A few questions to help a newbie

[Peter Laidler]

Taking the bolt apart.......... Have you heard the phrase '......if it ain't broke, don't fix it'? That applies here.

Read up in an earlier thread to ascertain a) that YOUR mismatched bolt fits YOUR rifle correctly and b) if it all working exactly as it should be. If it is, do nothing else except perhaps do what a zillion Armourers have been doing since Enfields hit their work benches. File out the old and re-number.

[Lee Enfield]

I think 1950 or 51 was about it for LB but there were unstamped receivers about.

1945 serial numbers appear to have ended BEFORE 90L9999. This is a matter of confusion as even today it is not difficult in Canada to locate un-serial numbered 1945 dated LB actions which were in the military system as un-numbered replacement receivers which have somehow gone astray thru the good offices of RCEME and supply personnel.

Long Branch No4 receivers are found dated 1941, '42, '43, '44, '45, '49, '50, '54, '55, '56.

No Long Branch No4 rifles are known with receiver dates in 1946, '47 or '48.

NOTE: C.No7 receivers are known to be dated 1944, '45, and '46, none are known dated 1947.

1949 serial numbers appear to have started with 91L0000 (earliest known is 91L0013).
Approx. the first 2000 1949 dated No4 receivers have the "C." hand stamped (thru the blued finish by the way) before the roll marked "No4MkI*" designation... and the "9" in the date.
from somewhere before 91L2100 the complete designation "C.No4MkI*" and "1949" became part of the roll stamp.
This implies that approx. the first 2000 "1949" receivers were completed in 1945/46 except for final markings and left in stores for future production/repairs.

1949 production ran to approx. 91L6100 as the last noted 1949s and the first 1950 dated No4 receivers appear in approx. the 91L6500 serial range.
1950 dated receivers run from approx. 91L6500 to 96L0012 (highest known) exactly 49,999 from the lowest known 1949 serial number...implying an order in 1949 for 50,000 rifles, with a few extra completed.

About half of the 1950 dated No4 receivers have '51 dated barrels.

No 1951, '52, or '53 dated LB No4 receivers are currently known.

NOTE: C.No7 receivers have been reported dated 1953.

The 1954, '55, and '56 dated No4 receivers are deemed to be "replacement" receivers as no concurrent serial numbers are known. Serial numbers on these receivers run from CAL generated serials, serials (and parts) salvaged from damaged donor receivers, to "home brewed" and fantasy serials to hide the (illegitimate) source of the receiver.

They are commonly also found as (factory and home brew) DCRA target rifles in .303 and 7.62 NATO.
Attachment 63212 here is a 1956 Long Branch DCRA apparently a factory replacement for a damaged or deficient Long Branch No4 receiver not suitable for the changeover to 7.62 NATO.

NOTE: I have a 1958 dated Long Branch C.Mk4 (6 groove right hand twist) take off barrel, strongly implying continued No4 parts production during the startup in 1956 of C1 (FN-FAL) serial production at Canadian Arsenals Limited, Long Branch facility.
Attachment 63228

[Beerhunter]

The RFD said that it has been Proofed (pretty important for a miss-match). I don't see any Proof markUnless those marks on the muzzle are part of them.

[Seaspriter]

Lee Enfield: Thanks for this very helpful posting. The post-WWII serial numbers have been perplexing, confusing, and a bit bewildering. You have helped unscramble the conundrum. I will save this post in a separate file for future reference.

[sumway]

Thanks lads

@ peter
Thanks for the advice. I looked up your post and tried to replicate the same scenario. I have rubbed some ladies lip-pencil (the slightly waxy stuff) on the bolt lugs and I can see the marks that it leaves on the slots in the receiver. I think it should be OK...it seems evenly distributed compared to how much I had put on.

I'll follow your advice and leave the bolt as it is.

@ Lee-Enfield
Thanks for the post. That helps to explain the odd serial number.

Once again, many thanks to all for the advice. Looking forward to shooting it for the first time on Sunday

[Peter Laidler]

They didn't mention lip gloss or waxy lip pencils while we were apprentices......... I always say that if you're going to do the job, then do it right.........

[Lee Enfield]

...snip...@ Lee-Enfield
Sadly, the bolt is a mis-match....they didn't have any left with matching bolts...they said they had all gone a couple of years ago from the original batch of 300 rifles that they ordered in. Whether there were any left in Italy still be be distributed...they weren't sure.

As for the barrel...I haven't disassembled the gun so I'm not too sure how old it is...and I'm not really sure if I should take it apart as the RFD said that it had already been proofed anyway (Plus I'd hate to scratch up the stock)

...snip...

remove the center swivel band screw, expand the band keeping the band in the groove and lift the rear handguard from the front section. the barrel should be marked on the re-inforce, similar to the example in my posting above.

[sumway]

remove the center swivel band screw, expand the band keeping the band in the groove and lift the rear handguard from the front section. the barrel should be marked on the re-inforce, similar to the example in my posting above.

I might try this tonight.

When you say front....do you mean the end closest to the muzzle ?

Am I OK to remove just the rear hand guard by itself ? i.e...there is no need to remove the front hand guard and front sight protectors too ?

Sorry for the questions...just want to make sure I do it correctly and don't break the wood

[tiriaq]

If you remove the middle band, you will be able to lift off the rear handguard, and read what is stamped on the breech of the barrel.

[Peter Laidler]

It's a language problem betwen us here in England and those wild Colonials in the Americas! We in the UK military call the band nearest the foresight the BAND, upper. The middle one we call the BAND, lower!

You just need to undo the lower band. And if it's smothered in grease under the woodwork then for heavens sake LEAVE IT THERE. It's there for a very good reason!