Photograph of rare Canadian Telescopic Rifles from WWII (Expert opinions wanted)

[Badger]

The 5th man from the left appears to be holding a plain-jane No.4 telescopic rifle. (unless someone can spot something out of the ordinary)

The man 6th from the left is holding a cut down rifle. I am almost certain that it is (or is closely related to) this rifle: 1943-44 Enfield No.4 Mk1* Experimental Long Branch 'Scout' Sniper Rifle

Like the rifle listed in the Knowledge Library, it has a cut-down stock, a totally new buttstock (rollover cheekpiece and a rubber butt), and no charger bridge. From this angle, it's difficult to tell whether or not it's fitted with the windmill-style 4 position backsight (which was mounted on the left side of the receiver) As well, this rifle mounts a different scope: the C No.32 Mk 4 (C No.67 Mk I) onto what should be a Griffin & Howe mount. (which was what the type was configured with. I, however, might be incorrect. But from I can see, it appears to be a match)

Great quality pic…..

Thanks for posting it for everyone to share …

I believe your conclusions about that specific rifle are correct. I have enlarged an area of the pic where you can see through to the other side and you can just make out the windmill off-set rear sight, plus when you look at the from sight area, you can clearly see how it swivels outwards to the left, in order to line up with the windmill sight.

Attachment 34490 (Click PIC to Enlarge) Attachment 34491

Other than the butt, which in our MKL example is a standard looking No.4 butt with the cheekpiece, it does appear that the one you've referred to in your grandfather's pic is also one of the 10 experimental rifles produced at Long Branch.

Although you can't tell from the angle of the barrel whether the rifle in the pic has a bayonet lug, if it did, then like the one in the library entry, it would be just 1 of 4 (possibly 3 if US bayonet lug) produced like this. Extract… "Four of these were to accept the No.4 spike bayonet, three were described as "semi-long forend and US bayonet" while the last three were not setup to accept any bayonet."

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug