Longbranch TP Sniper. Comments anyone?

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

Why would someone drill completely through the receiver just to change a number? If I wanted to fit a PH5A sight on the thing that's just about where I'd make a hole, though.

[ickmann]

What is even more interesting is that, as far as I can see, the # on the bolt handle looks to be original. My eyes may be getting old....

[tbonesmith]

I too think that this is a repair from the fitting of a PH5a, or SMLE central mount. Heaps of rifles have this mod, and the spot is perfect, as is the type of damage to the butt in the socket. I've got a maltby with the tapped hole removing the same digit. Could this be simply someone repairing the damage caused by the fitting of a less than ideal range sight? BTW nice job.

PS is the barrel serialised the same?

[ickmann]

I broke her down before I left for work tonight. No serial# on the barrel, but plenty of Canadian/LB marks. I am going to put together an album of all the markings, there are some that I am curious about, and post a link to them after I get up tomorrow.

Thnx for all the feedback

I.

[Surpmil]

Second the Centrail sight base idea.

On the other hand, the hole looks a trifle too far towards the muzzle side of the butt socket. However, if fakery was the intention, what would be gained from changing the "...4L..."? Nothing as far as I can see.

Also if fakery was the intention you would expect the lump of weld on the inside of the socket to be removed.

The damage to the back edge of the forened just above the tieplate might correspond to a Central base as well.

[ickmann]

Took a bunch of photos. Hopefully this link will work. Enjoy.

http://s31.photobucket.com/albums/c3...20TP%20Sniper/

[Warren]

The one photograph you did not show is one of the scope elevation turret. If the scope is kosher it will have a number starting with a 4 and ending with the letter S. The rear sight is correct for a sniper with the "Maltese cross" on it and the markings seem good from what I can see at a quick glance. The only fly in the ointment with the serial number, as I mentioned in a previous post is the 74L are not the same as the numbers following the prefix. A most interesting rifle and while the scope and rifle may not be one unit they both seem kosher but as to when and how they came together is a mystery. I do know that some were made up by the military well after the war, so take it from there.......
This is the second one like this to surface in the last while......

[ickmann]

Good catch W. The scope, numbered 4498S, falls into the correct batch for a TP, but there are no markings at all on any of the turrets. Not even the "All-Weather" found on the commercial variants. Here is your pic.



Ian

[Warren]

The scope if numbered on the elevation turret, left side is a good one. A genuine Canadian purchase 32TP and not just a Lyman Alaskan as some have turned out to be.
The 32TP did not have ALL WEATHER on it.

Where is your scope numbered 4498S ???

[ickmann]

Just to the right of the "ALASKAN" on the scope, as shown in the pics. The numbers are canted at an upward angle and are of smaller, different font. The pic is dark so here is another..