New LB No4 Mk1

[Dalebert]

Bought this Long Branch because it seemed like it was worth the $200 I paid. I told seller I thought it was a $350 to $400 gun. Is that about the range on this?

Is the "303 Brit" marking on the left side of the receiver an import mark or part of the original markings?

It's got the shiniest bore I've ever seen in a gun. Looks unfired to me. Overall the gun presents as gun that might have spent some time in an armory, but never in the field.

All serial numbers match.

Information

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[neorebel]

$200.00 was a steal!

I bought a bunch of them back in the early 90's for around $100.00 each. Sold some and kept he best ones. I sold them for $350-$400.

[Flying10uk]

I don't believe the .303 Brit to be an original factory marking but most likely added on or after import to the U.S..

[Brian Dick]

You did good. It's an Interarms Import from the late 80's early 90's. The ".303 BRIT" mark is part of the import mark. If you look at the left side of the butt socket, I'd bet that you'll see "IAC ALEX VA". These rifles were surplused direct from Donnington to Manchester in England and then Alexandria, VA USA. Later excellent quality rifles were also imported from South Africa by Interarms in the 90's but the import marks were engraved with a pantograph on the left side of the receiver just ahead of the model/mfg markings. I had a few slashed with a razor knife just like yours from uncaring workers cutting off the storage wrap.

[browningautorifle]

slashed with a razor knife just like yours from uncaring workers cutting off the storage wrap.

Nice...just what you need.

[Brian Dick]

I could tell you lots of stories about uncaring sellers and their employees damaging rifles I've purchased over the years. The worst was a certain company in England, (I'll leave unnamed but had the initials C.O.), that just threw 165 Long Branch No.4's into wood crates with no individual packing protection whatsoever. I almost threw up when I picked them up. Tons of dings, dents and scratches that I knew were fresh. It was a done deal through a middleman and I took them all but a few years later I saw the owner of the company at the MD Arms show in Baltimore and read him the riot act. He blamed it on his employees. Needless to say I wasn't impressed. I'm still not too popular with him I'd think but really don't care what he thinks as he's no friend of mine. He collected a lot of money from BDL too over many years. Some of the scarred up rifles were "as new" 1950 production too. I'm of the belief that all of these rifles have served their time in Hell and should be treated with utmost respect and care but that's just me.

[browningautorifle]

Just p*ss poor business practice.

[Dalebert]

I spent 25 years as a warehouse manager, so unfortunately I am familiar with cutting product by carelessly opening cartons. That thought never occurred to me on this gun, but it makes perfect sense.

[CINDERS]

served their time in Hell and should be treated with utmost respect and care but that's just me

No not just you Brian if I could afford it I would start a safe house for them and fill the thing up with them...........good score Dalebert have to let us see how it shoots if you are going to fire it

[Brian Dick]

If you steam and scrape the cuts very gently, then clean up with a few grades of sandpaper, you can all but remove them. One of the few times I'll recommend getting out the iron, scraper and sand paper. Block sand only and very gently of course. U.S. CBP slashed a Long Branch TP sniper I imported many years ago from New Zealand at LAX while inspecting it and I carefully used this method to repair the damage. I certainly hope Dalebert gets it on the range. These MoD reserve rifles were some of the finest to land on the market thanks to Interarms. I always used to shake my head at the guys who scoffed at them because of the post 1968 import markings as if they were less desirable than a No.4 imported prior to the marking requirements. As No.4's go, they were/are generally better, unculled rifles.