Question regaqding 1950's Long Branch production

[spinecracker]

As I am currently unable to move much (except for attending a gun show this morning - not a good idea when you have a gaping surgical wound, but I digress...), I have been looking through the Skennerton and Stratton texts in greater depth than before, and I noticed something that has me confused (not difficult to do at the moment). Stratton mentions that Long Branch produced about 50,000 No.4 Mk.1*s from 1948 to 1956, but also states that Long Branch probably didn't make any rifles from 1951 to 1956, and the suggestion is made that they used used 1950 receivers with later barrels (e.g. rifles have been reported with 1950-dated receivers but later dated barrels). Does anyone here have such an example? Would anyone have any idea of how many rifles Long Branch may have put together from 1951 to 1956? I would assume that a LB with a 1950-dated receiver and a 1956-dated barrel would be quite an uncommon find?

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[limpetmine]

I have one picture of one 1955 dated rifle. It is/was in Italy. I've no other serial numbers or input from anyone else on 1955 dated rifle.

I have no proof or knowledge other than what I've gleaned from the serial numbers, but I believe any receiver dated past 1950 is a one off, from storage.

There is a base of information about rifles with bad receivers being rebuilt with the same original serial number and the new receiver.

It is known that undated, late run receivers exist. Many were turned into home made .22's, from spares from destroyed No7's, and for a while there were some on the auction sites.

[spinecracker]

Thanks, Limpetmine. I spotted the 1950's LB serial number sticky after I had posted my question, and I have given it a good look over. It would appear that getting any concensus regarding production numbers from 1950 onwards would be a futile task, although it would appear that Long Branch was very successful in ramping up production in 1949 and 1950 to get together enough parts for 50,000 rifles. No matter, as I still have my favourite answer for anyone asking me why I prefer Long Branches - "err....because it is a Long Branch???".

[muffett.2008]

[QUOTE=spinecracker;191930 my favourite answer for anyone asking me why I prefer Long Branches - "err....because it is a Long Branch???".[/QUOTE]
As opposed to a shorter one?

[No4Mk1(T)]

In the past 25 or so years I’ve suffered(?) from the Enfield collection affliction I’ve handled 3 or 4 post 1950 dated Long Branch rifles and seen photos of several more and to a number they have all had war dated serial numbers. I think it’s fairly safe to say a Long Branch No4 dated after 1950 will end up being a rifle built up on a replacement receiver. As always with Enfields Never Say Never so if someone out there has one with a serial number higher that 96L0012 and is dated 1950 or later lets see a photo.

No matter, as I still have my favourite answer for anyone asking me why I prefer Long Branches - "err....because it is a Long Branch???".

10-4 on that brother!

[55recce]

The 1955 dated rifle owned by a friend has a 80Lxxxx serial number. It's very pristine and I am very envious

[Brian Dick]

I've got a 1956 dated receiver/rifle numbered in the 77Lxxxx. It's not pristine but still pretty nice. The receiver was obviously replaced at some point. We've discussed this before here. I also had a 1956 dated receiver with a C No.7Mk.1 barrel installed as described in this thread. I've since built a C No.7 using a proper original surplus receiver so I've got the '56 date receiver set aside for a future project.