One more for you

[happydude]

I think I might have found a winner, but why it is wearing the old pattern cocking piece and a No. 2 bolt head?

Here's the seller's description and a couple of pictures.

It is a Longbranch dated 1945. The butt is an "L" or long and it has one of the grey coloured butt plates which were used during the war. Butt is marked with the C and broad arrow and a "B" over 32. The forestock has KB just ahead of the king swivel and another C broad arrow near the muzzle with a B and 32. I expect the top wood is also marked similarly but I did not remove it to look. The magazine has no serial number. Barrel is shiny and rifling is sharp, 5 groove. The bolt interestingly enough also does not have a serial number but the sear area is marked with the Longbranch logo and has the numbers 1,2,3,4,5 in succession. Bolt has the older style cocking piece and a #2 bolt head. This rifle was used as a target rifle in most recent history as it had a PH5C sight on it when I received it...also the king swivel and the cocking piece are signs the rifle was used for target work. It has no major difficulties other than the hole in the butt strap which partially obliterates the serial number and someones SIN# marked on the butt plate. That can either be left on, buffed out or the plate changed. No major dings or scratches in the wood. The lighter streaks on the butt that show up on the pics are where the stain or colour has worn off from use. I think the stock is maple and if stripped of the stain would be almost white.

Information

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[tiriaq]

It is not uncommon at all for rifles that have been used for target shooting to be worked over. The bolt is undoubtedly a replacement. Better trigger pull? Better headspace? The Mk. I cocking piece is just a coincidence. Take it apart, and you will likely find evidence of accurizing work. As an ex-target rifle, I would almost expect that parts were swapped. Might or might not have the original barrel.
The hole in the buttsocket is for adapting a PH5A sight (for the SMLE) to the No. 4. Might have had a PH5C on it, but there was a 5A at one time.
Don't what your definition of a winner is. It is a nice looking rifle. It is likely a fine shooter. A $150 sight was removed, likely was sold separately. It is not a fine example of an unaltered LB No. 4. You did not mention an asking price, but I would suggest that it would be worth less than a similar rifle in unaltered condition.

[happydude]

Thanks.

Last one for a while guys but I do appreciate all the help I get from this place.