Ex-NZ military Long Branch No4 Mki with “D” marking

Hi guys

I’m new to the forum and this is my first post. Thanks for all your previous posts , the knowledge you shared here is of great help to a novice collector like me to get started

Im to pick up a LB 1942 No4 Mk1* rifle later this week here in New Zealand. A nice looking one with a serial numbers match.It has ‘NZ + broad arrow’ stamped stock so I assume it’s likely to be an ex-NZ military rifle. As I went through pictures of it, there was a “D” marking drew my attention. It’s located on the butt socket, just below the army service numbers (I suppose) and the LB production serial number.

What concerns me most is whether it’s related to “DP” markings we usually see on Drill Purpose Only rifles? I checked many photos of DP rifles and seems they were always marked “DP” instead of a single D. There seems no sign of a “P” ever marked or removed next to the D, neither any D/DP markings found on other parts of the rifle, but the shape and location of the letter is still suspicious…

If it’s nothing to do with DP then does anyone know what it might stand for?

your thoughts are much appreciated!

Nothing that would bother me at purchase, marking-wise. What is of concern is the lack of support for the trigger guard cross screw! Looks like the area below centerline is missing.

Hello fellow NZer

:D

Welcome

Interesting to see the 'O' in Long Branch - looks like its been stamped 90 degrees out.
Friday afternoon job?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jmoore

Nothing that would bother me at purchase, marking-wise. What is of concern is the lack of support for the trigger guard cross screw! Looks like the area below centerline is missing.

---

Thanks very much for your comment!

after some delays I finally get this rifle on hand today and had it checked breifly at gunsmith.
It has a 2 groove bore in very nice condition, exterior needs some clean and maintainance but nothing too bad.
Attachment 44458

Upon closer examination, the "D" mark concerning might as well be a "P" partially worn off (see pic), doubt remains though
Attachment 44459

I checked the trigger guard area but not so sure if there is really sth missing as it appears to be exactly the same as my other LB No4 Mki.
Attachment 44460

Chamber and barrel are little marked and undated. There are just a few single letters/logos stamped on upper barrel knox, some of them pretty faint, and a bit of unusual scratch on top of it.
Attachment 44463Attachment 44464
Unable to picture the lower part as I have difficulty removing the underwood -- it fits very tight with the breech, can't even loosening it unscrewed. Will leave the work to another day...

Frankly speaking the rifle exceeds my expectation, but for more peace of mind, it would be a lot better without the D or P marking on the butt socket..... too fussy am i?:banghead:

a bit more pics
Attachment 44466Attachment 44465Attachment 44467Attachment 44468Attachment 44469Attachment 44470Attachment 44471Attachment 44472

good to know Im not along here:dancingbanana:

do you use the same or similar id on trademe? sory if i getit wrong:cheers:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ssj

Hello fellow NZer

:D

Welcome

---

---------- Post added at 07:56 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:55 AM ----------

nice observation mate, it might be a "Saturday afternoon job back then":D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by waco16

Interesting to see the 'O' in Long Branch - looks like its been stamped 90 degrees out.
Friday afternoon job?

---

Word of warning first........... If the fore-end is tight and you can't get it off, that because it is MEANT to be tight. It is drawn up at the rear, between the ever tightening taper of the butt socket and the draws (hence the name.....) To remove it, NEVER, never, never, not EVER pull it away from the muzzle end, ever, never...........

Gently drift the rear end downwards gently using a wooden drift, side to side, on the top rearmost surfaces of the fore-end

Peter Laidler, REME Armourer, RNZEME workshops, Ngaruawahia Ordnance Depot, 1967-8

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Word of warning first........... If the fore-end is tight and you can't get it off, that because it is MEANT to be tight. It is drawn up at the rear, between the ever tightening taper of the butt socket and the draws (hence the name.....) To remove it, NEVER, never, never, not EVER pull it away from the muzzle end, ever, never...........

Gently drift the rear end downwards gently using a wooden drift, side to side, on the top rearmost surfaces of the fore-end

Peter Laidler, REME Armourer, RNZEME workshops, Ngaruawahia Ordnance Depot, 1967-8

---

Many thanks Peter!
you've just saved my rifle:)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tomwolf26

I checked the trigger guard area but not so sure if there is really sth missing as it appears to be exactly the same as my other LB No4 Mki.

---

Looks like it was just a stark shadow, based on your new photos.:thup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tomwolf26

Frankly speaking the rifle exceeds my expectation, but for more peace of mind, it would be a lot better without the D or P marking on the butt socket..... too fussy am i?

---

Sorry about your mystery letter. It still doesn't bother me, if that's any consolation.:madsmile:

Very nice looking rifle. Congrats! That marking doesn't bother me either.

As an aside, does anyone know what the electro-pencilled marking on the cocking piece represents? I have seen before a couple of times in this forum and have have recently purchased a 4L series Long Branch that has the same marking on the button cocking piece.

:D Nice you got a gun with a good barrel ive seen so many stuffed ones its not funny and a new barrel is $1100NZ. I'd like a LB myself, looking for one, ditto a Savage. I have a 1952 Faz no4 mk2 Im desporterising to shoot at WSRA and Trentham.

I seem to have got a no4 collecting bug....

:madsmile:

ssj = thing2(TM)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by waco16

Interesting to see the 'O' in Long Branch - looks like its been stamped 90 degrees out.
Friday afternoon job?

---

That caught my eye too- I've never seen one like that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jmoore

Looks like it was just a stark shadow, based on your new photos.:thup:



Sorry about your mystery letter. It still doesn't bother me, if that's any consolation.:madsmile:

---

maybe I will stamp my initial on the rifle ... just to further confuse the next owner:rofl:

---------- Post added at 10:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:52 PM ----------

thanks!

That's sth i was going to ask as well, i saw the V marking on a few web pics and it finally it lands on one of my own guns

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kiwi

Very nice looking rifle. Congrats! That marking doesn't bother me either.

As an aside, does anyone know what the electro-pencilled marking on the cocking piece represents? I have seen before a couple of times in this forum and have have recently purchased a 4L series Longbranch that has the same marking on the button cocking piece.

---

---------- Post added at 11:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 PM ----------

I've been collecting British militarias for years and only started shooting recently.
I guess the rifles are more of extension of my uniform collections:D So No4s are good starters but what's more important to me is a SMLE which I keep looking for, and a No5 too
I know what you are thinking-- I only deserve DP rifles right? :madsmile::madsmile::madsmile::madsmile:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ssj

:D Nice you got a gun with a good barrel ive seen so many stuffed ones its not funny and a new barrel is $1100NZ. I'd like a LB myself, looking for one, ditto a Savage. I have a 1952 Faz no4 mk2 Im desporterising to shoot at WSRA and Trentham.

I seem to have got a no4 collecting bug....

:madsmile:

ssj = thing2(TM)

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tomwolf26

That's sth i was going to ask as well, i saw the V marking on a few web pics and it finally it lands on one of my own guns

---

I believe it's just an inspection mark, done after the piece is heat treated. Keep parts breakage to a minimum and prevents destroying lots of steel marking tools. Some look like a drunken "LB".

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tomwolf26

it would be a lot better without the D or P marking on the butt socket..... too fussy am i?

---

It's definitely a P, and yes, IMOH you are being too fussy. Somewhere in Skennerton /Lee Enfield Story (in the chapter on markings) I read that the P indicates that the barrel was replaced. Have you searched the forum? Can you find a P on the barrel knoxform? Take a look at the right side of the 3rd photo in your 1st post of the 15th July. I think there may be another incompletely struck P there.

The "V" marking on your cocking piece is very common on 1941 cocking pieces.

The "D" marking is similar to a "steel batch" marking found on '43 and later Long Branch No 4 rifles.

The sideways "o" marking is something I've never observed before but it is a fairly early no4mkI* so I would speculate an error in the roll die.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

The "V" marking on your cocking piece is very common on 1941 cocking pieces.

---

Seem to remember that my "3L" with the early type cocking piece has a similar electro-penciled marking, but IIRC it's arrowhead shaped. Can't find a photo, and the rifle is not at hand right now.

Recent Purchase: NZ Marked No4

Attachment 44595Attachment 44596Attachment 44594

In NZ, we called that the 'census' number