1944 Long Branch No.5 Mk1 Jungle Carbine ...

[Badger]

Saw a thread over on CGN about this piece ...

Attachment 28620
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Anyone have one of these and can provide more pictures?

Regards,
Doug

Information

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[Brit plumber]

I'm a little sceptical about this one, the markings are good,very good in fact but they dont look like other long brach markings I've seen.

[Peter Laidler]

We'd need to measure the wall thickness if that was in doubt BP and Badger. The markings are usually deep enough when done on the roll-press to be foolproof if it's a fake. The first N and the A COULD be suspect and indicate individual stamps

[Badger]

Some close up views comparing die stamped words Long Branch and date 1944 on other Long Branch rifles to the stampings on this 1944 Long Branch No.5 Mk1.

Attachment 28639
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I can't find any reference to an official Long Branch No.5 Mk1 Jungle Carbine ever being produced, although I can find a reference to an experimental one being produced using a 1943 No.4 Mk1* receiver.

According to Skennerton's newest publication The Lee Enfield on page 319 ..

"At least one protype .303 N0.5 jungle carbine was produced at the Long Branch factory, the illustrated speciman is from the Candian War Museum collection. This example utilised a 1943 vintage No.4 Mk11* receiver with No.5 type barrel, flash eliminator assembly and fore-end. The backsight is s No.4 Mk3, re-graduated to 800 yards, which makes it similar to the British-made No.5 Mk2 sight. The carbine is stocked to within 6.25 in. of the flash hider, similar to the ROF Fazakerley and BSA Shirley-produced No.5 model."

The photograph from Skennerton's book referenced above also appears on page 319 and shows it marked as a 1943 No.4 Mk1*.

Regards,
Doug



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[browningautorifle]

I was unaware we actually made them???

[tiriaq]

I, too, am rather skeptical. I suppose anything is possible, but I'd need to see it to believe it - or at least wait until its been authenticated by someone I trust.

[Paul S.]

There are some visible differences to the No5 marking that I can see in the side by side by side photo. First of all, the alignment of the letters in 'LONG BRANCH' are not as even, nor is the depth, as they are with the other two markings. Secondly, the marking appears to much further back on the receiver - towards the butt end, than on either of the other two markings. Much more of the thumb cut out radius is over the marking on the No. 5 than on the No. 4.

[canuck98k]

Could the "5" be photoshopped? It looks a little off.

[Peter Laidler]

And we haven't seen the rest of the body side either. But I don't dispute that some tool room examples do/might exist. Canada certainly went down the lightweight road until events overtook the need.

[Surpmil]

Could the "5" be photoshopped? It looks a little off.

That's what I was thinking. Nice try though!