Need help identifying 1944 Longbranch No.4 MK 1*

Just would like some answers as to what I have. The serial numbers match on the bolt, receiver, magazine and on the bottom of the forestock. I'm concerned cause it has ZF stamped on the butt stock but it shoots just fine, also found what looks like 54 stamped on the butt stock as well so maybe the butt stock was replaced at one time? I dunno. Bore is clean. Hope you guys can help me out. Thank you.


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ZF is a Mark denoting the rifle was condemned or rejected at some point. The rifle butt could have been changed, there is no way to tell if that occurred. Mr. Laidler has some threads with greater detail on the subject. If you search here you should find them. I’ve saved a thread on the topic from gunboards with the same information. Google “ZF marked Longbrach” and the gunboards topic comes up at top. I had a ZF marked BSA that looked decent, took it to an old Smith and he said the locking lugs were worn out on receiver. Took his word for it. Ended up stripping it for parts. Yours looks a tad better than mine. Good luck.

Peter Laidler would be the man to ask about the dreaded ZF stamping I could not see a ZF'ed butt stock being placed onto a rifle as its U/S for some reason so should not be there.
I would refrain for the bit until Peter explains why that stamping is there just to be safe that is do not shoot it till it is checked out thoroughly just wait for Peter he's pretty good at answering our questions in the forum so we can all learn.

Thing is the reasons for ZF might not be apparent. Pater has made that clear. We've been through this lots here, many times a guy will bring forward a DP rifle and complain that it LOOKS ok to him. I've shot it he'll say, it's fine... Hard to say about this one. Peter probably won't know unless he examined it with gauges...

Thanks guys. I've read the thread about the ZF stamp. I've been shooting the gun for two years and haven't had an issue with it yet.
Got curious enough to look up what zf meant and was kinda heartbroken to learn what it means. Thought I had a nice, all matching rife 😢.
Can anyone tell me what the other markings/stamps are at all?

A nice old Canadian Long Branch rifle, all the inspector's marks to go with. That's about all they are.