What do I have here?

[mr.e moose]

Just purchased a No4 Mk1* and frankly it has me scratching my head.Clearly stamped Longbranch 1944 on the receiver wall and every part has the LB stamp except the front hand guard that is stamped C.

The part that puzzles me is where the serial should be stamped on the butt socket there is only a C with opposing broad arrows and V-1 the bolt is also stamped V-1.

The fore stock is a different matter it has a serial of 31L5500 along with a large B 10 stamped about 5" down from the front metal.That would put it into 1943 manufacture I believe. It also has had some major work done to the bedding.The barrel channel has been opened up and it has been bedded with what appears to be fiberglass resin at the front trigger guard screw,the knox form and 5" in front of the knox form.Except for those places the barrel is free floated and it moves freely in the barrel channel.

Other than the fore stock the only thing that makes this different than a standard issue No4 is, the front sight has a small set screw that would allow for changing the post {not a blade} and a tapped hole on the side of the butt socket likely to attach a aperture sight.

So to all the knowledgeable members out there what do I have? DCRA rifle,Bubba's handiwork or some other explanation? Also what about the Serial# ? There is no evidence of grinding whatsoever,but why something that is so out of the norm for a LB serial?

Thanks for your replies in advance.

Information

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[mr.e moose]

Here are some pics.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

Canadian Army / DCRA target rifle??

[Frederick303]

Not a DCRA rifle, the bedding allowed on military rifles was only front bedding, center bedding as this rifle has was not allowed until the introduction of the 7.62 No4 in 1963/64.

The bedding on this rifle is strictly civilian.

The epoxy color seems roughly correct with what you see on late 1966 through 1969 modified No4 rifles set up for Sr (B) competition.

The tapped hole in the side of the socket was allowed under Canadian regulations around 1947, to allow the 5A sight to be fitted to the No 4.

Front sight appears to be a Central front sight, which allowed different width front sight elements to be put in.

Nice example of a Canadian period SR(B) rifle

[Lee Enfield]

The bedding appears incomplete, the knox form is unsupported and the rear draws have a single pad.

Based on the C^ and no original serial number, I'm going to suggest that it was an unserialed replacement receiver written off from the system and used to build a personal target rifle.

Most of the unserialed LB receivers I've seen are 1945 dated...

What can you tell us about the barrel? Knox form dated? manufactured by? 7.62 or .303?

[mr.e moose]

Barrel is LB stamped and 44 dated.It is in .303. This is the second rifle that I have bought out of Calgary in the last few months that has been tapped on the butt socket for a 5A sight. I think I will have to go down and strip the other one down and see if it has been bedded in a similar fashion.You never know, maybe they were both owned by the same individual and dispersed through a estate or some other unfortunate event.