New 1941 Longbranch No4 MKI and questions

[Peter Laidler]

That instruction didn't seem to apply in Germany where the large Base workshops at Wetter and Verl (or was it Soest?) were combined RCEME and REME. certainly the Tank workshops were, for the Centurions and the small arms workshops. I know that the small arms and ammunition Ordnance suppplies and distribution were from pooled resources. On the basis that we had all marks of No4 issued from Ord, then so would Canada............

Our tanks always had (so said) Canadian made .300" ammo supplied for the Brownings. But I was told that this was because of the Canadian change to 7.62mm Brownings, we were using up the existing .300" stockpiles. Whether this is correct or not is a a bit academic, but..........

While the two different Sterlings were kept to Country, the magazines were often cross-supplied. In fact I've still got a couple. The Canadian ones weren't as good quality as the Sterling offerings but they seemed to work OK and plenty of the Canadian/UK Sterling spares interchanged andthey all went through the system.

[Surpmil]

....While the two different Sterlings were kept to Country, the magazines were often cross-supplied. In fact I've still got a couple. The Canadian ones weren't as good quality as the Sterling offerings but they seemed to work OK and plenty of the Canadian/UK Sterling spares interchanged andthey all went through the system.

You mean they didn't have the roller followers Peter, or was it something else?

[spinecracker]

I bumped into a 1941 Long Branch at the Reno Big Show yesterday. Someone had butchered the butt by putting a very rudimentary recoil pad on it and sanding the butt to match (oh, the horror!!!) and had also cut the 300 yard aperture on the Long branch-stamped micrometer sight to a vee (I cried at that - that could never be a military modification). The foresight protector was also gone (the weeping continued). The good news was that it did not have any obvious indication that it had been refurbished, and still had the early Long Branch-stamped safety (before they switched to the "kicked leg" safety) and the original button type cocking piece. The serial numbers matched on receiver, bolt and magazine (no serial on fore-end, but I seem to remember that Long Branch didn't always put serial numbers on fore-ends - or is that bull poop?). The seller wanted $350 for it. It was in reasonable "used" condition, but I am not sure if the cost of the rifle and the parts to get it back to the way it should be would be worth it (how rare are Long Branch-stamped micrometer sights, anyway?)

On a side note, am I correct in thinking that UK factories supplied components to Long Branch and Savage to help them out in the early stages when they were beginning manufacture of No.4s? I seem to remember a post somewhere that said that, but I don't know where

[Surpmil]

Spinecracker, you seem to walk away from some good buys!

The MkI rear sights are milled, not stamped, and they're not that hard to find yet.

Likewise a LB MkI forend with the recess for the magazine cutoff: still findable.

If the "3Bs" are not cut (bolt, body and barrel), snap it up I say. There probably aren't more than a few thousand left now.

[spinecracker]

Surpmil, I have not walked away yet - I asked the seller to keep it to one side for me, and he agreed - I'm not that stupid! the fore-end has the recess for the magazine cut-off. I was under the impression that the milled micrometer rear sights with the Long Branch stamp were rather rare, but I am happy to be enlightened Anyone got one for sale??? :P

[rgg_7]

1941 Long Branch is indeed rare. Robert that's a bargain. If it just needs a micrometer sight (LB Early Correct one) and a front sight protector it's an easy restoration. These don't grow on trees however are available. Yes I do have those parts. Ron

[spinecracker]

Ron, PM sent

[jmoore]

Go get it! A hinged front band would be a real deal maker.

[spinecracker]

JMoore, I will be looking at the rifle again in about 2 hours, so I will check. Anything else I need to be aware of?

[jmoore]

Arched middle band (LB) and Canadian marked wood. Otherwise the above "wiseness" from Surpmil and Rgg 7 cover the big picture. Milled front sight protector (also LB). "Sculpted" (very early style) would be awesome!

ETA Never mind the sight protector comments... as it doesn't have one!