Canadian Enfields

[A square 10]

1) "...(Longbranch only made the latter.) ..." thats not quite right , they started off making no4 mkI rifles but quickly changed to the expedient mkI* as did savage in the US ,

2) the SMLE was the original designation of the no1 rifles pre-20s , the no4 rifle is an evolution of these but significantly changed to earn its own designation , closest thing you will find is a no1 mkV

3) IMHO the american made rifles are every bit as fine as the british made , and i own both , i will allow that the bolt release has proven a weak point over the years , but we are taking many years , the matching numbers is important as the commonwealth did not consider these bits interchangeable , they were mated for life

4) its worth doing research before "investing" in the future , know what you are looking at before you buy ,

the two in the middle are longbranch , the outside ones are FAZ in this photo .....





these are SMLEs .......

[ssj]

I live in Minnesota, US. 8><----
That was an immensely interesting read, thanks!

My mistake.....so anyway.........LOL.....USA is probably cheaper if what Ive seen is any indication. If you really want a LB, OK, but if you want a good' un then there are good no4 mk2s about in the USA.

I know what you mean on modern guns, my newest is 1955, I think its the wood I like as much as anything. Enfields are now getting hard to come by here in NZ in good condition and target barrels are approaching $1000NZ so kind of reluctant to over use my ones. Lots of New Zealanders do however still hunt with them....still a good demand for them.

regards

[5thBatt]

closest thing you will find is a no1 mkV

No such thing as a No1 MkV the MkV SMLE never received the No1 designation but i get the feeling you meant the No1 MkVI

[bow]

I have 5 Long Branch made from Wartime to 1950...they are great shooters. The best of all is my 1950 rifle. Fore end are generally well fitted and bore slugging reveals tight barrels, if they aren't worn. Bolts are well fitted and wood quality is high. Check your rifle and , definitely, you will no loose your money.

[cprher]

PM sent.

[Alexander A]

I think that as a general rule, the North American No. 4's (Long Branch and Savage) were better made than the wartime British production. After all, the North Americans weren't under constant threat of bombing, and perhaps could take a little more time.

[A square 10]

thanks 5th , a typo mkVI was what i meant , that as they are nearly mistakable visually , mkVs were made prior to the nomenclature change , but wasn't the change in designation retroactive ?

as to 'better production' i disagree , 'better production environment" - perhaps ,
even with the collectors perception of maltbys production based on their poor markings , IMHO all produced great rifles ,

[Rumpelhardt]

My 1941 No4Mk1 Long Branch that I was told was re barreled in 1961 in South Africa shoots fairly well.
As for the Model 70 Winchester being soulless... May you bite your tongue until it bleeds.

[Kiverson]

After all, the North Americans weren't under constant threat of bombing, and perhaps could take a little more time.

Very good point!

[Son]

thanks 5th , a typo mkVI was what i meant , that as they are nearly mistakable visually , mkVs were made prior to the nomenclature change , but wasn't the change in designation retroactive ?

as to 'better production' i disagree , 'better production environment" - perhaps ,
even with the collectors perception of maltbys production based on their poor markings , IMHO all produced great rifles ,

Actually the MkV never existed... with regard to the LoC at least anyway. As it was never given issue status, it wasn't approved and therefore didn't exist as far as the nomenclature changes in May 1926 either.

The SMLE or Short, Magazine Lee Enfield came to be from changes made to the MLE or Magazine Lee Enfield. It's direct predecessor was the MLM or Magazine Lee Metford. The names were derived from the designer of the action, James Paris Lee, and the designer of the barrels, first Metford, then the engineers at the RSAF Enfield. When the rifle was shortened from a 30" barrel to a 25" barrel the overall design hadn't been changed much, the biggest being the charger loading bolt head system on the SMLE MkI from 1903. This was developed to became the charger bridge on the MkIII in 1907.
There were a few cosmetic changes over the years, the only major ones being the barrel length and the charger bridge.
The MkV came and went as a trials model in 1922 to 1924. After the changes in 1926, the MkIII became the No1 rifle. (the No2 rifle was the MkIV .22 trainer; the No3 rifle was the Pattern 1914) The next development was the No1 MkVI. By this time, the archaic manufacturing methods having been used for 50 years making Lee Enfield Rifles went through an overhaul. The design changes made to the action were to suit more modern and much more streamlined manufacturing practices that resulted in faster production. More improvements were made also, like the receiver mounted rear aperture sight, and a heavier profiled barrel. Being a totally new design, the SMLE designation was dropped and the rifle became simply the Rifle No4