Long Branch Experimental Serial # EX2 ....

[Surpmil]

Possibilities would include trials of different woods for stocks as well, since one is in Birch and the other Beech. The first rifle apparently showing that Beech was in very early consideration; if the stock is original and it certainly looks like it is of that vintage, but it shows the kind of wear and tear you would expect on a well-used rifle, not a hardly used "experimental" piece. I don't think the stock is original myself, clearly sanded and refinished not long ago as well.

The EX11 rifle looks more like it might have been fitted up for someone on a left-over action with some carefully selected wood. Other examples like this are known, though usually built on un-numbered MkI* actions. Pity somebody carved up the forend to fit a Central Sight mounting plate!

I would guess that there were early actions made while the machinery was being set up and processes perfected, and they were probably made use of for furniture trials or exhibition or both, and any left overs or returned examples would have found new homes somewhere else in the years following, often via the employees or supervisors, getting restocked in the process.