New acquisition. Ugly but salvageable I think.

[Amatikulu]

And here is an e bay link to the correct Long Branch rear sight - these aren't that common and this one is at a good price!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and its ending in 14 hours - the seller is a member of this site (and no, its not me )

[Amatikulu]

I've been looking closely at your pictures, and I blew up the Knox form..... looks like your rifle does not have its original barrel, but that it was re-barreled in 1961 while in South African service.

[spinecracker]

And here is an e bay link to the correct Long Branch rear sight - these aren't that common and this one is at a good price!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

and its ending in 14 hours - the seller is a member of this site (and no, its not me )

I'm also in the process of restoring a 1941 Long Branch, and I have been VERY lucky to find all of the replacement metal parts in less than 2 months (some people I had been talking to on other forums had been looking for correct parts for 5 years or more - yikes!). The LB Mk.1 rear sight I bought cost $75 (which I think was pretty good, seeming that 1 week later the same type of rear sight sold on ebay for $250!). The rear sight currently on ebay is, at the moment, a very good price. You are lucky that ou don't have to find the right cocking piece (again, 1 sold on ebay recently for about $120).

As the barrel has been replaced, would it be reasonable to restore the rifle to 1941 configuration?

[scout7]

Spinecracker, if it is reasonable or not depends on what you want. If you want "as issued", no. If you want "correct", yes. The barrel change is just part of the rifle's history. I would do it, but I like fixing up derelicts anyhow.

[Amatikulu]

I would definitely restore it. Like Scout7, the fact that the barrel was replaced in military service does not detract in my eyes from its desirability -it's simply part of its history. If you should decide that the project is too great for you, I would be willing to take it off your hands for a fair price (you can keep the pistol grip )

[Rumpelhardt]

This is the bottom of the barrel. I don't know why I didn't post it before.

[Rumpelhardt]

This is turning into quite a project for a rifle I originally bought as a parts source.

[browningautorifle]

Then why not sell the receiver to someone and let them restore it?

[Rumpelhardt]

Then why not sell the receiver to someone and let them restore it?

I have wanted to do something like this for years. It looks like now is as good a time as any.

[spinecracker]

Spinecracker, if it is reasonable or not depends on what you want. If you want "as issued", no. If you want "correct", yes. The barrel change is just part of the rifle's history. I would do it, but I like fixing up derelicts anyhow.

I'm on your side, scout I was just asking as I am working on a 1941 Long Branch restoration (receiver, bolt and barrel are original and match) at the moment and have bought parts to put the rifle back to correct 1941 configuration.