Early Longbranch question.

[Lee Enfield]

I have an opportunity to pick up an early 1941 Longbranch No4 MK1 (no *) Serial # is in the 0L37xx range, but would like to post a few questions first. Everything appears as it should..round charging handle, low right side stock for where a magazine cut-off would be, etc. but, it has a few Savage marked parts on her such as the front sight blade and on the bottom of the buttstock. Does anyone know if Savage supplied parts to Longbranch in the first years of production? Also the left side of the wrist has a hole in it..the location of which looks like a No.1 MK III safety assembly was attached. Either that or it had a side mounted sight attachment at one point. It is very coincidental, as my trade pattern Longbranch sniper had a hole in the same position, but was filleted in with weld material and numbered over. Hmmmmm.

Ian

These extra holes are "Common as dirt".

A Parker Hale type receiver sight for a SMLE (No1 MkIII) can be fitted to a No4 by adding a hole in the butt socket which corresponds with the lower bell safety spring on the No1 receiver.

I'll take a picture for you if you like of one which I personally removed the sight (and sold it off IIRC) from a 1950 LB.