Wood identification - Long Branch forend

[spinecracker]

I have a Long Branch forend that I am trying to find a matching buttstock and rear guard for. I would have thought that knowing the type of wood may be useful in my quest, so here goes (by the way, if anyone here has the parts that would match, I'd be interested in them). By the way, do the inspection marks typically match on forend and buttstock? The forend has an inspection mark numbered "66" and I did see a Long Branch with a buttstock on Gunbroker that had the exact same inspection mark. This is what I have to work with:

Information

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[krinko]

Long Branch used Birch, Beech and Walnut----yours isn't Walnut.
I have a 1943 with mixed Birch and Walnut, where the Birch has been dyed to match color---so go with the matching inspection marks, because they should match.
-----krinko

[spinecracker]

krinko, that was my suspicion, and you have given me some good stuff to work with - thanks!

[rgg_7]

You stock is birch stained brown ....LB/66 is the inspection mark for replacement parts. Grooved rear top guard very difficult to find. Sold my last one to a collector friend about 2 weeks ago. You may run into a butt however it's more likely to be marked LB/32. Ron

[spinecracker]

Thanks, Ron. I knew it was stained, but I couldn't find out what the original wood was, and that may affect any staining I have to do to match colours. Someone did say it might have been maple, but that is apparently a pig to stain (I am at the bottom of a steep learning curve, so please forgive my ignorance lol). Can someone confirm Ron's comment about the "LB/66" inspection stamp? (Not that I don't believe you, Ron, but I like to have 2 or more sources agreeing before I do sometihng lol).

[krinko]

I have a 22L New Zealand marked unused rifle with LB/66 on forestock and butt. I can't say as I believe this rifle is wearing replacement wood.
Also, can that bit about the inspection mark numbers matching each other---I went digging and found these:
1.3L '42 LB----LB Beech--Numbered
2.22L '43 LB/66----LB/66 Birch--Numbered
3.23L '43 LB/32----LB/34 Walnut/Birch
4.37L '43 LB/34----Circled S Walnut/Birch
5.42L '43 LB/34----LB/32 Walnut
6.83L '45 LB/33----LB/33 Beech
7.94L '50 CA----CA Walnut

Sorry about being so lazy.
-----krinko

[spinecracker]

Lazy? That's lazy? Heck, krinko, you need lessions in being lazy from me - I just ask questions around here lol. Thanks for the info. Allowing for the "if in doubt..." mantra, I'll see if I can hunt down a butt with the "LB/66" inspection stamp. If I can't find one, then I will not lose sleep over it

PS. Nice selection of LBs, krinko, I'm not jealous at all....grrrr..lol

[Brian Dick]

Krinko is right. B66 is an inspector's mark and wood so marked was used on new production rifles along with B32, B33, B34, etc. A LB rifle could have either/or or a combination installed. It's all correct IMHO.

[spinecracker]

Brian, you wouldn't happen to have an LB rear hand guard and buttstock that would match the forend I have, would you?

[Brian Dick]

Probably, I'll have to look when I get back. I'm being lazy in your home state right now!