Peter, 1945 LB No.4 Mk1* with no serial number

[breakeyp]

I found this anomaly at a local show this weekend. Canadian Long Branch 1945 production with no serial numbers on socket or forend. The barrel has typical production markings and no serial number as would be expected on a Canadian No.4. The foreend has a Maltese cross marking I have noted on Canadian manufactured sniper rifles. The trigger guard assy is Savage made and marked with C^ marking on trigger guard bow. Indicates that it is one of the Savage parts sent to Long Branch after the Savage contract closed. The rear sight is micrometer adjustable marked B with a lozenge broad arrow marking.

Possibilities exist that it might have been set aside for the sniper program and then lost in the system. I think Peter will agree that it should not have left the plant without a serial number. Maybe someone had a very big lunch pail.

Another Lee Enfield mystery. Comments?

Trigger guard is Savage marked with C broad arrow on trigger guard bow indicating transfer to LB after the Savage contract closed. Adjustable rear sight is B code with lozenge broad arrow marking.

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[Roger Payne]

Interesting, & consistent with the belief that by the time the later batches of LB snipers were put together the serials were left till the end of the production/conversion process so that they were serialled in batches. As you say, perhaps selected for conversion, lost to the system somehow, & in the process skipping the serial numbering process?

ATB

[Peter Laidler]

There will be other explanations, such as it was taken from the line to be used as a trial or sample elsewhere etc etc but the gist of the sniper explanation is probably correct. And it is correct that after the H&H overseer went to LB to production line the sniper rifle programme - like they had operating at H&H proper, they took known quality production, probably from one particular line over a single month or so (just guessing here of course) from the LB line and used those. Much like just taking the constant/known/reliable quality rifles from BSA.

Back to that rifle though. There is a small 05 number on the butt socket. This is typical of what we do during trials and tests. Especially if it's something that's been taken off the production line part way and before numbering becxause that way, it is numbered, albeit only in house.

Interesting

[Lee Enfield]

1945 and 195x dated Long Branch actions which were never serialized nor assembled are common in Canada.

They were available within the system as replacement actions.

I have also seen 1 1941 dated action which was similarly complete, finished, but not serialized.

This was common within the Canadian RCEME system to Inglis High Powers, C1 /C2 rifles, and if others are to be believed, Inglis Bren MkII's

[5thBatt]

Dont forget about "lunchbox specials" as another possibility.

[Surpmil]

Dont forget about "lunchbox specials" as another possibility.

And the numerous rifles made up as presentations and retirement gifts.

And at the risk of being repetitive, I have a partially converted to T specs 1943 LB with no SN. Probably another one put together later as it has a 1944 barrel.

[Lee Enfield]

I believe the 2 small characters stamped to be the Long Branch equivalent of "steel batch" coding.

2 or 3 characters are found on all? Long Branch actions in that area from about mid '42 on by markings and serial number.

[Roger Payne]

Hmmm, if it's a SBN & the receiver was taken from the same run of production as other rifles destined for sniper conversion, might we expect to see the same batch number on 90L LB 4T's ??

I must check my two tomorrow.....

ATB