Long Branch serial number listing

[WW2Buff]

I understand and agree with everything you have said, Seaforth, but I am sticking to my point that the button cocking pieces on the early SMLE Mk III* and the early No. 4 Mk 1 and Mk 1* are different. They are shaped differently ('D' versus round) and they have knurled versus smooth edges.

Further to and consistent with OP 22's photos and mine, here are SMLE early cocking pieces:

https://www.libertytreecollectors.co...&idcategory=62

LEE ENFIELD NO.1 MK III* PART, COCKING PIECE, FIRST VARIATION,Lithgow MARKED | eBay

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And here is the early No. 4 button, also consistent with Stratton Vol. 2 page 61:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=22276

Pics of my 1942 Long Branch #4 Mk. 1

I apologize in advance if I'm not supposed to copy these types of links to the forum. And I'm surely not trying to be overly argumentative here, but I still think I've got a valid point and an interesting observation. How did that early SMLE button end up on 22's No. 4?

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[browningautorifle]

Here's a link to Fussyboy/51 rifle, hand stamped number...have a look...strange? https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....801#post392801

[72guns92]

No4Mk1* Long Branch 1942 ser# is matching on the barrel,reciever, and bolt. ser#3L1599, the stock that was on it Bubba had his grinder work trying to sporterized it. I ordered a stock set and a upperband from springfield sporter. I only had 30 buck in it before I ordered the stock set. got about $190 in now. it does have inport marking form CDI Swan VT.[ATTACH]Attachment 81474[/ATTACH]

[BurtonP]

First post for me.
My first Lee Enfield was/is a 1945 Long Branch No4 Mk1*
SN 84L2731 with matching bolt and receiver. No SN on the mag, the blueing is different, so replacement?
Walnut stock, but is an unsporterized "Surrey" so mostly replacement.
Ribbed top wood replacement.
Steel butt plate.

Hope it's not already in the database! Cheers.

[limpetmine]

I'm working on the update, and hope to have this posted in a couple of weeks.
With hundreds of numbers in the data now, serials with XX's in them are becoming irrelevant.

I know of at least two changes in the data now, with a new low number.
Keep posting your data, especially if marked with N^Z markings.

[limpetmine]

Here is the March 20 2017 Long Branch serial number update.
Due to the large number of numbers in the list, serials with XX will no longer be added.
As noted previously, there is an overlap of serial numbers especially between 42-43 and 44-45.
Please privide this minimum data:Year/Model/Serial number/FTR date/sight/Butt/oddities
If you have a 1942 Mk 1, please include your data! A picture would be great.
Also /2 and /3 conversions. There are two known /2 conversions.

1941 Mk 1 0L79
1941 Mk 1 1L6926

1942 Mk 1* 1L5979
1942 Mk 1* 21L7473

1943 Mk 1* 21L9027
1943 Mk 1* 57L4906

1944 Mk 1* 53L2028 OUT OF RANGE ODDBALL* SEE SIDE LIST
1944 Mk 1* 83L3171

1945 Mk 1* 71L0030 L-42 Conversion
1945 Mk 1* 90L8318

1949 Mk 1* 91L0013
1949 Mk 1* 91L5133

1950 Mk 1* 73L6811 DRCA SERIAL 268 7.62
1950 Mk 1* 91L66XX
1950 Mk 1* 96L0012



LATE ODDBALLS
1952 94L7567 CNO.4MK1*
1955 89L76XX ????
1955 0C28471 CNo4MK1*
1955 27L66XX CNO.4MK1*
1956 91L5XXX DCRA SET UP

652 DATA ENTRIES


SIDE LIST FOR 43-44 RANGES
1943 55L1679
1943 55L6161
1943 55L7022
1943 56L06XX
1943 56L9938
1943 57L1158
1943 57L4906
1944 57L6342
1944 50L66XX
1944 53L2028
1943 54L1280
1943 56L7200
1944 57L6082
1944 58L2395
You can see that the 43/44 serial number ranges are co-mingled greatly. Nailing down a definitive serial number change over number is problematic.

[Ronbo6]

Here's another two:
1942 16L0058 (also marked NZ27306) Purchased out of a crate containing all unissued, consecutively-numbered (both Long Branch and New Zealand numbers were consecutive), rifles.

1943 33L6111 Nothing special, except it came to me with a Savage magazine (Did it come from the factory that way? I can't tell you that for certain).

[Lance Boyle]

Long branch No4mk1* of 1945. (F) FTR /49

Sn 86L0790. Sadly Bubba did a Number on it. At least I Was thinking Bubba. The hand gaurds, barrel bands and Front sight protecter are gone. The forestock is shortened rather short. The butt was shaved flat. A red head duck pad was fitted to the stock. Now this is what makes me wonder. There is a 1/2 tall "24" struck on the receiver near the vent hole. When I removed the duck gun butt pad there was a matching 1/2 inch "24" stamped into the wood. Who would have shaved the butt flat enough to get rid of the plate's lip corresponding mortise and numbered the stock? All I can think of is it maybe was a rifle in Canadian Rangers. If it was numbered in full military trim then that "24" would have been sliced off. An African hunting rifle barrel mount type sling loop was added. Its parkerized.

Well I Have some new old wood on the way.

[Lance Boyle]

In hind sight all the Canadian ranger No4s are in standard military config.

[rambo46]

A few more----1943 44L5623
1944 75L2307
1945 90L4458
1950 95L7638
1950 95L8639

Bruce