Long Branch No.4 Mk.1/2

[Rowner]

So, I think I've found a Long Branch Mk.1/2 for sale online up here. I've requested some more information and some photos from the seller, so we will see.

Couple questions, since this will (knock on wood) be my first Enfield:
- What should I be looking for in the photos besides the obvious (LB markings, serial number) to determine if it is indeed a Mk.1/2?
- Should the original serial number be present after the FTR/Upgrading process?
- How rare are these exactly? I know that only ~10,000 LB Mk.1's were produced, but has anybody found out how many actually became Mk.1/2's?
- Finally, what do you all think - should I buy it? It's actually priced a few hundred dollars below the going price for LB Enfields in this part of the world. Should the rarity of this rifle effect its value in years to come?

Information

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[Lance]

Original side wall markings will depend on the year it was FTR'd and who did the conversion. Fazakerly conversions kept the original side wall markings until around 1954 when they started to scrub them. As you can see you can find them both ways. Butt socket s/n's should be original to the rifle. (Only the 0L girl is mine, the 1L's belong to other lucky collectors)

They are a rare example and if it is still matching (bolt, mag, forend) they I would grab her.

[Rowner]

Original side wall markings will depend on the year it was FTR'd and who did the conversion. Fazakerly conversions kept the original side wall markings until around 1954 when they started to scrub them. As you can see you can find them both ways. Butt socket s/n's should be original to the rifle. (Only the 0L girl is mine, the 1L's belong to other lucky collectors)

They are a rare example and if it is still matching (bolt, mag, forend) they I would grab her.

Still awaiting more info from the seller, but the forend appears to have been replaced as it is much lighter in colour. Now... he claims that he is only the second owner and it has been unaltered/unfired since FTR. Is it possible that it was replaced during the FTR? If so, should there be any markings on the wood that would confirm this?

[Lance]

The forend should be s/n'd to the rifle and look for manufacturer proofs stamped into the wood also. But if it has been sanded......

[limpetmine]

I own one and know of one other. They are hard to find. I did the math once for a display of my rifles, of the number of /2's made, based on the 10,000K or so, and divided into the number of /2's produced, with the known number of other makers models of Mk1's, included into the calculation. Based on this, one could project that less than 3% of that 10K was converted, and that number is 285 rifles.
This is just mental gymnastics, and has no backup in any history, other than the known production rates of the No.4 and /2's and /3's.

[amadeus76]

Get a photo of the bolt track near the chamber... I bought a LE online without realizing the track was slightly broken off to the point that the bolthead popped out when cycling the bolt on an empty chamber. It cycles fine whenever there’s rounds in the magazine but often pops out when empty. It’s become something I’ll always check for now.

[harry mac]

Get a photo of the bolt track near the chamber... I bought a LE online without realizing the track was slightly broken off to the point that the bolthead popped out when cycling the bolt on an empty chamber. It cycles fine whenever there’s rounds in the magazine but often pops out when empty. It’s become something I’ll always check for now.

If it's a Mk1/2, it won't have the dismantling gap in the bolt track, if it did, it'd be a Mk1/3.

[amadeus76]

If it's a Mk1/2, it won't have the dismantling gap in the bolt track, if it did, it'd be a Mk1/3.

Good point

[Fuller82]

Hey just took a 1943 long branch no4 mk1 in on trade tring to find out some things about it. I know the receiver serial number and bolt match. I can not find one on the magazine or for stock ring. If I knew how to post pictures I would.

[spinecracker]

I am now regretting selling my Long Branch No.4 Mk.1/2. It was a bit beat up, but the serial numbers matched, and I have not seen one since in the flesh (and only a few examples online). The good news is that the buyer said he would sell it back to me for what he paid, but I just can't raise the funds. One day.