Long Branch serial number listing

[rondog]

I'm new to this Long Branch thing, to me The Long Branch was the saloon on the Gunsmoke TV show where Marshall Dillon hung out.

Anyway, I just bought meself a 1942 Long Branch No.4 Mk.1* tonight, paid $250 American Dollars for it. Seems to be in lovely shape for an old battle rifle, although I have no idea how "original" it may. Looks quite good to me though.

Serial number is 4L4093, stamped in a very small font. Bolt and receiver numbers match, but I didn't feel like tearing it all down to check the barrel #.

It has a 300/600 flip rear sight (yards or meters? I'm assuming yards?) instead of a ladder sight. Butt plate is definitely brass. Wood is beech, can't find any markings to speak of on it. Rear handguard is grooved, and has five diagonal wooden "inserts, inlays, or splices" in it...I'm not really sure what the deal is with those, whether they're repairs or supposed to be there, or what. I don't think the wood has been refinished, sure doesn't look like it, but it may have been cleaned by oiling and buffing, it's in great shape considering.

So....what's the deal with the "Long Branch" Enfields? I understand they were made in Canada or something? Anything about them that makes them special? Sorry, but although I now have five Enfields, I still don't really know that much about them.

Photos from the seller, I haven't taken any yet.

Information

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[Mag Fed]

Hello all,
I'm new to this Forum, (**Limpetmine, you have these numbers already from other Forum)

Here are my Long Branch No 4 Mk1*'s to add just for interest:

1942 5L30XX, matching #s including stock and mag, Isshy screw, Mk 1 rear sight, walnut, 2 groove bbl, Canadian sling marked 1940.

1943 27L35XX, all matching LB parts except mag (Brit) which is marked Y6208, scared walnut as battle rifle and marked C^, 2 position flip up rear sight, receiver ring marked C^ with s/n 27L35XX on right side, wartime sling - unmarked.

1943 48L16XX, non-matched bolt (although it is LB bolt looks like # 77L 0170, C^ marked on receiver ring, nice walnut and all LB parts, C Mk III rear sight, 5 groove bbl, grooved rear handguard, Canadian sling marked 1942.

1943 51L34XX, non-matched bolt (bolt marked Y29567), C^ marked on stock and butt, Brit mag (F), brass butt plate, Mk III (F) rear sight, 5 groove bbl, larger target style front blade sight, furniture has been given a very light coat of varnish (as opposed to oil) at sometime in its history, very nice condition overall, Canadian sling marked 1943.

1943 54L15XX, electro-penciled matching bolt - which has the Flaming Bomb marked on top of handle - must be a Savage replacement bolt likely done at FTR, left receiver is marked " /52.54L15XX No4Mk1/3(F) FTR ", Savage front bbl band, walnut, grooved rear handguard, 5 groove bbl, LB Mk 1 rear sight, nice overall condition, non-matched mag (Brit mag # 23869), Canadian sling marked 1943.

1943 54L4342, British marked and ENGLAND export marked, matching #s bolt and stock and separate # LB mag, left side receiver just after 'Long Branch No4 Mk 1*' is electro-penciled "F(FTR)49" and serial # is also penciled onto left forward receiver side wall, brass butt plate, original Mk 1 rear sight, typical FTR late 40's black finish on metal, left side butt marked FR (Field Repair), nice condition.

1944 70L26XX, matching LB #s on mag and stock, replacement bolt which is a LB but un-numbered - likely a battle replacement as right side stock marked FR (Field Repair - i.e. repaired by Canadians in the combat zone) or alternatively, replacement bolt fitted during FTR, rifle has the sniper sling swivel forward of the mag, a No 5 Brit carbine rear sight (F) i.e. 800 yds, 5 groove bbl, Savage front bbl band, 5 groove bbl, left front of receiver marked FTR B, C ^ marked walnut wood and on bbl, Canadian marked sling 1944.

1945 88L22XX, matching bolt and has unmarked LB mag, nice walnut furnitue marked C^ on forestock and butt, 5 groove bbl, rear sight is a Faz Mk 1 (F), canadian marked sling 1944.

1950 "C No4 Mk1* marked" 94L70XX, matching bolt, LB mag un-numbered, walnut, all 'CAL' parts, sniper sling swivel forward of mag, C Mk 3 rear sight, very nice furniture marked C^, 5 groove bbl, Canadian sling marked 1952.



Cheers.

[burb1989]

I`m not sure if I posted mine but here's my only no4 mk1*:
LB 1942 No4 Mk1* 9L5855
numbers matching, non-FTR marked

[ickmann]

1941 No.4 MK1 #0L3644

I.

(Oops..already listed. New owner tho.)

[Mag Fed]

Ickmann,

Nice, and congrats......I'm still looking for a 'no star' !
Cheers

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

NATO stock number 1005 21 808 9499 Rifle, Caliber .303
2L4307
4L3830
5L6379
5L6524
5L6624
5L6641
5L6642
5L6643
5L6644
5L6663
5L6677
5L6736
5L6745
5L6747
5L6767
5L6784
5L6795
5L8056

Notice the very low serial numbers, and the grouping. Clearly not EAL rifles. I have no further information than that at one time, these were part of air force survival kits. These rifles were on issue to Mapping and Charting Establishment as survival rifles for Arctic survey party members until the early 2000's. They would send a topographic surveyor onto some isolated rocky outcrop by helo. The sequence of unloading was an overnight bag, the radio, a rifle, then the tripod and survey instruments to suit the mission. When the program wound up, the rifles were returned to central stores. They technically still belong to MCE, and could be drawn at any time.

[Maple_Leaf_Eh]

1943 No4 Mk I* 22L5096, likely rebuilt
1950 CNo4 Mk I* 93L9300, regulated by Fulton, SAL conversion 465, barrelled action only right now, used by owner's father with great success in DCRA matches
1950 CNo4 Mk I* 93L9318, complete, likely rebuilt

And to tantalize the listers for a little longer, I'll post a list of current Canadian Force inventory LB converted survival rifles, all single digit prefixes. Not EALs.

[big_blue79]

1943 LB No4 Mk1* S/N 24L5780.

[Peter Laidler]

Anyone out there doing the same or similar with Savage serial numbers. I have 96C 41xx that's recently come from Afghanistan. In what you'd describe as extremely poor condition. Any year of manufacture

[Brian Dick]

It's a late one Peter. Built in 1944.