Do you have a 1950 Long Branch?

[bradtx]

Good move, No4MkI(T). As it's a bonafide survey, perhaps it should be a sticky. Also, this thread predates my joining this forum, and perhaps many other's also.

The only info I could add refers to the '51 barrel date. Both my 95L4XXX and 22LXXXX rearsenal carry '51 barrels. Both are park'd. Because of a long ago debate about LB/CA rearsenals the barrel date may be more important than the serial number.

Brad

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Brian Dick]

I imported 165 1950 LB C No.4's in 2001. The finish changed to Parkerizing in the 93L serial range with a mixture of Parkerized and blue small parts. Most are gone now but I still have a few. The latest serial number I have in blue is 93L3983. The earliest I have left in Parkerized is 93L4960. If I remember correctly, we got a bit closer to pin pointing the changeover back on the old British Guns Forum but the information is long gone. I hope this helps.

[No4Mk1(T)]

I imported 165 1950 LB C No.4's in 2001. The finish changed to Parkerizing in the 93L serial range with a mixture of Parkerized and blue small parts. Most are gone now but I still have a few. The latest serial number I have in blue is 93L3983. The earliest I have left in Parkerized is 93L4960. If I remember correctly, we got a bit closer to pin pointing the changeover back on the old British Guns Forum but the information is long gone. I hope this helps.

Brian do you remember if you had any into the 96L range and if so how high?

[Brian Dick]

Hang on a sec and I'll look in my dealers register. I do remember that there were no 96L rifles. I've never seen one that high and the only one higher I've had was a 1956 body but it was a replacement numbered with a 77L, 1944 serial number. Here you go, (thank God they're in order!). The highest serial number I had in that batch was 95L9950.

By the way, I still have about 20 left if anyone you know wants one. The woodwork on all needs a little TLC from rough storage but the metal of all is excellent inside and out.

[limpetmine]

See you at the 'knob!

Hang on a sec and I'll look in my dealers register. I do remember that there were no 96L rifles. I've never seen one that high and the only one higher I've had was a 1956 body but it was a replacement numbered with a 77L, 1944 serial number. Here you go, (thank God they're in order!). The highest serial number I had in that batch was 95L9950.

By the way, I still have about 20 left if anyone you know wants one. The woodwork on all needs a little TLC from rough storage but the metal of all is excellent inside and out.

[NavyShooter]

1. what are the first 3 digets of the serial #? eg.) 95L2240

2. Is the action blued or parkerized? Parkerized

3. what is the barrel date? ( 2 digets found on the knox-form) eg.) '51

4. is the barrel parkerized or blued? Parkerized

5. is the bolt parkerized or blued? Parkerized

6. is the striker parkerized or blued? Parkerized

[ButchG17]

Serial number 95L10xx, barrel - 51.

[adh2]

1. 94L8, 2. parked 3. unknown, 4. parked, 5. parked, 6. blued

This is CAI import that is vitually unfired. The wood and metal finish are striking. Not sure where to find the barrel date but do not want to remove the stock to do it. Happy to answer any questions you may have. Regards...

[Peter Laidler]

The question of LB rifles with British parts and British rifles with LB parts is easily explianed due to the fact that in Korea and certainly to my knowledge in Germany, UK and Canadian Ordnance, including ammunition stockpiles were pooled. As a result No4 rifles, Brens etc weaponry would be sent out regardless of unit from the centralised pooled storage facility at HAMM. In the days of the L1A1 it didn't seem to happen as much but you would often see XXL Canadian L1A1 rifles in the UK system. Certainly, we had a list of interchangeable Sterling SMG parts that came from UK stocks

The main Base Workshop was at Wetter and there were Canadian and Brit Armourers there, all doing the same job and working happily alongside each other. In fact one Canadian REME Armourer named 'Elmer' Brown (his dad was a Major in the PPCLI as I seem to remember) married an English girl.

The same happened in Malaya and elsewhere in that theatre with L1A1's where stocks were issued from pooled stores so whether you had an AD610- or a UE61A rifle was a matter of luck. We knew when NZ Sterling SMG's were issued because they had odd serial numbers commencing NZ! Unluckily for the Kiwis, they got issued with some of the rubbish UF59A Fazakerley guns!

Sorry to ramble on a bit but just a few thoughts about....er,..... what was it now?

[nimrod]

1. 93L5 2. Park 3. '50 4. Park 5. Park 6. Blue Import marked from Canada