Mystery of the Missing Wartime Long Branch Snipers

[Seaspriter]

Perhaps all our global team can help solve what seems to be a "mystery" of missing Long Branch Snipers that were produced during Wartime and the scopes that were fitted to them.

Here's the quandary, in a nutshell: From those that have contributed to the Long Branch Sniper data bases, it appears that the very large proportion of the LB Snipers that are present and accounted for were from the Post War production, and very few from Wartime production. Where are the Wartime Snipers?

From the data base linking LB serial numbers to months of production (Long Branch - Linking Serial Numbers to Month of Production) and the Production Report (which starts on October 1, 1943) submitted by Assistant Production Manager Marshall in early 1946, he states “At the end of the 3rd quarter of 1943, total production of the No.4 rifle was 477,171” but makes no mention of any Sniper production (presumably 70 Snipers was a limited run – which may have been for trials in combat to test their effectiveness, which in turn may have led to a larger contract the next year) The 70 Snipers from 1943 would have had serial number in the 40L-50L range. Does anyone know of the existence of any of these?

68L32xx range of sniper rifles would have been produced in late May-early June 1944 No one seems to know how many were produced in this range, and very few have surfaced.

Marshall states in his report that in 1944: Total Snipers produced: 644 (these all seem appear to be in the 68L32xx or 71Lxxxx serial # block range beginning 71L0001) Note: the last Serial Number of a Sniper that has surfaced in this 71L series is 71L0644 – What happened to the other Snipers in the remainder of the series? (I have one in this range -- Doomed Long Branch Sniper Reborn and Seaforth72 has a couple). A number of those at the end of the production series appear to have 1945 dates on the receivers, indicating they were probably not date-stamped until they received their mated scopes. Few seem to have been accounted for.

Marshall states for Q1-‘45: Snipers Produced: 254 Total: 898.(do these all match the 71LXXXX serial # block? or another block of SNs?) (Note: These would have serial numbers 71L0655-0898 but none have been accounted for at this point.)

Marshall states for Q2-’45: Snipers Produced: 24, (Production fell due to not receiving the necessary telescopes) Total 922. .(do these all match the 71LXXXX serial # block? or another block of SNs?) (Note: These would have serial numbers 71L 899-923, but none have been accounted for at this time)

These would all be considered the Wartime Snipers. Here's what Seaforth72 shared with me from his data base:
1. 71L0276 ?
2. 71L0279 DATED 1944 Scope Missing, Seaspriter on Milsurps Robert Porter Lynch, Naples, FL USA
3. 71L0287 C No. 32 MK. IA 368C UNKNOWN
4. 71L0297 17977 17977
5. 71L0303 351C Cold Zero ? Alberta Canada
6. 71L0322 C No. 32 Mk. IA 301C B & B Arsenal
7. 71L0332 No. 32 MK. IA 3840 ?
8. 71L0350 C No. 32 405C paul87buck USA?
9. 71L0374 UK
10. 71L0403 C No. 32 Mk. II 471C UNKNOWN Italy?
11. 71L0414 C No. 32 MK. II UNKNOWN Canada?
12. 71L0435 C No. 32 Mk. I or IA or II 168C John ROBERTSON Canada
13. 71L0439 C No. 32 Mk. II 3854C 3854C UNKNOWN USA
14. 71L0555 No. 32 Mk. II 11189 11189 Colin Stevens Canada (British scope fitted in service) DATED 1944
15. 71L0573 C No. 32 Mk. II 690C 249C Colin Stevens Canada (mismatched C No. 32 MK3 scope DATED 1945
16. 71L0595 No. 32 Mk. III Canada
17. 71L0597 ? UNKNOWN USA
18. 71L0630 No. 32 Mk. 3 > L1A1? 116(C?) Graeme Barber NZ
19. 71L0644 696C 137(C?) Simon ? UK
20. 71Lxxxx 307C Van Xulu

This represents about 2% of the total production of the 71LXXXX rifle, which was the largest Sniper production run. The remaining 98% from Wartime Production are “Unknown Fate” (apparently Unaccounted for, Missing/Lost, or Destroyed). What happened to these other 1,000 rifles? Why are such a large proportion in the “unknown fate” category.

Once the war was over in Europe, Marshall goes on to state:
Q3-’45: Snipers Produced: 161, with total production of this item up to 1,083 -- production was progressing in a satisfactory manner, compatible with the receipt of telescopes. (do these all match the 71LXXXX or another block of SNs? or 90L 8XXXserial # block?)
Q4-’45: Snipers produced: 58, Total 1,141. .(do these all match the 71LXXXX or or another block of SNs? 90L 8XXXserial # block?)

Long Branch closed down normal rifle production in August, 1945. Marshall continues:
Q3-’45: Snipers Produced: 161, with total production of this item up to 1,083 -- production was progressing in a satisfactory manner, compatible with the receipt of telescopes. (do these all match the 71LXXXX or another block of SNs? or 90L 8XXXserial # block?)
Q4-’45: Snipers produced: 58, Total 1,141. .(do these all match the 71LXXXX or or another block of SNs? 90L 8XXXserial # block?)

He then states: Dec 31 1945: Small Arms Limited Uncompleted contracts: Sniper’s Rifle – 376; (these all seem to match the 90L8000 to 8376 serial # block)

Remarkably, 77 (20%) of these Post-War Production rifles are accounted for today.

(see 1945 Longbranch No4mk1*T Serial and Scope List )

These would be attributed to Q1-‘46 when all operations were taken over by the Small Arms Division of Canadian Arsenals Limited, and up to March, 1946, when all assets and liabilities of the company were turned over to the Department of Reconstruction and Supply and the company made application for the surrender of its Charter.

Why are so many of the Wartime Snipers missing? Or am I missing something? Who can shed some light on this?

Seaforth72 -- you have some interesting observations to share as well as conclusions about scopes.

Thanks for your help.
Robert

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