FS- 1944 Enfield Longbranch (CGN Private Ad)

[Badger]

Posted on CGN ....

FS- 1944 Enfield Longbranch (click here)

If you can't view the advertisement, it's probably due to the fact that you have to subscribe to the EE (Equipment Exchange) forums on CGN, in order to view them.

Seller says:

For sale is a 1944 Lee Enfield Longbranch No.4 Mk.III*. Walnut rear stock and Beech handguard/forestock. All wood shows Canadian Broad Arrow and LB32 Longbranch markings along with the receiver, bolt, safety, magazine, sight protector and forestock clamps. Barrel is a clear, sharp rifled 5 groove left twist BSA (Birmingham Small Arms Co.-south arsenal). Markings put it around early/mid 50's manufacture. Headspace checked and is good. Not FTR'ed. Nice brass butt-plate, angular sling swivel on take-down screw with heavy grey canvas sling. Front sight guard was ground down a bit (not by me) to sit flush with the font butt. I have more pics to send you if needed. $425. shipped or can accomodate Vancouver are pick-up/meet. Prefer EMT.

2nd from left.

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Ok you Enfield collectors, what do you think of the sale of this old girl?

Regards,
Badger

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Moderator Note: .. Merged and re-posted this at start of thread on behalf of claven2, to re-order the thread and help correct May 11/12 posting date problem (see announcement)

My vote it for recent restoration. It is highly unlikely that a 50's BSA barrel would find its way onto a 44 Longbranch without getting electropencil FTR markings. Definitely would not happen in Canada either as LB made its own barrels in that timeframe. Though uncommon, it IS possible to get a mix of walnut and beech from a LB FTR, but it would have gotten a LB barrel. A 50's Brit FTR would have used european beech that is not LB marked and would have resulted in EP markings.

I'd say either restored and rebarelled sporter or rebarelled LB where someone swapped out a 2 groove for a perceived advantage with a 5 groove bbl.

I doubt it will realize the asking price unless a newbie jumps on it.

If that happens, I hope that the buyer doesn't post a "this is what I just bought, how did I do, did I pay too much?" thread.

That is SO going to happen now that you brought it up

Information

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[tiriaq]

Wondered how long it would be before this ad was posted for comment. Springfield Sporters was selling new in the grease BSA barrels several years ago, 3/$100. Bet its one of those. Still have one tucked away against the day that a sported 4T comes my way.
May not be an official FTR, but it sure as heck has been reworked. Apart from the barrel, the brass buttplate is obviously an addition, and there is a screw or bolt going through where the forend reinforcing strap should be. The centre swivel suggests target shooting, but these get added regularly. It MAY have been reworked for target shooting, but could easily be a restored sporter. Butt looks branad new, forend doesn't.
Are the forend and handguards beech or birch? I can't see any of the characteristic beech flecks in the grain.
I can't make out any marks on the Mk. I sight, but it wouldn't be original on a '44 in any case.
Wonder why the front sight protector had to be trimmed to clear the forend.
The LB I was issued in 1961 was two tone, and I saw others, but who knows if they left SAL like that.

[stencollector]

Wonder why the front sight protector had to be trimmed to clear the forend.

I bought a sporterised #4mk1 at the Calgary gunshow last month, and it had the barrel cut back about 3/4", to a point which just left the bayonet lugs. "why did it get cut there" I aked the old fellow. "So it would fit in the cupboard" he replied.

There is always a reason......

[Badger]

"So it would fit in the cupboard" he replied.

Too funny ...

Regards,
Badger

[Badger]

If that happens, I hope that the buyer doesn't post a "this is what I just bought, how did I do, did I pay too much?" thread.

Oh Oh ...

Check out the first post in our May purchases....

A new collector..... what a shame...

I hope the seller revealed to him what it really was before he sold it to him...

Anyway, now I remember why this site is important. I wish we could get more "new collectors" logged in regularly here, if for no other reason than to take advantage of the incredible depth of knowledge our Advisory Panel has, so they can avoid getting burned....

Regards,
Badger

[tiriaq]

Please tell me that you used your Moderator powers to do the new entry for May.

Can't imagine why the front sight protector had to be altered to clear the stock - although one rifle I rebarrelled, a .22 conversion, had its barrel set back one thread. The front sight wouldn't clear, so I shortened the forend and handguard, setting the caps on the forend and handguard back. It would be interesting to know if the rifle sells for anything approaching the "ask".

If that happens, I hope that the buyer doesn't post a "this is what I just bought, how did I do, did I pay too much?" thread.

[Badger]

Please tell me that you used your Moderator powers to do the new entry for May.

No, I wish it was a joke, unless it's the seller posting it pretending ...

Check out my other post to you in this thread. Unfortunately, our dates got a little screwed up. But I think it's after this post....

Regards,
Doug

[Claven2]

Definitely not a joke. The buyer and I have been pm'ing back and forward since the thread went up. Luckily I'm told he didn't pay the asking price. I advised him to get a smith to look at it as it's a probably "put together" and that if it checks out it should be a decent shooter. Sadly, I doubt it will sand the test of time as a collectible.

[jjackman]

Yes I bought it. No I didn't pay the asking price. I might have been born yesterday, but it wasn't in the afternoon. I guess I should have made a contribution sooner and maybe I could have worked down the price some more. I'm told it does shoot well and it was not restored by the current owner but by the guy he bought it from. I'll still have it checked out.

Can anyone refer me to representative expected values for milsurp firearms in the Canadian market?

Thanks

Jassen

[Claven2]

Some of the values are posted under examples in the MKL libraries, but if not, just ask here and we'll give you good, honest info!