Un-serialed LB Mk I

[boltaction]

I found the other post about the un-serialed LB Mk I* interesting, so will post photos of this un-serialed early Long Branch Mk I I have just picked up. It is complete, original, fully inspected with all cartouches, has all early Mk I parts (waisted ft sight protector, button cocking piece, early Singer type sight, low wood for cutoff, hinged front swivel), but interestingly has no date stamp on the barrel, although it has the same inspection mark seen on the barrel on Doug's Mk in the MKL. The story on this rifle is that it was in a display case at Long Branch, and was taken down from there by the Managing Director, an Al Sweeting, when the factory closed. There is no documentation of that of course. As they say, buy the rifle, not the story--I find the story interesting, and while I am sure many would say this is a "lunchbox special" I do find the story plausible. Having seen the photos posted online of Long Branch factory during the war, I know that these were assembled, and then serialed at the end of the line in batches. It is possible I suppose that someone managed to lift a complete early Mk I, or maybe it was indeed put in a display case as one of the first ones. Who knows, and at this late date, who would ever know? Story or no, display case rifle or lunchbox special, I bought the rifle because aside from having no serial number, it is flat out the nicest Mk I LB I've ever seen. Not that I've seen many, but this one is a beauty.

Ed

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