Mystery of the Missing Wartime Long Branch Snipers

[Lee Enfield]

My edited serial number notes, now updated to 2.23.16
Left column is current numbers in serial block, early blocks may have rifles "grouped" into exact 1000 blocks.

NUMBERS BREAK-DOWN
"survivors & known serials "x "Block"/ "est. total" )

1x 0L9 1/3=33%
1x 8L7 1/3=33%
1x 12L4 1/3=33%
2x 32L 2/3=67%
2x 36L5 2/3=67%
1x 39L7 1/3=33%
1x 42L7 1/3=33%
1x 43L9 1/3=33%
5x 45L1 5/20=25%
1x 45L5 1/3+33%
7x 50L0 7/50=14%
1x 63L5 1/3=33%
5x 64L7 5/10=50%
8x 68L3 8/50=16%
51x 71L0 51/660=7.7%
42x 74L0 42/350=12%
9x 80L8 9/84=10.7%
85x 90L8 85/375=22.6%
2x ExP 4/15=13% (Badger/Hahn/2xCollectorS)
56L5967 (exp Alu weaver WOW)

My est. 1619 rifles vs. 1588 W.O.W. documents

Reducing ‘42/’43 estimated numbers to published 71 14/71 20% of documented pre-’44 rifles=1590 (not including experimentals)

1519 "production rifles" estimated produced during 1944-46
71 "production rifles" produced before Jan1, 1944
= 1590 estimated "Production" sniping rifles at Long Branch (ie. not ASC/ASE ect.) ... pretty darn close to the documented 1588 number.



29- ’43 or earlier (dated receiver) documented serial numbers as of 2.23.16

Note: just because the receiver is dated 1943, doesn't mean that the gun was CONVERTED before Jan1, 1944 and may NOT be included in the 71 "Total" by Jan1, 1944.

I would also note that 1 serial number would place the rifle in mid 1941 receiver dated production (although the barrel would be dated 1942 in my experience).
2 rifles would be dated 1942... arguing that the Long Branch sniper rifle conversion program started in early 1942, or late 1941.

I would note that sniping rifles are likely to survive at a higher percentage due to their "valuable and attractive" nature...this is often observed in relation to "special order" (engraved ect.) sporting firearms. So the high proportion of surviving early serial numbers is not difficult to explain.

Information

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