Greek Enfields

[gblacksmith]

Folks:

Can anybody here shed light on the existence of No.4 rifles in Greece, which were returned to the loaning countries? I have heard that a number of these Longbranch rifles were originally lent by Canada and returned.

Can anyone here enlighten me on the inclusive dates of shipment/subsequent return of Longbranch No.4s to and from Greece and what characteristics these rifles have? Are there "dead giveaway" features that suggest Greek use?

Information

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[Brian Dick]

I imported a few hundred in 2000. They were purchased from a company in England in the late 1990's. All Long Branch manufacture and dated 1942-45 and 1950. They are/were all nice rifles with lots of handling marks in the woodwork but matching metal, good headspace and nice barrels as original or FTR at CAL prior to shipment to the Greece. The only Greek features found were stickers with the names and addresses of the troopers to whom issued on some but not all of the buttstocks. I still have about 20 here. Half and half wartime and 1950 dated. There are examples on the website.

[gblacksmith]

I imported a few hundred in 2000. They were purchased from a company in England in the late 1990's. All Long Branch manufacture and dated 1942-45 and 1950. They are/were all nice rifles with lots of handling marks in the woodwork but matching metal, good headspace and nice barrels as original or FTR at CAL prior to shipment to the Greece. The only Greek features found were stickers with the names and addresses of the troopers to whom issued on some but not all of the buttstocks. I still have about 20 here. Half and half wartime and 1950 dated. There are examples on the website.

Were any of these rifles green-parkerized, with receiver origin marks removed?

[Brian Dick]

Yes, many of the WWII Long Branch rifles had been back to Canadian Arsenals for FTR prior to being shipped to Greece where they were Parkerized. None of the original markings were removed and almost all still have their original barrels.

[browningautorifle]

I may also add that these rifles were well used during the 1974 war in Cyprus. It was short but intense with no days off for participants. The handling marks came honestly.

[303Nut]

I purchased one of the Greek Enfields about 8-10 years ago. It is a Savage with all Savage marked parts and of course matching sn's on the bolt and receiver. It still had the sling on it with the name of the person it was issued to on it. The over all condition of the rifle was very good especially the bore. The stock was a little on the dry side but a liitle BLO on it took care of that.

[old crow]

I hold a 49 "Greek contract" LB from BDL. All metal is blued and in near-new condition. A few small dings and a small gouge on the wood but otherwise the rifle looks new. Shoots particularly consistently with my pet handload.

[smellie]

Marstar bought about 10 40-foot containers of LE woodwork and parts from Greece, waited a year to get the export permit. We are told that most are at sea right now, on their way to the USA but the shipment for Canada is still stalled, waiting for a direct freighter.

So we might see a few bits and pieces at a decent price..... some day.
.

[gblacksmith]

Is it possible theat a 1955 Long Branch rifle would ahve gone to Greece, or is this too late a date? I had also heard that rifles subsequently issued to the Canadian Rangers were parkerized.

[Brian Dick]

The 1955 dated Long Branch receivers I've seen were all replacements and had the original serial numbers of the wartime rifles stamped on when the worn out receivers were replaced in Canada. It's entirely possible that some of those wound up in the shipments to Greece. As mentioned above by BAR, they were used up and through the 1970's and possibly even later. I've also got a rifle here with a replacement receiver numbered in the 95L range. The whole rifle is original 1950 95L parts and the receiver is a 1944 Maltby No.4Mk.1! Go figure.