RARE .22 Longbranch Trainer NOT a No.7

[browningautorifle]

Just missing a barrel.....

Stranger things, I'll bet someone here has one...BDL Ltd maybe?

[Brian Dick]

No, unfortunately not Jim. I have two rifles I built scrounging parts for 10+ years. They are pictured on this thread. The barrels were installed on No.4's brought in over the 10 year heyday of my importing from Canada. Military surplus barrels are banned from importation since 2005 so finding and getting them here isn't doable under the current law. One of the scrubbed receivers I found in the 1990's in Ontario and the other I bought here in the USA from a Gent in Illinois.

[FHG918]

Thanks guys. Brian - I had forgotten until reading your post that I had called you at BDL several years ago on this topic; obviously I have made no progress on the project! Just wondering if it is possible (with a budget of a few hundred dollars) to have a barrel made.

Can you direct me to the post with the pictures of the No7 rifles that you made?

Many thanks.

[Brian Dick]

It's thread #15 on this list of postings. You could get a shot out No.4 barrel and have a liner installed. The liners can be obtained from Brownells. I'm not sure what it would cost but it would be a lot cheaper than having a new barrel made.

[browningautorifle]

have a liner installed.

It would almost be correct too. Then a refinish and it'll look great.

[stencollector]

Years ago, I purchased two C No 7 receivers in their Montreal arsenal box. They have had their serial numbers scrubbed; at least as far as I can tell. I would be grateful for any comments or info as to why the receivers were taken out of service, scrubbed, and then stored.

There was a shortage of spare Cno7 receivers in the supply system around 1960. It may well be that the people who bought spare parts did not envision the rifles remaining in service for 20 (and now 70) years. By that point in time Canadian Arsenals (Long Branch) was no longer making Enfield receivers. There was a modification instruction to use no4 receivers and convert them for use on Cno7s when required. Basically it involved drilling the hole and tapping it to the required #3 screw for the windage detent spring. I have copies of the modification instruction that I could post if someone really wanted to see it.

It was around that time that the Cdn military tore down Cno7 rifles and converted them into spare parts. My guess would be that they did it to alleviate the shortage of receiver parts. The scrubbing and refinishing of the receivers was un-usual. Normally, by the military manual, the numbers would be barred out so they would remain legible, and the serial number of the rifle being repaired would be applied nearby.

About the only real problem you would see with the Cno7 receivers was the chipping of the rail where the bolt head would enter. This would in time cause the bolt head to jump out of the track when the bolt was opened.

[FHG918]

My thanks to Jim, Brian and stencollector. I did find posting #15 the photos of Brian's builds - sorry to be such a dud looking through the thread that I did not see it.

I appreciate the comments as to why the receivers were scrubbed and stored; the date on the box is August 1959 so matches the time mentioned. The receivers are drilled (and I assumed tapped!) for the screw to hold the rear sight spring - you can see this in photo.
Attachment 73007

I do have two 2-groove No4 barrels, one Long Branch and the other British with import stamps. Am thinking it would be a shame to alter the Long Branch by inserting a sleeve. Would have to turn off the bayonet and foresight lugs, although I would just have this done with the sleeve work.

[browningautorifle]

Would have to turn off the bayonet and foresight lugs, although I would just have this done with the sleeve work.

Well, if you refer to the book, you can see copies of the conversions with bayonet lugs remaining...like I say, almost correct. You wouldn't have the marks either, so why try to fool anyone? It'll still look great and work perfectly.

[Peter Laidler]

Thoughtful and sensible words of advice there BAR.

[FHG918]

My thanks again to everyone! Keeping the lugs on a No4 barrel would be fine, of course. I was only thinking of a way to use the No 7 foresight block that I have been lucky enough to find.