1942 NZ-marked Long Branch No.4 Mk.1* - finally mine!!!

[spinecracker]

I do not have photos yet, but the rifle, apart from some slight handling dings, is pristine. The bore is mirror-like, and the bolt face looks untouched. There are no import marks, so I do not have a clue how and when this rifle got into the US. I will post pics in a few days (after I have recovered sufficiently after a surgery). This rifle is almost worthy of going in the Knowledge Library as an example of NZ markings. I am now off to drool over the rifle, but I will wear a bib.

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[JBS]

OK ready for the photos when you can. Oh, get well fast

[m4a3sherman]

I have a New Zealand marked Long Branch as well. I am mostly a Mauser guy but when I found this No.4 in a pawnshop it was too beautiful to pass up and once I noticed the NZ I had to have her. Turns out there was a Canadian oiler in the butt too!
From what I have seen and heard, the NZ rifles are almost always in great shape and apparently were kept as rear echelon weapons since the NZ army prefered the No.I Mk.III and already had them in wide circulation. This is, however, only what I have heard and I find information rather hard to come by on these rifles.

[spinecracker]

Tried to take photos, but I am shaking too much post anesthesia (one of my typical reactions, doesn't last more than a day) and the pictures are blurry.

No oiler in the buttstock, but it did come with a stiff as anything 1942 Canadian-marked sling. I looked at the wear surfaces (lugs, contact areas on cocking piece, extractor, along sides of bolt and in the receiver, etc) and it is minimal to non-existent. Even the wood work still has that just machined feel to it. Not one single screw has been buggered with, but that just means that anyone stripping this rifle down was very, VERY careful lol. I looked again for any import marks that may be visible without stripping the rifle down (even used a magnifying glass) and there are none.

I think I did well. Although I am a shooter more than a collector (and I know all the arguments from boths sides of the fence), I really am having to think hard about taking this one to the range - it is just too gorgeous lol.

[xa-coupe]

Sounds like you did well Spinecracker. NZ Enfields of any description can't be too common.
Hope you get over your surgery quickly.

[Demo]

I got a couple NZ marked No4's and the ones I've seen have been in very good order. I'll post some pics on a new thread

[spinecracker]

One question. What type of oiler would be correct for a WW2 Long Branch? One of the black/brown plastic ones, brass, etc? Would there be any particular markings?

[Badger]

Hope you get over your surgery quickly.

I second that ....

Hope your recovery is quick and successful ...

Regards,
Doug

[spinecracker]

Thanks guys. It has been 12 hours and I still have a big numb patch around the incision, and I am still feeling the effects of the general anesthesia (I'm not taking any pain meds until I stop feeling lightheaded, off balance and nauseated lol), so I'm laying off the pain meds until I get the ok. Still, this means that I am up at 5am looking at my new rifle, so I am not complaining lol.

[spinecracker]

As promised. 1 or 2 are a little blurry, but I will sort out better ones later.

http://s1016.photobucket.com/albums/...Long%20Branch/