correct, post war rifle as rebuilt at CAL/Long Branch. I've had quite a few just like it. I think the wood is birch but i could be wrong. Birch was used throughout Long Branch production along with walnut.