I picked up a couple of "milsurps", and I have a question

I picked up a couple of Milsurps to decorate my "Man Cave". One is a nice 1942 Mosin Nagant 91-30 that came with accessories, and the second is a 1944 Long Branch, No4 Mk1*. I plan to use them as part of a milsurp arrangement, along with my Rock-Ola M1 Carbine, some military helmets/other things, as well as, some historical photographs on the wall showing the firearms in action.

Anyway, the Long Branch doesn't have a lot of markings on it,other than a variety of letters. It does have the serial number on the rear band, on the back of the bolt handle, and on the bottom of the magazine. Long Branch and date on left side of receiver. In addition, it has an S in a box on the buttstock, which I assume indicates Savage. It also has an N on another location on the buttstock. The front barrel band has a circle with some numbers in it. There is a crown on the bolt head. I also noticed an "F", and an "M" in different areas of the bolt. The rear, upper hand guard is also grooved which I've read is earlier than 1944. Also under the wood are some letters, and the number 43. I'm assuming that the 43 is the date of the barrel. Is it possible for a 1944 Long Branch to have a 43 dated barrel, as it came from the factory, or does the 43 date indicate a replacement. I assume the gun is a parts gun, but I really have no experience with Enfields, so I'm unsure. Thanks for any help.

By the way, I just discovered this very nice site. I look forward to surfing, and learning. Thanks for any help.

Doug,

Savage parts on a Longbranch made in 1944 is not uncommon as Savage sent their parts to Longbranch when they stopped building No.4's in 1944.

Some pictures of the rifle and the markings would go a long way toward determining if it's a bitser or not.

Claven,

Thanks for the response. I'll try to get a picture posted tomorrow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Doug S

I assume the gun is a parts gun, but I really have no experience with Enfields, so I'm unsure. Thanks for any help.

By the way, I just discovered this very nice site. I look forward to surfing, and learning. Thanks for any help.

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Welcome to the site Doug ... :thup:

I wouldn't assume that it's a parts gun. In fact, it might just be all correct as claven2 points out.

Pics are helpful and if you don't know how to post them, please feel free to send them to me at badger@milsurps.com and I'll host them for you in your post.

Regards,
Badger

Thanks Badger, I shouldn't have a problem with the pictures, but if I do, I'll send them to you. I should have them up by this evening.

This thing ended up having a lot more markings on it than I realized. I'm going to try to post them. Any help in identification, would be most appreciated.

Here is two more...This site is very generous in allowing pictures. Thanks for any feedback. Also, I apologize for the dog hair. I have a Norwegian Elkhound, and his hair often sneaks into my gun pictures. Unfortunately, I don't notice it until I upload the pictures.

It's been rebuilt at some point from the look of it. The bolt looks to have been matched to the rifle during the arsenal rebuild, as does the mag. Odd that they didn't stamp the "L". It has Fazakerley, Maltby, LB and Savage parts on it. There doesn't look to be an Ishapore screw through the forestock. If I were a betting man, I'd say the most likely countries are Malaysia, Greece and Italy. It's not a British refurb or it would be painted in suncorite and have electro-pencil marks on the receiver from the rebuild.

Hope that helps, it's a legit military issue rifle - doesn't seem to be a restored sporter from the look of it - but it IS a rebuild.

Claven2,

Thanks for the info. It does help a lot. Now, just to clarify. When you say "rebuild", do you mean a gun that was issued, and that afterward it was refurbished in a factory? Similar to the Mosin Nagant, and M1 Carbine?

When people are referring to "parts" guns, they are referring to a gun that was put together from leftover parts, not refurbed as you describe above?

The fact that it was probably overseas, does this mean it was likely issued during WWII, or could it have gone overseas, sometime after WWII.

Last, I know that a refurbed gun is worth less, but what would you estimate the worth of this gun to be? I traded for it and a Mosin Nagant, so I'm not overly concerned as I wanted them more than the gun that I traded, but I'm sure the price listed for the gun ($275) was a bit high.

Thanks for the help, I do appreciate it.

Oh, and I forgot, does that mean that the 43 dated barrel is a replacement, or would it have been original,and does the serial number provide any info, as to when in 1944 the gun was manufactured.

I don't mean to fire off a bunch of stupid questions, I'm just a history buff, and I'd like to learn more about it.

Here is a pick of the crazy arrangement in my "Man Cave" (basement). There isn't much rhyme or reason to it, no consistent theme, but I like it. Now, I just have to acquire a British Enfield, a Garand, Mauser, and Jap, and I'll be satisfied (maybe)

$275 isn't a bad price IMO. The fact that it's a "parts gun" has no real signifigance other than to a "die hard" collector (during the war, lots of rifles were repaired/refurbished with whatever parts were at hand, many times the wood is mismatching as well as metal parts.) The main thing is that it wasn't Sporterized like my Long Branch was. It wasn't easy finding replacement timber for it, and it will only get more difficult as time goes on. I have seen #4 Mk1*'s going for about $400 at gun shows that are complete, whereas Sporters go for about $80-$100. Is the bore on your's in good shape? If it is, then count your blessings-a lot of the bores of these rifles are pitted and rusted out from shooting corrosive ammo and not being cleaned properly. Nice looking collection!
BTW, I really like your Mosin Nagant too-I was looking at one this weekend, but the scarcity of 7.62x54R ammo made me pause. He only wanted $180 for it and it was in great condition, but I'm waiting for my 1955 SKS so I couldn't afford it. Maybe next month....LOVE Milsurps!!!!!!!!:dancingbanana:

ThumperPaul,

Thanks for the feedback concerning prices. I do like the gun. The bore looks surprisingly good, especially when you consider the exterior. I hadn't done any research prior to purchase, and was really only looking for some historical firearms for the display pictured. I would like to pick up another Enfield of English manufacture. I didn't know Long Branch was Canadian until I got it home, and looked it up.

I'd encourage you to pick up one of the Mosin 91-30'. Look around, and you should be able to find one around $100-$150 max. They are another neat piece of history.