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    Legacy Member Sweeney's Avatar
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    Question 1943 Long Branch ... what is the proper finish for the magazine?

    Hello all, I just picked up a 1943 Long Branch that had been 'talking' to me for a few weeks at my local shop. I was looking at a few 1903s and 1917 US Enfields as I want to collect the US main battle rifles of the 20th century (for starters...). This Enfield kept jumping out in front of me and since they had a 300rd box of RG 50 in bandoleers to feed it I had to take it home. It appears to be all original with strap and bayonet.
    As I am prone to do, after a few hours of ownership I completely dismantled it (even machined a bolt disassembly tool, cleaned and blued all the bare spots and cleaned, stained and oiled the stock.
    I'm hoping to get to the range this week with a friend and his newly acquired Savage LE... also born in '43.
    She looks happy in the safe getting to know the Garands and M14s.
    First question; what is the proper finish for the magazine? Mine had no finish left so I parkerized it to protect it but I can change that at will. I went over the park with 000 steel wool to produce a smooth satin black/gray finish.

    Cheers!
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    A Collector's View - The SMLE Short Magazine Lee Enfield 1903-1989. It is 300 8.5x11 inch pages with 1,000+ photo’s, most in color, and each book is serial-numbered.  Covering the SMLE from 1903 to the end of production in India in 1989 it looks at how each model differs and manufacturer differences from a collecting point of view along with the major accessories that could be attached to the rifle. For the record this is not a moneymaker, I hope just to break even, eventually, at $80/book plus shipping.  In the USA shipping is $5.00 for media mail.  I will accept PayPal, Zelle, MO and good old checks (and cash if you want to stop by for a tour!).  CLICK BANNER to send me a PM for International pricing and shipping. Manufacturer of various vintage rifle scopes for the 1903 such as our M73G4 (reproduction of the Weaver 330C) and Malcolm 8X Gen II (Unertl reproduction). Several of our scopes are used in the CMP Vintage Sniper competition on top of 1903 rifles. Brian Dick ... BDL Ltd. - Specializing in British and Commonwealth weapons Specializing in premium ammunition and reloading components. Your source for the finest in High Power Competition Gear. Here at T-bones Shipwrighting we specialise in vintage service rifle: re-barrelling, bedding, repairs, modifications and accurizing. We also provide importation services for firearms, parts and weapons, for both private or commercial businesses.
     

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    Take a look at these photographs of Long Branch rifles from that period as they will answer your question

    https://www.milsurps.com/content.php...-Branch-Rifles

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    Legacy Member Sweeney's Avatar
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    Thread Starter
    Thank you! From the photos, I still can't tell if the finish is parkerizing or paint, though.

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    Not sure it helps but my '44 LB No4 Mk1* has a parkerized mag......

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    That does help, Oxford. Is the rest of your rifle blued?

    Much appreciated!

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    Both the bands, both swivels (including the bracket for the rear swivel) the front sight protector, the butt plate adnd the rear handguard retainer ring are all parkerized.

    Pretty much every thing else is blued except the receiver which is blacked

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