New 1941 Longbranch No4 MKI and questions

[Enfield trader]

Well it finally arrived his past weekend and I am happy but hve a few questions.

1.Barrel is dated 42 which I guess is ok for a 41 receiver but the rifling is 2 groove, I thought the early No4's were 4,5 or 6 groove.
2. Barrel has a line around it as in it looks like they stopped turing it before it was an even transition - kind of looks like the barrel is two pieces put together.
3. I have the LB micrometer rear sight, Lb early cocking piece and the LB hinged front band - would you put hese on or just leave it as it?

here are some pics

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.

[No4Mk1(T)]

After just a quick look the first thing I’d say is it a post-war refurb judging by the finish. I’m not sure about the line on the barrel whoever looking at the photo it’s at the point where the machining transitions from the regular barrel taper to the knox form contour. In my opinion reinstalling the early parts you have would technically make the rifle incorrect. When the rifle went in for refurb it would have had these early parts removed and the later parts added to bring it up to the then current specification.

[limpetmine]

I agree with No4. It looks like a refurb to me, as well. I'd leave it be. It is a sharp looking rifle, you have a keeper!

[tbonesmith]

Notice the breeching shim?

[Badger]

For comparison and with thanks to Advisory Panel member Lance, you could check the Canada - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)

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

Complete with a 150 picture photo montage, this is a fascinating rifle to study its markings and components in detail, with some interesting oddities and variations from the standard No.4 Mk1* noted in the "Collector's Feedback and Comments" section of the main Knowledge Library entry. There's also information with pictured examples of how to check for a correct front waisted sight protector, versus a home made, or possible fake.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Badger

[jmoore]

Wow, it's S/N is almost at the 15,000 mark. What's the highest number Mk1 LB known?

[bradtx]

E T, I agree that it's been 'lightly' rearsenal'd, possibly in late 1950 or later because of the metal's finish. The N. American manufacturers jumped into 2-groove barrels quite early on and yours must've been in good enough condition to not have needed replacement. The backsight may've been a damaged Mk.I or a Mk.II, both of which would have been replaced. The cocking piece likely was originally the button style, but required replacement.

I'd leave it as is.

Brad

[limpetmine]

This one is! The latest 1941 No. 4 Mk 1 I have in my database is a 1941 1L4588. This one makes it the oldest by 210 more rifles. Interesting that it has the 1942 barrel.
Unlike the Savage No. 4 Mk1's, I have never seen nor heard of a 1942 Long Branch No. 4 Mk 1 (no star). If you know of one, please send me a picture!

Wow, it's S/N is almost at the 15,000 mark. What's the highest number Mk1 LB known?

[Lee Enfield]

Your gun is appears to be an early post 1950 CAL (Canadian Arsenals Limited) FTR. Probably early as the bolt, safety and screws are still blued.

Most (all?) 1941 LB No4MkI with '42 dated barrels are 2 groove. I have had a 1941 2 groove barrel confirmed to me but have never seen one myself. My 1941 dated barrel is a 5 groove...

It has it's original barrel (what appears to be a shim is incomplete "killing" of the phosphate refinishing process).

If there is a hole in the bolt knob it is the original 1941/42 bolt, if not it is PROBABLY a replacement from the FTR.

Install an LB MkII "flip" rear sight if you want to make it "original". The instruction to replace the MkII sight with the MkIII was issued in 1944...
Unless you plan to strip the finish and reblue it and change all of the parts for 1941/42 replacements, there is no use or reason to change it "back" to something it may never have been...

[Surpmil]

Hard to say now what sights, cocking piece and band it would have had. Probably as production of those early types ended, the existing stocks were simply used up and rifles fitted with a combination of parts depending on what stocks were exhausted first.

If you're going to keep the rifle, put whatever parts you like on it. I rather doubt all the MkI parts, including the foresight protectors were removed if they were once there, but it is possible.

JohnR has posted before that according to a then-serving armourer in the RCEME, these rifles were destroyed as an SOP when coming through ordnance workshops and the salvaged parts refitted to a new MkI* body, as the MkI* was the Canadian Army standard. If so, why would the rifle be "upgraded" with later parts? On the other hand, all kinds of odd things happen due to people having wrong ideas, or not reading or misreading the manuals etc., so who knows?

Only the women that assembled them...and no one's asked them.