Mystery of the Missing Wartime Long Branch Snipers

[Brian Dick]

I think the majority of early, (and late for that matter), production Long Branch snipers went into MoD service. The small number supplied were probably decimated due to use and attrition the same as many other wartime rifles. The only rifles I've had through here sporting Canadian Army ownership marks were 74L TP variants fitted with the REL base, rings and Lyman Alaskan telescopes. I have a 1943 50L rifle here that came with a mismatch British scope and bracket and a 1944 71L that was missing it's scope when I got it several years ago. Both now sport Canadian scopes and brackets. One with an REL Mk.1A and the other a Mk.2. Both rifles are from MoD service, have never seen FTR in England and sport the pre 1968 "England" country of origin stamp applied after they were disposed of by the MoD. I'd guess they were eventually shipped back to North America by importers of the day like Interarms. I did restock a legit 1942 dated LB "T" several years ago that had been sporterized but still retained it's original matching bracket and REL Mk.1 scope. Thank Christ the barrel wasn't cut off. It belongs to a member of this forum so maybe he'll chime in. It's the earliest variant I've ever had in my hands and I enjoyed putting it back. I had to cough up one of my last new LB forends at the time and it turned out very nice.