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Thanks browning auto rifle. The questions I'm asking are for another Long Branch rifle I'm looking at, not the one I have posted. Sorry for the confusion and I should have probably separately posted these questions. As I said earlier most of my experience in collecting are in Garands, Carbines and Mosine Nagants / Finn. 39's and German K98K Mausers. I have been at this hobby for about 25 years now, however Lee Enfields are new to my collecting interests, and my knowledge on them is limited.
OK then...The buttplates were Mazak or Zamak I think. Not really steel. Longbranch had a habit of marking everything I think. You can find tiny marks on the smallest parts, except pins. The barrels were 5 L&G unless you get some of the pre Korea ones that are 6. I can't remember if we made 2 groove or they came from Savage. The mag doesn't have to have a serial number but may have. I think it was more for a control thing. If it's numbered and matches, that may be a miracle...Quote:
Originally Posted by Billinwv
Mazak/Zamak = pot metal. They are standard on LB production up until some point in 1944 when blued steel buttplates became the norm in Canadian production.
Long Branch made 2, 5 and 6 groove barrels.
Magazines were numbered in service since they are, (or should be), correctly fitted to the individual rifle.
Its very good condition rifle i have private messaged you billinwv
I suggest that you buy a Long Branch butt stock, bolt and Long Branch Mk. I back sight and then offer the Stevens-Savage sniper butt, bolt and Mk I modified back sight for sale for someone else's sniper restoration project(s). The MK. I cocking piece is desirable for earlier rifle restorations. Yours should have the Mk. II ( slab with vertical grooves) cocking piece. In other words you should come out ahead financially. The Long Branch would never be great however due to mismatched bolt.
Your butt appears to be off of a Stevens-Savage sniper conversion (complete or more likely an unfinished conversion) done by Holland and Holland (their wartime code was S51) in London. England during WWII.
Mismatched bolt............ Surely, if a new or part worn bolt is fitted CORRECTLY by a new owner in the future and numbered to suit, surely that is just the same thing that generations of Armourers, me included, have been doing since pontius was a pilot! After fitting, setting up, gauging, numbering and range testing then it ain't mismatched, surely!