Special LB 1943

Interesting thread. I collect vintage Mossbergs and the US Property marked 44 and 144US are serial numbered by contract requirements. The civilian versions are not. This presents a problem with C&R log requirements. I own four M44 civilian rifles and have no idea which is which in my log. I called the ATF on this and they had no answer other than if I were to sell one just to pick one and log it out. Then there are rifles with multiple serial numbers so again I called the ATF and asked which one should I use, original manufacturer or last owner....again it was "just pick one" or "list them both". Some import number are different than any of the serial numbers. I own a Finnish M91 with a Russian SN a Finnish SN and a different import SN. I simply pick one for the log and add the other two in a remarks column just to be on the safe side. Hard to believe makers of war rifles didn't put a SN on everything. These presentation rifles weren't part of the contract requirement so essentially they are not a Milsurp? Regards, Rick.

No doubt initially rejected for the excessive grinding of the charger bridge weld. Somebody was learning that day, and the action got put aside for future contingencies.

Interesting that they put on the MkI foresight protector. No doubt another case of using up non-standard parts. Presumably they were all out of MkI cocking pieces by then.

Thanks for sharing the photos and the story. What a pity we can't hear your dad now.

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Originally Posted by Surpmil

What a pity we can't hear your dad now.

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Thank you, it's actually the Grandfather, Dads' still around, and he can be heard if I answer the phone!!

Just out of curiosity, exactly how many "un-numbered" Long Branches have folks run into? I've been collecting (granted in Western Canada, not Greater Toronto) for 25 years now, and have never seen one. I've seen (and owned) a few of the "lunchbox" special Inglis Hi-Powers, and they are universally un-proofed, generally unfinished specimens. Pistols I can see, but I would think it would be a lot harder to get a fully finished, fully inspector marked rifle out of a wartime factory, would it not? Has anyone actually seen or owned more of these un-numbered rifles? Peter mentions tens, dozens, or more of them--are there?

Ed

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Originally Posted by boltaction

Just out of curiosity, exactly how many "un-numbered" Long Branches have folks run into? I've been collecting (granted in Western Canada, not Greater Toronto) for 25 years now, and have never seen one. I've seen (and owned) a few of the "lunchbox" special Inglis Hi-Powers, and they are universally un-proofed, generally unfinished specimens. Pistols I can see, but I would think it would be a lot harder to get a fully finished, fully inspector marked rifle out of a wartime factory, would it not? Has anyone actually seen or owned more of these un-numbered rifles? Peter mentions tens, dozens, or more of them--are there?

Ed

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2 1941 LB No4MkI never serialed, several 1944 No4MkI*, lots (@12+) of 1945 No4MkI* LB never serialed receivers and more assembled rifles than you could shake a stick at (search on gunnutz for @5 more).

Your experience with Inglis High Powers is not normal to my experience either.

My "Lunchbox" Inglis is as you describe, unfinished, unproofed and "in the white".

Coincidentally on the weekend I went visiting, and saw 2 "No2MkI*" and 1 "No1MkI*" which have all the applicable proofs and inspections, except the appropriate serial numbers.

Over the last 15 years I've seen at least a dozen No2 Inglis which are fully finished and marked except for the serial numbers, and 2 (one of which I now own) "in the white"

Sorry about the delay in getting back to this thread.
It may have been in the "Trip through Small Arms" series on Longbranch, can't guarrantee that though.
Even if it's not, the series is well worth watching and very enlightening.

Where does one find that series? Sounds interesting!

Ed

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Originally Posted by boltaction

Where does one find that series? Sounds interesting!

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It's a movie from about 40-43, at Long Branch, narrated by an employee there 1940-1945, Safety Manager among other titles, voice over done in 2000 by him at age 86.
Paul R. Scott.

Available on youtube in 7 parts; A trip through Small Arms, (Long Branch).
Gets out of sync around part4.

Very interesting video, thank you for posting the link. Where did the distortion originate? There must be a clean copy of this somewhere?

From the pointing pencil etc. it appears there was an original commentary with the film. I wonder how this was lost? Pity the commentary is so out of sync.

Interesting bayonet shown at 00:46 in Part 3 on the Lightened No.4. Looks like it might have inspired the No.5 and No.8 patterns, though perhaps it was the No.5 that inspired?

Also wasn't aware their barrels were forged before machining.

In Part 4 at 1:11 two heavy looking barrels are heat treated. Their breech ends resemble No4's but they are too short and too thick. Anyone recognize them?

Part 5 at 4:15 Assembly: rifles coming off the assembler's benches via overhead conveyor hung by their slings! Neat little appliance for assembling bolts. The barreled actions come to the assembler with the stripped bolt in place, presumably straight from the lapping in of the recoil lugs. It would be nice to see how that was done.

Proof rounds being fired? Note inspector checking trigger function and muzzle bearing!

Part 6 at 8:35: the Telescopic Layer has been provided with right angle prism, which makes laying a heck of a lot easier than the original telescope. Interesting that they are tested at 300 and 600 yards with the layer and Enfield Rest.

Part 7: the cosmoline bath at 1:05!

So you enjoyed it then?