Long Branch serial number listing

[limpetmine]

Greetings, fellow Enfield collectors!
Limpetmine here limpetmine1@gmail.com

With permission from ansleyj at Gunboards, I have been collecting and posting Long Branch serial number data for the past few years. Badger asked if I could cross post this information, and continue to add to the data base from Milsurp.Com users. The fine folks at Gunboards have agreed to this cross posting, so here goes!

Some interesting bits of information have already come to light with this survey. Long Branch started their serial number sequencing as did Savage; 0LX, 0LXX,0LXXX,0LXXXX. From 0L9999, it appears that the numbering went 1LX,1LXX,1LXXX,1LXXXX, as proven by a rifle I own, 1LXXX.
This is evidenced by other rifles of similar numbering in the 1L series, i.e. 1LXX.
It appears, however, that with the 2L series, the numbering went 2LXXXX, i.e. 2L0001. Examples of one, two or three digit 2L series rifles would be appreciated.

David1973 of Canada has provided a great number of pictures and evidence of a 96L rifle. Prior to this survey, 95L had been the understood “end of the road” sequence number, with only I. Skinnerton
making speculation of the 96L series. Hat tip to David! I continue to harass David about his rifle, and he is a good sport about it.

Given that the number of examples in the survey is well into the hundreds now, the convention of X-ing out two or three digits of the serial number is becoming a serious handicap to the survey. Therefore, submitted serial numbers with more than one X will not be included in the survey.

The minimum data I have been collecting is YEAR/MODEL/SIGHT (LES, I.S. pg 219 3d ed.).

Additional data I have been collecting from auction sites, gunshows and other sources is: WOOD SPECIES/FTR DATE/BUTT PLATE alloy, steel, brass)/GROOVED UPPER H.G./HIGH-LOW WOOD/SERIALED STOCK/NOTABLES.

Observations to this point:
Not yet seen a 1942 No. 4 Mk1 (no star).
New Zealand had a lot of early LB's, and didn't use them much!
1945 is an interesting year for LB serial numbers and sniper rifles.
LB No. 4 Mk1/2's are rare! Hat tip Lance.

You are invited to submit your serial numbers in the reply box here, or email it to me via this web site.
I do not keep a listing of who submits what number to me. If I ever find a sequential set of serial numbers, I [really] can't get you in contact with the other guy!

I update the list about 2-3 times a year, more if time allows. So without further chit chat, here is the list from the Gunboards site. You may link to it here:

Survey of Long Branch #4 serial number ranges - Page 5 - Gunboard's Forums



Here is the long awaited update. 226 serial numbers so far, and 4 date/serial number changes in this update. As you can see, having all the digits in the serial number make are a great help to narrowing the change over serial number on year changes. The '44 '45 change of date is showing some really strange stuff; numbers are all over the map, with lots of out of sequence numbers. Also interesting is a 1945 rifle with a 1950 serial number, and the "5" of the 1945 looks hand stamped. Really a neat rifle! It appears to be a 1950 all the way around, but is dated 1945.
Please keep your numbers coming, I hope this public information will continue to be a useful resource./////limpetmine, June 20, 2009


1941 Mk 1 0L244
1941 Mk 1 1L2xxx

All noted below are Mk1*'s
1942 Mk1* 2L1037
1942 Mk1* 26L9463

1943 Mk1* 22L28XX
1943 Mk1*57L4906

1944 50L66xx (this looks to be an aberration)
1944 57L6082
1944 83L842x

1945 83L38XX
1945 90L80XX sniper (T)
1945 91L9864

1949 91L085X
1949 91L51XX

1950 91L0510
1950 96L0012 (rumors of 0013 now)

Information

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