Do you have a 1950 Long Branch?

[Lee Enfield]

Further to our previous discussions, my '50's receiver more closely resembles the one in the photo, rather than the '49 illustrated. Go with Parked for your survey.

I was going to use the 92L0 that I had access to, but the owner has used a B-Square (non-gunsmithing) mount which has worn/thinned some blueing away around the ejector screw.

I'm told by those with a lot of finishing experience (and experimentation) that the "greenish" tint to the parkerizing is a product of a "chromic acid" bath upon removal from the park tanks.

I believe this was done to stabilize the reaction before/instead of using water.

[Cantom]

I was going to use the 92L0 that I had access to, but the owner has used a B-Square (non-gunsmithing) mount which has worn/thinned some blueing away around the ejector screw.

I'm told by those with a lot of finishing experience (and experimentation) that the "greenish" tint to the parkerizing is a product of a "chromic acid" bath upon removal from the park tanks.

I believe this was done to stabilize the reaction before/instead of using water.

What is the correct finish for a 42 Long Branch? Would it be blue coloured bluing, black bluing? I might be getting one that's been black painted and looks terrible...

The wartime LB's seem to have a sort of soft grey finish. It's almost like parkerizing but would seem to be a type of bluing. My gunsmith told me he can duplicate it by powder blasting then bluing.

[Lee Enfield]

Updated to Feb 5/07

[Cantom]

Has anyone noted the difference in the Long Branch parkerizing finishes? The early ones and FTR'd wartime rifles seem to be that green colour, I think from zinc chromate.
The later ones, like 55 or so and then the CAL FNC1 rifles seem to be grey.(see the pic from the first page, I posted I think it was a 55 or 56 LB) Seems to be a different finish, maybe different chemicals were used?



I was reading a site about parkerizing, sounds too risky to try doing yourself...

"You should use it by itself, as any Antimony Tri-chloride vapor creates absolutely permanent irrevocable damage to the lungs"

I think I'll leave the Parkerizing to the pros...


BTW, I'm not sure why Canada didn't stamp FTR on rifles...they probably should have. Maybe they couldn't bring themselves to mar their beautiful rifles...the Brits didn't care, they could always slap another coat of Suncorite on over their plethora of stamps...

[Lee Enfield]

[QUOTE=Cantom;3852]Has anyone noted the difference in the Long Branch parkerizing finishes? The early ones and FTR'd wartime rifles seem to be that green colour, I think from zinc chromate.
The later ones, like 55 or so and then the CAL FNC1 rifles seem to be grey.(see the pic from the first page, I posted I think it was a 55 or 56 LB) Seems to be a different finish, maybe different chemicals were used?

QUOTE]

The greenish tint is supposed to be a reaction of the cosmoline preservative to the after parkerizing chromic acid dip which was used to neutralize the parkerizing solution.

Thats the rumour anyway.

Most home parkerizers use (much safer) boiling water to accomplish the neutralization, eliminating the green tint.

[koldt]

I was given the suggestion, and so I tried it, of lubing my newly parked C1 tube down with 30w motor oil and then baking it in 150 degree oven for about 20 minutes. In my opinion, it did turn a bit of a darker/greener colour. I liked the way it turned out.

[Claven2]

After parking stuff, I always dunk it in fresh 10W30 motor oil and then towel it off. Does a good job of neutralizing the reaction and closing up the pores in the parked metal.

As for the green tint, believe it or not, if you wash those parts in varsol or alcohol, they turn grey again. I think it's just oxidized oil in the park's pores that gives the color.

[excoelis]

I just purchased one and here is the info on it, I don't see anything that has this serial number here. A few that are close but not the same.
Ser# 95L2861
All matching numbers and in very and I mean very good shape. Now the L2 does that mean it is parkerised, because if it doesn't then this girl is.
It is a C No4 Mk 1 Long Branch 1950
Can anyone give any more insight on this?

[303Nut]

excoelis

The "L" would be for Long Branch and the "2" would be part of the S/N. Yours falls in line with those parkerized going by the responses here. Sounds like you have a nice one.

[Cantom]

I just purchased one and here is the info on it, I don't see anything that has this serial number here. A few that are close but not the same.
Ser# 95L2861
All matching numbers and in very and I mean very good shape. Now the L2 does that mean it is parkerised, because if it doesn't then this girl is.
It is a C No4 Mk 1 Long Branch 1950
Can anyone give any more insight on this?

You have a fairly late production 50 marked rifle, definitely parkerized. I'd be interested to know if the barrel is stamped 51, both of mine are.(under the handguard, but don't bother taking it apart)
I have 95L36XX and 95L83XX and both are parked.
All LB's have L in the s/n.

Are you in Canada or the US?