Story time: Proud new owner of No.4 Long Branch

[Sht_LE]

Happy Day!!! One of those things that always seems to happen to "the other guy" finally happened to me today.

Had just gotten off work when a friend of mine at the local gun shop gave me a call. A guy was bringing in some "old military rifles, one of them is an Enfield" to sell if I wanted to take a look. So I drove over. Arrived about the same time as the fellow wanting to sell the rifles, and asked to look at the Enfield. He pulled out a minty looking 1950 dated Long Branch C.No.4 Mk.I*. I tried to refrain from drooling too much and asked that he wanted for it...... He replied $175......

Almost ripped a hole in my trousers getting my wallet out

In addition too the rifle he gave me a Canadian marked sling, a new in the wrap spike bayonet, two boxes of UMC 303 British, a commercial canvas rifle case and an unopened package of A-Zoom 303 snap caps. Happy happy....

According to the fellow who sold me the rifle, he bought it ten years ago and had never fired it, it had just been sitting in his closet and he wanted the money for some new high tech wizz bang 9mm pistol.....

Now the good part, got my new girl home and cleaned her up.... she collected a lot of dust sitting in that closet.... and found...

Bolt and receiver are matching (number 92L37XX) all parts are C.A.L. Long Branch marked, with steel butt plate, fish tail locking bolt, and stamped C. Mk.IV rear sight. Over all she has a very nice blued finish. Both the action body and the barrel are 1950 dated, and the bore is mirror bright. The wood is near perfect, with one little ding in the forearm just back from the middle band and no billboard or dot matrix import stamp of death, just a small Century stamp on the underside of the barrel. I am wondering if she might have been Greek issue as the magazine has been serial numbered to the rifle. The number is right on the bottom just forward of the trigger guard when seated in the rifle and was obviously done with individual hand stamps.

Just wanted to share my story with people who would appreciate it (my family, friends and fiancé seem to tune out when I mention Enfields ) Now if I can just get some range time and see how she shoots.....

Information

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[limpetmine]

Sounds like a typically nice 1950 Long Branch. IMHO, these are the high water mark for the No 4 Mk1. Wood is beautiful, machining is as fine as a machinest can do, and the bluing is deep and even. You did well!

[jmoore]

There's a sticky above surveying features of these rifles. Do please contribute yours!

Link below for speed:
Do you have a 1950 Long Branch? - Military Surplus Collectors Forums

Gooood price to boot!

[Sht_LE]

jmoore I have already added her...

Still trying to decide weather or not to open the bayonet or leave it sealed. Not like I need to open it as I have several other spikes to play with.

[jmoore]

Sorry about that. I'm flying through these posts whilst on break or at lunch. Not much time to cross check stuff!

[bearhunter]

I have yet to see one of the minty, 1950 No4 MkI* Longbranch rifles that won't shoot well. The one I have will shoot anything, commercial or milsurp.

Those rifles are the pick of the litter as far as I'm concerned. I like them better than any of the No4 variants out there.

[RJW NZ]

Sounds really awesome, I just love as new Longbranche's...I'd like to know a couple of things.
Is that a 5 groove, and am I correct in thinking that all late LB's went to 5 grooves?
What kind of wood were they using?
What was the last year for LB enfields?

And lastly...can we see some pics? thanks

[Sht_LE]

Mine has a 5 groove barrel, though from what I have read, some post 1950 LB No.4s were made with 6 groove barrels. My wood is some variety of Walnut and from the ones I have seen it looks like LB stuck with Walnut though the end of production. If memory serves 1956 was the last year of production at LB.
I will try with some pics, but can make no guarantees while. I can take a decent picture my computer skills are not the greatest.

[jmoore]

If I can figure it out, then I'm sure you can as well! This site's made me learn all kind of new tricks. Might even learn to type one day...

[whiterider]

wonderful rifle. Make sure you study up on the correct cleaning procedure if you're ever going to use corrosive ammo...and most ex military 303 stuff is.