Longbranch #4mk1* with receiver dates of 1951, 52, 53 and 54?

[stencollector]

So as I sorted out the rack of LongBranch Enfields today, I realized I have had no luck finding the unicorns of the Canadian no4s. I have the 41-45 dates on the no4s, 44, 45, and 46 on the Cno7s, and 49, 50, 55 and 56 on the no4mk1s. But what I do not have are the 51 thru 54 dates. It is accepted theory that receiver dates after 1950 are replacement receivers, and that the last digit may have been hand or roll stamped separately from the rest of the receiver marking. I have seen the question posed before, and there are those who say they have seen them. Has anyone here got one? Or lacking that, has anyone got a photo of one? Like unicorns, leprachauns,UFOs and Elvis, many claim to see them, but I want a photo.

Buhler....Buhler........anyone?

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[limpetmine]

I will believe it when I see it.
There are '55's out there. I've seen one.
I've heard tell that there are 51-54's out there. No proof. No rumors. No nothing.
I'm not holding my breath.

[Lee Enfield]

I've never seen a '51 receiver dated long branch, but about 1/2 of 1950 dated receivers have 1951 dated barrels.

[superbee]

I know where there is a 1953 dated C No .22 long branch.
I will see if I can get a pic.

It is the only one I ever seen between 1951-54
I have a 56 LB DCRA and a 55 LB in 303 with a 55 dated barrel

[stencollector]

Would love to see a photo of the 53 dated receiver. I know of a totally undated Cno7 receiver on a rifle locally. The rifle is a put together unfortunately. It has the Cno7 22cal marking, and Longbranch on the side, but absolutely no date whatsoever. I have the opportunity to buy it, and I probably should, but Cno7s just aren't cheap anymore. Hard to justify after some of the spending I have done recently.

[Surpmil]

Have a 55 and I believe the last 5 is clearly individually stamped; close but not perfectly aligned.

[limpetmine]

The photographs I have indicate the same.....the last digit appears hand stamped.

Have a 55 and I believe the last 5 is clearly individually stamped; close but not perfectly aligned.

[stencollector]

So this weekend at the Calgary gun show another dealer who was co=located with me asked for my opinion on a "put-together" Cno7 he was going to sell, and wanted to know the value. As I looked it over, and was noting a few minor issues, I rolled it to the other side and through the crappy lighting of the center, thought I saw something unusual. I asked him what year it was, and he said he thought the number under the LongBranch was the serial number. I pulled out my flashlight to be sure, and he brought over his magnifying glass, and this is what we saw:


At this point, I am still uncertain if it was an unissued receiver or a recycled one, but I'll have to really clean the area and try it in the daylight tomorrow.



So there it is, a 53 dated Cno7 receiver. Another member of this thread sent a photo of another, and it would appear they restarted the Cno7 series of serial numbers at 2L. Guess a change will be in order for the write-up on the Cno7.

[browningautorifle]

So, more than a photo of a unicorn...you now have it. I take it the show was all it should be? I didn't make it this year...

[stencollector]

The show hit 1000 tables or so this year, and included both a new military vehicle club and the Military Collectors of Canada annual convention. Overall it was huge, running the complete room this year from end wall to end wall. I think the numbers on the Friday were over 6000 attendees. I know I did not get a chance to rest at all that day....my tables were always busy with people, and I often had 3 different people trying to hand me money at the same time. By Saturday afternoon, the last gun sold, and I was busy trying to spread junk out on the three tables to make it look like I still had stuff to sell.

I think I brought 10 Enfield chests and 2 Bren chests. They all sold.