1942 LongBranch and some questions.

[SKS50]

I picked up a 1942 LB #4 MK 1* today and I have a few questions. The first thing I did was clean the bore and it looks to be in perfect condition,no rust or pits and very shiny,I also slugged it while I was at it and it came out .303 across the lands and .315 across the grooves. I hope this will be a decent shooter at least with jacketed bullets,cast I'm not so sure about at the moment.

The front sight is marked LB on one side and what appear to be .060 on the other I know this has something to do with the blade height,in general what can I expect at 100 yds with that particular blade height?

Also the bolt appears to be a mismatch,not the same on on the receiver,is this common to the 303 rifles or is this a problem? The bolt also has the cocking piece that is not common on the #4 rifles or is it ? It also has the CMK 3 200 to 1300 yds. rear sight.


I can provide some better pics when I get some better lighting outdoors. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Information

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[Surpmil]

Someone paid over $200 for a rusty cocking piece of the same type as yours, so that's worth having. It's interesting to see a MkI cocking piece on a 14L---- rifle. Just check the markings to confirm that it is a Long Branch example. (Let us know what you find)

The rifle has been refurbed by the parkerizing on the receiver.

It would be a good idea to check the contact of the locking lugs with engineers blue and the headspace as well.

If your bolt head is not Long Branch marked (little "LB" monogram) you should check that the front and rear edges of the lip that slides in the bolt head guide/retaining slot are bevelled to allow them to pass the bolt head removal "gap" in the guide without rising and chipping the edges. Unbevelled bolt heads made for MkI, rather than MkI* can do this at times.

The MkIII sights look a bit cheesy, but they are actually faster to adjust and more positive than the screw type and the slide is held rigid when the detent is engaged. I've yet to see a MkI screw type sight that didn't have some play in the slide, sometimes a heck of a lot of play!

That's all I can think of at the moment.

[SKS50]

Everything I can find on the rifle has the little LB stamped on it including the bolt head,it also has a #1 bolt head,the only part on the rifle with no LB is the front barrel band and it has the Savage stamp S on it.

The actual serial # is 18L6XXX which is stamped on the receiver just under the safety lever. It actually says on the side of the receiver.

No 4 Mk 1*
Long Branch
1942

I haven't bought the rifle as of yet just checking out some details and trying to learn what I can about it,I can get it for $125 if I decide I want to keep it.

[grant580]

Yeah, I'd buy it.

[Brian Dick]

I see the receiver is Parkerized so it's most likely a rifle that went back to Long Branch post WWII for FTR. Somehow the bolt got switched afterwards. I still have a handful of these rifles available that are matching throughout if anyone wants one. They are wonderful shooters. My supply imported several years ago is slowly coming to an end with no hope of replacement.

[SKS50]

Not a great pic but but the best I can muster right now.

[Peter Laidler]

Just a small point if you're going to keep the fabricated Mk3 backsight but the catch, slide is broken as I can see it hanging out to the side.

[SKS50]

The slide catch lever does appear to stick out further than most I have seen in pictures but it isn't broken,in fact it has a very strong spring and has a very positive lockup in the range graduation notches. Thanks for noting that I will look more closely at that once I give it a good cleaning.

[Brian Dick]

It may still work but Peter is correct. The catch is worn out as it shouldn't protrude like it is. I had 200 Long Branch No.4 rifles here at one time after import 10 years ago and I had to replace many of the fabricated Mk.III and C Mk.3 rear sights because of broken or worn catches. I wish I could find some new catches because I have a bin full of otherwise good sights that could be repaired. I've got plenty of new springs too.

[303Nut]

$125 would be a good deal.