1941 No4 Mk1 Long Branch

[chun12]

All,

I posted when I first got this years ago, and haven’t been able to find more on my rifle. I cannot decider what the bolt numbers mean dead there seems to be a lack of markings on the right hands side band. There was also a fair amount of cortisol on the bottom of the barrel. I haven’t in a safe and dehumidified. It has net been shot since 2015 and I keep to clean, today I just put some RIg gin grease on it all to help. Any information is appreciated!

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Roger Payne]

Your rifle has been around a bit, but is a nice piece & a little scarce, being a North American produced Mk1 rifle (rather than the much commoner Mk1*). It was made at the Canadian Long Branch factory in 1941, as you can see by the markings on the body side wall. Long Branch did not put their name or the date on the butt socket, as did other manufacturers. As the barrel bears Canadian inspectors' stamps & a 41 date it is almost certainly the original barrel. The bolt is not original to the rifle, however, being of post WW2 manufacture by the Royal Small Arms factory Fazakerley in the city of Liverpool, UK. The rear hand guard is also of British manufacture, made by Sykes Ltd, who later in the war used just the secret code allotted to them of N74 - though as you can see, your guard bears both marks.

The CAI (or at least I think that's what it says) probably stands for Century Arms International, the US importer of the rifle.

Hope this helps a little.

[rgg_7]

Receiver and barrel match - that's a huge plus!. Bolt does not and I'd look for a correct early LB bolt - well cost a few bucks but it's worth it. The handguards are Brit so I'd change those to early LB's. The other details that are incorrect is the front band and the foresight protect. Very expensive to change those. Nice Enfield!

Ron (Canada)

[chun12]

Thank you all for the info. I was new to collecting and this was on the table for a good deal a long time ago. I didn’t know much and it was a spur of the moment purchase, not regrettable though. It’s a cool piece of history and I will have to see if I can source parts (Numerich I know and have used), any suggestions?

[browningautorifle]

I will have to see if I can source parts

Why not place a WTB here and see? At least here guys will know what you're talking about and sell you the part you need, not just ship a bolt and tell you to go hang... These guys have everything in their pockets.

[chun12]

Why not place a WTB here and see? At least here guys will know what you're talking about and sell you the part you need, not just ship a bolt and tell you to go hang... These guys have everything in their pockets.

That’s fair, maybe I will. Thanks for the idea!

[Surpmil]

It's had a long, hard life, and has seen some neglect even after the FTR by the rust on the barrel reinforce.

Is the bolt serial numbered to the action? If electro-pencilled it's probably a service fitting, so I would leave it alone unless an obvious mis-match.

Bolts are individually fitted, so unless you're set up to do that and have sourced a LB bolt (with hole) no point even trying, not to mention the issue of renumbering whatever replacement bolt is used.

I assume its a five groove barrel? Many of the 1941 dated MkI rifles have 1942 dated two groove barrels. I wouldn't be surprised if yours was in the first batch shipped from Long Branch.

Our WWII leadership was less "independent" than in WWI, ironically, so these rifles were all shipped to the UK MoD to divvy out as they wished, and they made no effort to issue Canadian rifles to Canadian troops, despite the 1st Division being in the UK from late 1939.

[chun12]

I think it’s a two grove, I’ll have to look again with a light.