New Long Branch 1941...

[spinecracker]

Rifle turned up - new photos at:

http://s1016.photobucket.com/albums/...Branch%201941/

I did note the mark on top of the receiver indicating rust in the bore/chamber, but I gave both as good an inspection as I could and didn't see anything. Indeed, the rifling looks good all the way down, the bore is shiny, and the chamber looks smooth. Any comments regarding the 5 point star mark next to the "rust" stamp?

The bolt head is a Savage, and many of the small metal work appears to be from Fazakerley, and the woodwork has been replaced, but it looks like everyhing has been together for a very long time. The rear sight is a Fazakerley-made one. The good news is that the barrel and receiver have not been messed with, and still have what is left of the original finish, so I think that this rifle could be returned to the original 1941 configuration without raising too many eyebrows. The magazine is a replacement, and has been stamped with 2 other serial numbers (one of them a Savage serial number).

Comments would be appreciated. The test firing will be tomorrow morning - I also have 2 Mosin Nagants to check (one is mine, the other belongs to my father-in-law), and I am going to go for the last range visit with my Enforcer - my wife is expecting (woohoo!!!), but that means bills to pay (weeps bitterly), and the Enforcer has to go.