Long Branch 1949 competition #4

[Brian Dick]

Mine has the "Oval C" mark present on the butt socket. It is also glass bedded and drilled/tapped for the front Parker-Hale scope base. Is it true these particular "factory special" rifles were built for the Canadian Army shooting team?

[Frederick303]

Some years ago when I was interested in the history of the target regulated Enfield Rifles, I had a fairly complete rework list of what was allowed where and when. If desired I can go pull all this data, though it might take some time for me to find it. In any case from my recollections, the following is true of the Canadian No 4 rifles:

1) From 1946 to 1963 no modifications were allowed to the standard regulation front bearing bedding, unlike in the UK where center bedding was allowed and quite popular in the 1950s. Indeed I seem to recall in 1955 or 1956 the Canadians made a special exception for a UK visiting team. No epoxy bedding was allowed, though wooden draws inserted and fixed with pegs and glue was allowed. No use of cork or barrel packing was allowed. The only real modification allowed was a single hole to be drilled and taped on the left side of the action body to allow use of the old Parker Hale 5(a) sight. This was approved in 1946 and appears in the “Connaught Bible” until the 1960s.

2) The very first 7.62 conversions were made in 1963. The standard bedding did not work well on these, as such in either in 1963 (or 1964) there were relaxations allowed for No 4 bedding.

3) The list of changes was limited until between 1963 and 1967 to center bedding, front bedding or a combination of both techniques. Epoxy was allowed for building up these surfaces, but not the action body bedding, that had to be done the old fashioned way. I suppose the idea was the rifle could be restored to service configuration by removal of the epoxy shims/center bearing.

4) In that last year(s) of completion before the switch over to TR rifle, barrel packing was allowed. I believe that was in the years 1967 and 1968 but I am not sure exactly when first allowed. I seem to recall it was not allowed on the first year of the Palma in Canada (1967), the Canadian No 4 rifles having center bedded stocks but no barrel packing.

5) Barrel packing with cork was thought to allow the No 4 in 7.62 to shoot much better in the midranges (500 to 600 yards) that the non-packed rifle.

6) In the first year of limited TR shooting 1968, epoxy bedding was allowed for action bedding. With the change of SR(B) to TR in 1968(limited) and 1969 (full) the limitations on bedding, sights and barrel dimensions were removed.

7) A lot of classic SR(b) rifles got an attempt to use epoxy to improve there performance, though by the end of 1969 it was clear the true TR type rifles could outshoot a tuned No 4 and they rapidly faded from the scene in the early 1970s.

[superbee]

Just found another 5G marked 1949 LB.This one is a bit different,the 5G mark is stamped instead of electro pencil.May mean they were building enough of these competition rifles to make a stamp.Any thoughts?
Fredrick303 can you please send a copy of your enfield regulation info please??Looking for any info on lee enfield target rifles.

Attachment 51237

[Simon P]

Just had a delivery of No4s this morning amongst them is a 1943 dated Long branch with the 5G mark, but no C in a Circle.

Not sure if the light wood is original but the fore-end is fully Long branch marked and has a matching serial number and a bonus of having a mint bore with 5-Groove rifling.

Has it been determined what the 5G mark means yet?


Attachment 53696Attachment 53697

[superbee]

I think it simply means a 5 groove barrel.
looks like maple wood grain.
Is the serial Number stamped on the wood anywhere?
Interesting 1943 date.All of the 5G rifles I have seen were all dated 1949 and one dated 1950.