No.4 Long Branch: Connecting the dots help

[milprileb]

Rifle description: No.4MK1* Long Branch 1943, all matching numbers in right places, rear stock non matching wood to forearm and butt has a NZ mark on it. The receiver ring has a W on it. All metal has been suncorited. Bore appears 4 or 5 groove and mirror brillant. Shoots MkVII SA ball ammo .5 MOA at 100 yds from Lead Sled.

I don't think Long Branch ever suncorited rifles and that W on rec. ring may be Weedon arsenal marking. There is no FTR marking anywhere.

Due to the phenomenal accuracy, I have not pulled off the forearm to see if any clues remain under the wood. As long as bedding VOO DOO is doing what its doing and this rifle is performing perfectly, I am not touching anything.

So... what do you think here. Is this a refinished by British arsenal Long Branch that was in British service ? I am discounting the NZ marking as there is no telling if that was a replacement stock somewhere along its life time. There are no other NZ marks on metal.

Would a No.4 get suncorited post war and not be marked FTR? What is the most probable explaination of what these rifles clues mean?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

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[spinecracker]

If the rifle had been in New Zealand service, wouldn't it have had NZ identification marks and serial numbers marked on the receiver/buttsocket, bolt handle, magazine, etc? Are there any manufacturer's marks on the underside of the buttstock near where it attaches to the rifle? As the rifle is that accurate, I wouldn't strip it down for the world.

[milprileb]

spinecracker,

NZ with broad arrow only on the butt. Nothing NZ on the metal. My estimation is its likely a Weedon Arsenal refinished rifle in which they replaced the wood and on top of that pile of used wood stocks in the serviceable used parts bin was the NZ marked butt stock.

Accurate? Well yes it is and so much so that I have decided not to remove the cosmolene off the No.4Mk2 ROF mummy wrapped weapon to shoot. That post war 1955 dated No.4 was in the cue to hit the range and get its barrel shot out but that's postponed by this Long Branch 43.

Suncorite... did they do that on refinishing rifles post war ?