1941 No 4 MK 1 Long Branch Frankenstein

[beachloan]

Hello everybody, longtime lurker first time poster. I recently picked this up, mainly because I could not pass it up for the price. In your opinion would it even be worth the time, money and effort to try and restore this gun, or leave it and shoot it? Attachment 52165Attachment 52173Attachment 52172Attachment 52171Attachment 52170Attachment 52169Attachment 52168Attachment 52167Attachment 52166Attachment 52174

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[CINDERS]

Welcome to the Milsurps site Beachloan

Really up to you looks pretty good but you'd need a new barrel, front sight complete, selection of + - sight blades, bottom & top woods, rear wood retainer, mid band, front band, a selection of bolt heads perhaps other bits and bobs then fitment of the barrel best a gunsmith does these bits bedding the bottom wood. Others may be able to tell you if the serial No. and Manu date is of any significance though it does not have and FTR on the receiver but has been Bubba'd rather significantly what say you forumers.

Depending on your view and not trying to deflate your endeavours probably wait until a complete one comes up at the right price, as no matter which way you look at it and unless you are never going to sell it will always be a bitsa and as a last thing it will cost you more to buy all the bits than it would to get an original.
If you got it for $50.00 and it shoots ok just leave it as it is all a matter of personal preference I guess, if you push on with a resto good luck and keep the thread going so the forum can assist you with any hurdles you may encounter.



If you follow the threads and info here you could do all of it except the barrel as that is a specialist task and something I would not mess with unless you are a competent gunsmith yourself

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Very rewarding project if you want to learn about the Enfield inside out. Lots of great articles here about wood fitment.If patient the wood and small bits can be had without breaking the bank. The barrel would be the trickey part. The price of the barrel and having it properly fitted might prove cost prohibitive. Brian @ BDL (bdlltd.com) would be a good place to start.

[Ridolpho]

beachloan: Not a lot of Longbranch Mk I (no-star) rifles out there. How long is the barrel? Is the bolt numbered to match? I think I'd be inclined to think about restoring it.

Ridolpho

[beachloan]

Ridolpho: The barrel is 22" and the bolt does not match. Thank you for your input.

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:39 PM ----------

Well Gil, I am in somewhat of a unique situation in that I own a pawnshop and sometimes (especially with older firearms) have people walk in the door and just want to get rid of them. I paid $250.00 for this, a 1943 Mosin M91/30 and a Mossberg 152.

---------- Post added at 12:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 PM ----------

I would like to thank everybody for the warm welcome and wealth of knowledge I have already gained. I am still trying to decide what to do with this one, buy it myself and restore it (I do have a nice little collection of wartime firearms) or sell it off to someone that would do it correctly. From what I have read and some of the comments here it would seem only fitting that this was put back to as close to original as possible.

[jmoore]

If it shoots well, then I'd leave it "as is".

[Aussie48]

If it shoots well, then I'd leave it "as is".

What Jim said too many parts to acquire starting with the barrel

[ssj]

This is a no4 mk1 and not mk1* If I came across this in NZ and the receiver looked as good as this I would snap it up and restore it myself as its pretty rare. There is no reason you cant shoot it while restoring it either just keep shooting until you have collected the parts. LB is a good version as parts tend to be pretty easy to come by in good nick and cheap.

Congrats.

[Beerhunter]

It's a comparatively rare rifle and so I would restore it - and do it properly!

[Badger]

Congratulations on a rare find. I think you should take a shot on restoring it..

Here's some additional information that might help you ...

With thanks to Advisory Panel member Lance, check out the entry in the Canada - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)

1941 No.4 Mk1 Long Branch Rifle (click here) .....

Barrel, receiver, bolt and wood were all match serial numbered on 1941 LB's ...

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

For additional comparisons by collectors, Lance has added pics of "waisted" front sight protectors mounted on a SMLE Mk VI Trials rifle and a No4. Mk1 Trials rifle.

Regards,
Doug