What's the earliest LB No.4 Mk1* you've seen?

[Charlie]

I have 1L2158. 1941. All correct and matching with South African property marks.

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[Roy W]

I have 1L2158. 1941. All correct and matching with South African property marks.

Is that a Mk1*?

If not, it isn't what I am asking
Roy

---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 AM ----------

Maybe I worded this wrong, but I am asking about Mk1* rifles not Mk1's

thanks

[Lee Enfield]

Is that a Mk1*?

If not, it isn't what I am asking
Roy

---------- Post added at 09:28 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 AM ----------

Maybe I worded this wrong, but I am asking about Mk1* rifles not Mk1's

thanks

I trolled thru the stickied LB serial number thread:
highest 1941 MkI:
1L3851
1L4798
1L6926

Lowest 1942 MkI*:
1L4072
1L5979
1L6797

so there seems to have been a bit of overlap.
My understanding is that the serial number was one of the last operations (probably after fitting the bolt).

BreakeyP posted a LB with both MkI and MkI* bolt releases here a few years ago. As I recall the serial number was mid to late 1942 production.

[Roy W]

I trolled thru the stickied LB serial number thread:
highest 1941 MkI:
1L3851
1L4798
1L6926

Lowest 1942 MkI*:
1L4072
1L5979
1L6797

so there seems to have been a bit of overlap.
My understanding is that the serial number was one of the last operations (probably after fitting the bolt).

Paul Breakey posted a LB with both MkI and MkI* bolt releases here a few years ago. As I recall the serial number was mid to late 1942 production.

Thanks for that, I wonder if those numbers are correct, or people have made the same errors as they did on this thread and referred to 1's as 1*'s and vice versa?

The 1L6926 does seem very late for a Mk1.

Likewise the 1L4072 seems low for a 1*

The search continues, as they say

cheers

[5thBatt]

Thanks for that, I wonder if those numbers are correct, or people have made the same errors as they did on this thread and referred to 1's as 1*'s and vice versa?

The 1L6926 does seem very late for a Mk1.

Likewise the 1L4072 seems low for a 1*

The search continues, as they say

cheers

Savage produced over 1 million No4s during WW2. even working 24/7 from the 1st Jan 1941 to 31 Dec 1945 (5 full years) they would have to produce over 3,800 per week, so 1L4072 to 1L 6926 is less than a week of production, they would have used more than a single production line to serialize the rifles & they would have been allocated blocks of serial numbers, the rifle would not have been leaving the end of the line in a numerical order.

[Roy W]

Savage produced over 1 million No4s during WW2. even working 24/7 from the 1st Jan 1941 to 31 Dec 1945 (5 full years) they would have to produce over 3,800 per week, so 1L4072 to 1L 6926 is less than a week of production, they would have used more than a single production line to serialize the rifles & they would have been allocated blocks of serial numbers, the rifle would not have been leaving the end of the line in a numerical order.

We are talking about Longbranch Rifles, not Savage. I don't believe production was the same per week in 41/ beginning 42 as it was in 45, so an average figure per week would be misleading

---------- Post added at 05:33 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:31 AM ----------

This is the information that I have so far.....

1941 1L3851 1
1941 1L4131 1
1941 1L4588 1
1941 1L4798 1
1941 1L6926 1

1942 1L5979 1*
1942 1L6797 1*
1942 1L9659
1942 2L1037 1*
1942 2L1378 1*

So 1L5110 as a Mark 1* is low. What year is it, 41 or 42? As you can see there is crossed up dates, due to production methods used.

It's a 1942. When it gets to my hands I'll post the details.

I have 1941 receiver 1L0937 with a 42 dated barrel and 1L4698 also, 1941 receiver with a 42 dated barrel.

[Lee Enfield]

...snip...

I have 1941 receiver 1L0937 with a 42 dated barrel and 1L4698 also, 1941 receiver with a 42 dated barrel.

I have access to about a dozen LB 1941's so I will troll thru them to see if the highest serial numbers are near our target area.
1L3794 is a 1941 MkI