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Just had pictures sent to me regarding a 1943 Long Branch, on the left side of the receiver it is stamped RB 11/46....
I was told it went to BSA for repairs and upon completion was stamped. Is this info correct and what does the RB stand for? It has a beautiful 2 groove barrel and was told it has a BSA marked buttstock.
I believe that you have stumbled upon an early FTR Long Branch.Quote:
Originally Posted by bros
If you examine the markings closely you will probably discover that it is R "LB" 11/46 (ie. Repaired Long Branch November 1946).
This system of markings seems to have been discontinued before 1949.
I re-examined the picture and it is the same, left side of receiver stamped as follows "RB 11/46". Possible that RB= re-barrel??? If so who would have re-furbed it? Apparently the condition of the bore would support that theory! You would see that picture if I was a little more computer savvy!!!
Your thoughts always appreciated.
Just a suggestion, but could it have been stamped with the combined 'L & B' Long Branch stamp, that is often seen on components of Canadian WW2 era rifles?
You can always send me the pics and I'll post them. Check your messages for a PM...Quote:
Originally Posted by bros
Here's the pics from the previous mentioned post of Bros...#3. Click on the box and arrow and they go huge. It does look like an LB marking...
Not sure what is more beautiful the rifle or the backdrop.
I would say but not with any degree of certainty, that the RB/date indicates REBUILD- date. But NOT British because we were not permitted to stamp the bodyside. The Ishapore type screw would indicate an Indian rebuild to me but as they worked to the same EMER's and technical instructions as us........ In fact we were still training Indian Army Armourers at Blackdown, Gosport and Bordon until the mid 60's
That's the first time I've ever seen a Long Branch rebuild stamp. Very interesting. The "LB" is pretty distinct.
Lee Enfield, I've seen 1946 month/year date stamps on the left side of the butt sockets on many Long Branch rifles. Most of them returned from Greek Army service. Is that a Canadian rebuild date or possibly a European workshop mark as discussed here a while back? No one seems to have a definitive answer. I always wondered if they were rebuilt/inspected in Canada and shipped directly to the Greeks as foreign aid post WWII.
Thanks for posting the photos Jim!!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by browningautorifle
Intresting to see the LB stamp!!! I did not see that as the pictures were sent to my phone and I could not blow them up to a size where I could get as much detail, I thought it was just a "B". Anyhow the rifle should arrive to me in a few days. If it maters to anyone the magazine is apparently a forced match, the bolt is matching.
Thanks to Lee Enfield that had it right...from the start. Thanks also to all the others who gave their inputQuote:
Originally Posted by Lee Enfield
Any photos? "4/52" type marking?Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
I've been collecting Long Branch markings variations so I'm disappointed that I haven't managed to corner an RLB 4/46 type "FTR" marked rifle yet.
No, they're all long sold. I'm struggling to find decent rifles now. They were exactly as you show although I never saw one that late. All were month/46 if memory serves. There must have been a dozen or so of the 165+ Greek LB rifles I had.
Mmmmmmm I'm not sure that the B will an LB when more definite photos emerge. We'll see......... As for LB hand stamping the rifle after a mayor(?) rebuild...... Nope. Annanuvverfing. How come more haven't emerged?
Yes it is, quite distinct and not a mistake.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
No sweat...Quote:
Originally Posted by bros
Good point though...you should know.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
For a closer look...
Attachment 82688
The "R" is open to interpretation. The item following the "R" is definitely the Long Branch monogram of "L" and "B" superimposed. One can clearly see the ends of the "L" on top and on bottom right.
Remember that "Small Arms Limited" wrapped up business at the of 1945 and a new company "Canadian Arsenals Limited" started up at the beginning of 1946 in the same Long Branch facility.
Yep, I'm convinced thanks to Spike. LB it is.
Is it safe to say that it is uncommon to have this kind of factory stamping on a 1943 longbranch?
Well I received the Long Branch today!!! It certainly has some history!! Ishy srcew as Peter said. Markings on the rear sight, the upper butt-socket (bolt raceway) and upper barrel under handgaurd...... other than the 46 date and Long Branch proof marks have all been removed with a grinder.......but yes it does have a mint 2 groove barrel. The fore-end has been force- matched marked with some big numerical stamps. The magazine also has been force matched....not on the bottom but on the backside where the mag catch is. It has a BSA marked butt with a gazillion stamps....letters and numbers. Tomorrow I'm going to give it a whirl...inspite of barrel being solid with no upper movement in the forestock.
Happy Easter.
Not so much 'force matched' as simply re-numbered. And Armourers would do that every day, especially with bolts, fore-ends and magazines. After correctly fitting of course.
I have an early 1941 action body LB that has the /46 mark on the buttstock. It lacks the R LB mark or the month mark. 0L80xx serial. In discussing it with Brian in a previous thread and taking it all apart I found one of the hand guards was not a long branch and the magazine had been force matched with three serial numbers of a non corresponding font. It also have a what looked to be a brand new Canadian MK III sight, but retained the early waisted sight protector and the hinged front band.
Leads me to believe that these rifles were post war clean up and that they were not done at LB, but some Canadian work shop, likely overseas. That was Brian's hypothesis and this rifle posted seems to support that:
Long branch rebuilt: R LB Month /46
Workshop: /46
anyone ever seen a /47 date?
Try not to use too much force matching stuff. You might do permanent damage.