I have a 1942 Longbranch #4 MK 1* Serial # 20L8385 with steel butt plate,no rib top wood and no number wood.
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I have a 1942 Longbranch #4 MK 1* Serial # 20L8385 with steel butt plate,no rib top wood and no number wood.
OK, I picked up a Long Branch No4 Mk1* - Serial # 83L0149, no rib handguard, MkIII rear sight, Steel butt plate. It also has a first version Button style cocking piece, but serial doesn't match. Date on receiver is "1945", but the serial indicates 1944 build, I believe.
No. 4 Mk1*
Long Branch
1943
S/N 24L1117
RB 2/47 marking on receiver. Rebuild?
MPD markings on stock and green paint on barrel. Indian ownership?
No. 4 Mk1*
Long Branch
1943
S/N 36L4270
/51 FTR (F) /3
no ribs upper
brass butt plate
matching numbered wood
matching bolt
'41 No.4 Mk1 with stamped, serial matching '41 barrel 0L6065
Smooth rear handguard and milled front sight protector. All LB parts.
Long Branch No 4 Mk 1*
1943
Top wood isn't ribbed, although it looks good and the colour matches on all pieces. No numbers visible
Serial # 41L2405 on the wrist and the bolt matches (although its very difficult to see the number on the bolt).
The magazine does not match :( and the bore is in decent shape.
C Mk3 back aperture sight.
Steel buttplate.
No.4 Mk I* Long Branch
1944
Serial Number 68L5308
Matching numbers, all LB parts, and bore is excellent
Beech furniture, ribbed upper, steel buttplate
MkIII stamped rear ladder sight
#1 bolt head
No serial number on the magazine
Imported by Century Arms International in the 1980s
Purchased in 1985
Shredder regarding 41L2405. Do not worry about your magazine not matching. Just buy a Long Branch magazine with no serial number. A bit hard to find, but they are out there. You could even use an unnumbered Stevens-Savage or British made No.4 magazine. The Army did not care who made the magazine ... as long as it worked.
Serial numbers were NOT put on the magazines at the factory at Long Branch. As far as I know this numbering of magazines was done later in service by one or more armies, but not by the Canadian Army.
The rifles were issued with one (1) magazine. The purpose of numbering the magazines was likely to prevent a soldier who had lost his magazine from stealing a magazine from another soldier and thus avoiding having to explain, and pay for, the lost magazine. I encountered that problem with my troops with unnumbered FN magazines, breech blocks, Blank Firing Attachments etc,
Colin in Canada
Hi to all members,
This’s first time that I’m posting and I’m mainly interesting on Enfield rifles.
I have a question concerning a Long Branch No4 Mk1* with receiver marked 1945 with block serial number 68LXXXX (I have omitted the last digits).
Friend of mine is the owner and rifle comes directly form Italian Navy arsenal, so not passed through a potential other refurbishing and is in the condition of when have been refurbished at 1950 by the Canadian Armory.
My question is, based on “literature “ serial number block should be a middle 1944 production but receiver is marked 1945… so I’m wondering if has been reported others case of receiver 1945 with 68LXXXX serial number range
Ps, all parts number matching and are LB marked barrel is five grooves rifling
I'll have to check the excel report tomorrow. It's not unheard of to have rifles out of sequence. Especially common between 41-42