Lonbranch No4 MkI* 1942 - HELP

[SMcGeown]

garand123 has had trouble uploading the photos. Here is the Longbranch that is being discussed:

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[Canuck13]

Hi Chris,

From what I can see from the pictures it looks like what you have is a nice 42 Long Branch that has been restored. Likely done post war by either a private individual or by Canadian Arsenals in the post war period. The stock is a replacement from what was originally on the rifle. The lack of a matching serial # on the lower fore-end indicates this. The stock does appear to be a later war time LB stock. This is not uncommon as an over abundance of stocks were manufactured by LB during the war. You can still find them minty and in the wrappers if you look hard enough. The hand guard looks like it matches the rest of the stock so it is likely correct, but can be investigated further by looking at the internal markings. The lack of groves on the hand guard is not an indicator of period or manufacture. LB produced many hand guards without grooves from 1943 onward. From the pictures the stock appears to be made from Maple. From my experience these Maple stocks are most often seen on later 43 LB’s. The colour of the finish looks fine to me. The rifle does appear to have been reparked at some point the metal work is just to clean to my eye for a original 42. The front barrel band is not LB, but from what I can see in the pictures all the other parts appear to be war time LB parts. Some parts are early period that could have been original to the rifle and others are not because they were not produced until after 42 when this rifle was originally manufactured. Parts/rifles produced after the war when Long Branch became Canadian Arsenals are marked with a large “C” with a large “A” with in it. Parts marked with a “C” with a "/I\" broad arrow with in it and/or “L B” (Described as a large “B” sitting on a large “L”) are likely war period produced.

Cheers,
James