Long Branch sniper (lots of pics)

[smle addict]

good evening, all

I just picked up a rifle a purchased on GB. Paid a lot, and had to move (sell) four other firearms out of the safe to pay for this. It's a 1945 Long Branch No. 4(T); almost all matching, with a UK piece here and there. No maltese cross on either the forearm nor the rear sight. No serial number of forearm either. Rear sight is a savage produced piece. Removed (very carefully) the cheek-piece and found the small arrow within a C marking. Almost everything Long Branch marked, with the exception of the mag spring follower, front sling swivel, and course, the rear sight. I suspect the magazine, while a correct LB mag body, has had the serial number added later. I have owned a few LB No 4's and handled a few dozen others, and the ones with numbered magazines always had the full serial number, not just the last four, stamped into them. Perhaps a member with more experience can elaborate...
I found a very small and discreet importer mark under the barrel near the muzzle. The importer was Brian Dick, and he has it recorded as being imported from Canada in 2000, and sold to customer in Colorado in 2002. I purchased from a seller in Colorado, who said the owner was clearing out his collection.
As a side note, the rifle did ship in a correct Canadian chest, with the proper 4-screw hinges, although the leather handles are the folded UK type, not the sewn Canadian ones.

Hope you all enjoy the pics; any critiques and criticism are welcome.

Information

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[smle addict]

second batch of pics.

Range day planned for thursday, so we'll see if it shoots as good as it looks

[browningautorifle]

Nice...interesting, a Savage rear sight...

[Lee Enfield]

Nice...interesting, a Savage rear sight...

All? 90L8 batch rifles have Savage rear sights.

The Canadian markings should be on the rear of the rear sight.

[husk]

Well done. You have to get these when they become available because there aren't very many around.

[mrclark303]

What a beautiful rifle, looks almost factory fresh.

[Roger Payne]

She's a peach. You couldn't ask for one much nicer.

As an aside, does anyone know (Lee Enfield? Warren?) the situation concerning dating of REL Mk3 scopes? I know some are 1945 dated (I have one such) & some are undated, as in this example. Were the earlier ones dated & later not, was it random small batch to batch variation? Any ideas?

[Lee Enfield]

She's a peach. You couldn't ask for one much nicer.

As an aside, does anyone know (Lee Enfield? Warren?) the situation concerning dating of REL Mk3 scopes? I know some are 1945 dated (I have one such) & some are undated, as in this example. Were the earlier ones dated & later not, was it random small batch to batch variation? Any ideas?

My understanding is that (some of?) the tubes were done by REL but all were assembled by CAL.

"Stencollector" may have an actual answer from the archives...

[Roger Payne]

Cheers. Just wondering out of curiosity if there is a simple explanation why some are dated & others aren't.

[smle addict]

Took 8162 out today and put it through its paces with some HXP surplus and a variety of handloads. The HXP printed respectable 2.5-3" inch groups at 100 yards. Tried differing batches of handloads, and found two that really shined. The two five shot groups were Sierra 180's over N140, and the 10-shot target were Hornady 174 BTFMJ's over Varget. The two five strings measured roughly 1.5 by 1.75 inches (used this load to adjust scope), and the 10 shot string measured a hair under 2 inches. All at 100 yards. Now that I've found a few loads it likes, I'll run it out to 200 and 300 yards soon. Still doing what is was designed to do, after all these years!