This is a really curious one

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

My guess is a No.8 with a No.7 muzzle section spliced to the barrel with some lathe work. What they call a "pit ring" in the bore could be a seam. Shortened No.4 front wood. Looks well done. Any thoughts?

SMLE No. 8 MK 1 .22 LR Rifle 22 : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com

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[Patrick Chadwick]

Curious indeed! Putting a No. 4 next to a No. 8, I think you may well be right. But the rifling in the 2 sections would not match up - could not match up, as the add-on muzzle has to be set so that the bayonet lugs have the correct orientation. So the front section of the muzzle, if indeed from a No.7, would have to be counterbored to allow the bullet free flight.

But why waste a No.7 barrel like that - maybe the front barrel section is from a No.4. Much easier to get hold of a scrap No. 4 than a No. 7 barrel, surely?

I really would have liked to have that rifle in my hands for a few minutes, to see how it was done!

[Patrick Chadwick]

Another couple of thoughts:

1) If you're going to all that trouble to make a "No.7-1/2", why fit a crummy flip sight onto what is basically a precision .22?

2) It would also be easy to make the add-on muzzle section long enough to produce the full Mk.4 length, mount the No.8 sight block on a simple turned sleeve* over the No.4 barrel section at the correct distance from the receiver, and then fit the front end wood without any alteration. IMOH, easier than altering the wood.
- Perhaps that is what was done. Are you sure that the wood has been shortened?***

*Which is what I did to smuggle a No.4 front sight onto my Martini-Henry.

*** Just measured up the photos, you are correct, the wood was shortened. Curiouser and curiouser!

[Badger]

Saved this auction content for posterity and future research ..

SMLE No. 8 MK 1 .22 LR Rifle

Item sold for $626.22 U.S.

This No. 8 MK 1 Long Branch .22 LR Caliber Bolt Action Rifle has an overall length of 42-1/4”. The rifle has a 23” barrel with a front sight, 10 round magazine, leather sling, stock with brass trapdoor buttplate, forestock and handguards with rivets.

The left side of the receiver is stamped “22 NO.8 MK 1” with the serial number underneath it. The wrist guard is marked "F 50 CR 324". The bolt and receiver have matching serial number “A317-”. The rifled bore is clean and shiny, but it has a pit ring about 5” from the muzzle. Most of the metal components have a black finish, surface wear, and rust spots.

The leather sling is dry and shows wear. There are proof marks on the grip of the stock. There are nicks, dents, and scratches on the wood. The rifle passed the safety check and test-fire, but it has not been completely taken apart in order to inspect each individual piece. There may be some variations in the description due to this. Overall, the rifle is in good used condition for its age. Please check the photos below. Sold As-Is.

We recently acquired this rifle from the estate of an avid firearm enthusiast whose fascination with collecting firearms spanned over 60 years. We will continuously be offering gems from this extensive collection, so check our auctions frequently.

[Peter Laidler]

I think he's acquired a bog standard but bare No8 body, barrel, bolt and triggter mech from one of the stripped rifles used as a sub calibre for the 120mm tank gun. Found it impossible to get any spares. Discovered that it's similar to a No4 so sleeved a bit of unserviceable barrel onto the end of the No8 barrel and cobbled together a sleeve affair to fit the slightly larger No8 foresight block band to the No4 barrel. Then fitted some gash No4 woodwork

The magazine is a red herring because the No8 has a special feed tray that incorporates the ejector. If you don't use the feed tray (retained by two pins and matched to the rifle so DON'T mix it up!) there is no ejection.

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

I really would have liked to have that rifle in my hands for a few minutes, to see how it was done!

Me too! The fore wood looks a little short to me. It would have to be about 2 inches shorter if the front sight is in it's original spot.

[Brit plumber]

I see the seller is selling it as a Long Branch and no one ever told me that they made a No.5 body, only No.4s

[A square 10]

interesting that they tell you what it says but wont produce a photo that proves it .... just sayin , its not that hard to take good photos if your trying hard , hiding things on the other hand ...