newest piece to the collection

[burb1989]

I managed to get an all matching 1950 C No4 Mk1* for $275 over the weekend. I've been trying to look up info on this rifle but few sites offer that good of info on it so I figured I'd come back here. How scarce are these rifles? It's the first I've seen in person for a very long time and this one looks like it saw little use at all. From what I can tell all of the parts appear blued but I'm not real sure that is the case (the pics will help). Any help and info I can get on this rifle would be greatly appreciated.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[muffett.2008]

Poor beat up baby, I don't have much time for No.4's, but I sure feel sorry for this one.

[burb1989]

sure it's got some dings and dents from its past before me but that just adds charcter to an already interesting rifle. For the most part the stock is in very good shape aside from some dings and dents here and there. There is some managable rust pockets on it that I plan to try and clean up as best I can without messing with the finish.

[Ridolpho]

burb1989: Don't often see rust like that here in the dusty plains. Rifle seems to have a variety of metal finishes but the action body almost appears to have the greenish colour of many parkerized (and refurbed) Springfield O3A3's. If it isn't bluing renoving the rust without affecting the finish may be tough (I'm speculating based on what I did to a Pakistani No. 4 with grey parkerizing). I'd love to see some photos after you work on the rust. Is the bore good?

Ridolpho

[WarPig1976]

This rifle is a perfect candidate for Electrolysis rust removal. Some good treads on how to do it...

[burb1989]

To answer the question on the bore it is pretty crisp and looks like a good bore to shoot. I took it apart earlier and found that the metal underneath all the wood was very clean of rust so I think the rust is confined to the trigger guard and to the safety lever, where I have observed the most noticable rust. If a nylon brush and some solvent carefully applied can't fix the rust pockets then I will probably resort to an electrolysis bath.

[gewehrsniper]

I think its a neat rifle! I love the patina and dents and dings... I have one like that myself but mine has been through 2 wars! Lol. you know it has history when theyre like that...so I love it. And as far as the finish on the receiver it does look odd but id just try some coarse steel wool and oil...keep it simple

[jmoore]

Yours is definitely a combination of blued and phosphated finishes. "Greenish" is phosphated. "Black" is blued. You can do a detailed breakdown in your post #116 in the sticky thread:

Do you have a 1950 Long Branch?

Just refer to Post #1 for the details.


I would not go crazy removing the rust. It almost always looks worse under the camera flash. Start with oil and an old toothbrush. Sometimes "rust" turns out to be petrified oil, but probably not this time.

For some reason the magazines usually look the worst on these rifles. Must have been that way from the start, as they are usually late production.

[burb1989]

I have one like that myself but mine has been through 2 wars! Lol. you know it has history when theyre like that...so I love it.

I love it too! I have a '42 Long Branch that I posted on here a while back that probably saw 2 wars but who knows really. I knew when I saw this rifle I just had to have it and I bought it without knowing how hard it is to come by a '50 Long Branch, especially in Mississippi. I think, knowing what rifles all the experienced collectors in my area that I know have, I could have the only '50 Long Branch among them. It's cool to have a Korean War enfield that I know saw action somewhere. Plus the guy I bought it from took really good care of it and shot it almost regularly so I know it functions and has no headspace problems (it has a 0 bolt head too).

[gewehrsniper]

After I figure out how to post pics...I'll post oics of my beat to heck no4 mk1* its also a 1942 longbranch. Everything on the rifle is nice and in tact...has the micrometer sight, no cracks in stock, headspace is fine as well as everything with the bolt, has a nice and shiny 2 groove barrel. Mine is actually a DP rifle...but nothing is cut out or deactivated...gun is all matching including bolt and stock except for the magazine...im in missouri and i gave 210 rds of .223 surplus ammo and $110. headspace is perfect and everything locks up nice. I had a certified gunsmith check it out he said it was fine and shot it for me. I myself have put 10 rds through it. Its a fine shooter.