1941 Long Branch

Comments would be appeciated regarding the serial number on the bolt handle. It does look like it has been put on by a drunken monkey, but could that have been done that badly at Long Branch? I am assuming that it is a replacement bolt until proven otherwise -if it was replaced, then it was done very early as the hole in the bolt handle knob is present, and so is the early cocking piece (a later replacement would have been a later type, surely?). I looked closely at the digits, and the last digit "2" is in the exact same font as the serial number on the buttsocket. Opinions, please!

Also, what about the "broad arrow" on the left of the cocking piece?? Looks like they used a centre punch to mark that.

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Mk.1 micrometer rear sight, Long Branch-stamped
Sling swivels, front and rear, Long Branch-stamped
Front sight protector, Long Branch-stamped, worn with bluing, with correct fixing screw/pin
No.4 Mk.1 forend, with low right hand wall for cut-off, with correct Long Branch/Canadian stamps
No.4 Mk.1 buttstock (any length), with correct Long Branch/Canadian stamps
Buttplate, complete, (steel?), ), with correct Long Branch/Canadian stamps
No.4 Mk.1 front and rear hand guards, Long Branch-stamped

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I can help you out with the sight protector and butt plate. PM me if interested.

I am beginning to think the restoration process on this firearm could be beyond me lol. Who wants a project? PM me if interested.

Did you shoot the rifle? So if is an good shooter why must it have all original parts? Restore it and use it as an allday shooter.

Regards

Gunner

Gunner, this rifle is quite a rare firearm (how many 1941 Long Branches are still out there that have not had the receiver refinished?), and it is worth restoring, if not by me, then by someone else. I already have other Enfields I shoot.

Bolt is not original of course. If it was refitted by an armourer one would expect the filed area to be blackened/blued somehow.

The fact that it is a MkI bolt suggests either that there were a number of MkI rifles together in some location and for whatever reason one lost its bolt and this was a spare, or two were swapped in error...we can imagine all kinds of scenarios.

Someone took the trouble to find a MkI bolt anyway, so be glad of that.

I've got a photo of typical MkI bolt markings I'll add tonight.

Looks like I am going to have to dig my 1942 Longbranch out of the safe and look to see what I actually have compared to the posts here.....chris3

One question - if a correct forend for a 1941 Longbranch could be found, then does anyone have any idea of how much it should cost? I may have a lead...

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Originally Posted by jmoore

"LB" on the follower?

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I have not seen a LB mag with LB on the follower. I have two, from 41 and 44, plus two still in the wrap, NIB. Only LB mark is on the spline.

I do have Savage mags with the square S on the follower.

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One question - if a correct forend for a 1941 Longbranch could be found, then does anyone have any idea of how much it should cost? I may have a lead...

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If the current owner knows what it is it well not be cheap.

My rifle is a run of the mill 1942 Longbranch. The serial number is 86xx range and has all the later fixtures. The rifle went to/came from India so it has it's share of black paint, green barrel paint, and Ishy screw. I have not removed the paint yet. Barrel, receiver, bolt match, and forestock serial numbers match. The cocking piece was changed out with a 47 slab model. The butt has been changed because it has 5 serial numbers stamped on it then lined out. Mag has two Longbranch serial numbers lined out. It has the milled micro rear sight. I got this rifle from Century a couple years ago. It is a great shooter though....Thanks to all you guys for the detailed information on Longbranch rifles that you posted.....chris3