1941 Long Branch Barrel

[CODFan]

I recently acquired a 1941 Long Branch – 0L5712.

The receiver, bolt and barrel match.

I was surprised that it has 41 dated 2 groove barrel.

I guess they did produce both 5 groove and 2 groove barrels in 1941? https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=36215

Also - what is the "F R" on the buttstock? https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=17060&

Thank you.

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Information

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[Lee Enfield]

Yes, Long Branch 2 groove and 5 groove barrels are dated 1941.

I believe your "FR" is "Factory Repair" as all of the (new) POF No4 butt stocks which have been released are so marked within the butt plate inletting.

[CODFan]

Thank you.

In the limited number of '41 rifles (and even early '42) I have seen, they have all been 5 groove barrels.

This one seems to be 100% Long Branch (military stock and full wood).

I will post some additional pictures.

Thank you.

[Surpmil]

Quite a few of the 1941 dated MkI rifles have 42 dated two groove barrels and they do not appear to be replacements.

Perhaps production of receivers outpaced barrel production in the first year or so?

[Seaspriter]

I recently acquired a 1941 Long Branch – 0L5712

Congratulations. Yours is dated about November 1941, a month before the shortage of barrels showed up in Dec 41 preventing final shipment.

The FR stamp has been a puzzlement. I have a March, 1944 Savage that clearly had a replacement butt stock and was dated Dec 1944 with the Armourer's initials and FR in large letters stamped next to it. Could FR mean Field Repair? (Whereas FTR means Factory Thorough Repair)

[tiriaq]

0L5512 has a serial matched 2 groove barrel dated '41.