Mystery of the Missing Wartime Long Branch Snipers

[stencollector]

I don't know if the following information has been posted elsewhere, or if it will help or hinder the discussion, but I saw a list today from REL showing their production output for Dec of 1945 along with their cumulative production of optics, radios and tubes. Relevant to our discussion are the following totals:

Telescope no32mk1:...............................total production 326
Telescope no32mk2:...............................total production 255
Telescope no32mk1A:.............................total production 113
Telescope Cno32mkIV (Gimbal):................total production 100
Total of the above =................................................. ...794
Note this does not cover anything post 1945 such as the mk3, nor any telescopes produced by the US like the Lyman. The page continues on with outstanding orders, but only covers radios. I will check with my source and see of there is a next page covering optics.

By the way, I just bought a LB sniper in the 68L block of serial numbers from one of the US auction sites. Once it gets here, hopefully in a month or two, I'll post more about it.

[Lee Enfield]

1588-794=794

Which is somewhat odd.

[superbee]

here is a long branch TP sniper for sale in Australia

WWII 303 Sniper Rifle - Long Branch No. 4 Mk I T

[superbee]

Here is one of the early 1943 LB snipers.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-us/a...d-a51e00f04dbd

http://www.gunauction.com/buy/9955640

[stencollector]

Here is what I got from my source on the outstanfing orders for sighting telescopes:

"There is a listing of "Outstanding Contract Balances at Dec. 31, 1945". The only references to Telescopes, Sighting in this listing are:

Telescopes Sighting Mod.E, Quantity - 350
Conversion of 51--32 Mk. I Telescopes to 32 Mk. IA and Spare Parts, Quantity- Balance to be Cancelled"

So it would appear that REL was referring to the mk3 telescope as the model "E".

I had a look through "without warning"and all the numbers from above match what Clive put in the book.

[Seaforth72]

here is a long branch TP sniper for sale in Australia WWII 303 Sniper Rifle - Long Branch No. 4 Mk I T

I am happy to report that this Long Branch No. 4 MK. I* (T) Trade Pattern serial number 74L0075 is safely back in Canada in my collection and has been for several months. Exporting it from Australia was complex and expensive. Special thanks to Lawrance Ordnance Ltd. (Australia) and Prophet River (Lethbridge, AB). I do not know why the ad is still up.

[Seaforth72]

CORRECTION: Prophet River Firearms, Lloydminster, Alberta (not Lethbridge). Also, I contacted the original seller in Australia and he had the Australian buyusedguns website remove his obsolete ad for this rifle 74L0075.

[Lee Enfield]

I don't know if the following information has been posted elsewhere, or if it will help or hinder the discussion, but I saw a list today from REL showing their production output for Dec of 1945 along with their cumulative production of optics, radios and tubes. Relevant to our discussion are the following totals:

Telescope no32mk1:...............................total production 326
Telescope no32mk2:...............................total production 255
Telescope no32mk1A:.............................total production 113
Telescope Cno32mkIV (Gimbal):................total production 100
Total of the above =................................................. ...794
Note this does not cover anything post 1945 such as the mk3, nor any telescopes produced by the US like the Lyman. The page continues on with outstanding orders, but only covers radios. I will check with my source and see of there is a next page covering optics.

...snip...
Here is what I got from my source on the outstanding orders for sighting telescopes:
"There is a listing of "Outstanding Contract Balances at Dec. 31, 1945". The only references to Telescopes, Sighting in this listing are:

Telescopes Sighting Mod.E, Quantity - 350
Conversion of 51--32 Mk. I Telescopes to 32 Mk. IA and Spare Parts, Quantity- Balance to be Cancelled"

Currently REL MkII scopes serial number 690c, 696c, 701c & 706c have been documented, and REL Mk3 scope 352c so we are already 14 scopes above the list (not counting the 4 digit serial numbered scopes).

based on currently highest observed (scope) serial numbers:
706c - MkI, MkIA, MkII highest serial number (currently observed)
341 - TP (based on observed rifle serial numbers 0000-0340 in this case)
98c - C.No67
352c - Mk3
= 1497 (a shortfall of 91 numbers from 1588)

the 1588 number comes from Marshall's report (Marshall, T.H. (1946) Small Arms Limited 1940-1946 (A partial history). Heritage Mississauga Research Files. ) of 1141 snipers completed from January 1, 1944 to Dec 31, 1945 plus the incomplete contract(s) passed to CAL Jan1 1946 plus the 71 rifles accepted before Jan1, 1944

71 rifles accepted before January 1, 1944
1141 rifles accepted between January 1, 1944 and Dec 31, 1945
376 passed to CAL January 1, 1946
=1588

[stencollector]

I got some more information from my source today, and he will hopefully be passing me some more info from the REL quarterly reports.

From the quarterly report ending 26 June 1943, it reports that 43 more no32mk1 scopes were completed making a total production up to that point of 65 telescopes.

Since there are numbers popping up all over in this thread, what I may do is revise my post regarding REL production to include all the information on the scope production in a chronological order so it makes more sense.

[stencollector]

I have put a bunch of scanned pages from the REL quarterly reports on a new thread here: https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....332#post392332

There is some interesting snippets of info for those bean counters who collect LB snipers (along with those who wish they did). There is also a page showing LB no4 rifle production quarterly starting in 41 thru to end of 43.