Long Branch C/|\ marked "blonde" Maple wood furniture

[Sentryduty]

Perhaps Lee Enfield has been there since, I understand the collection has since vaporized.

Things do have a habit of coming and going on their own, as though they had sprung legs and walked off...

Some days I am surprised that old "Iron Mike" in front of J7 hasn't ended up in someone's back yard, and that display Sherman's stay where they are parked.

[Lee Enfield]

So you're telling me they went and put that one into trophy status? That would mean deactivation... It's awarded at the end of each course? There can be only one, blonde with a dark cheekpiece. The rifle was as new...

my apologies, it is actually the Choinard Trophy, and yes, unfortunately it is deactivated.

Ok,

...snip...
I've run across:

74L0118 1944 No 4 Mk 1 * Longbranch (T)

Bracket: 74L0122

Optic: Lyman Alaskan, 4389S

(Note, the 4389S was stamped in the wrist of the stock too, so I think the scope is the correct s/n for the rifle, but somehow the mount is wrong?)

Anyhow, it's the No4(T) that's used as the Chouinard Trophy (top 2 man reg-force sniper pair).

NS

...snip...

Chouinard:

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/coffee/p...%20(Small).jpg

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/coffee/p...%20(Small).jpg

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/coffee/p...%20(Small).jpg

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/coffee/p...%20(Small).jpg

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/coffee/p...%20(Small).jpg

http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/coffee/p...%20(Small).jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....ll=1#post86504

[browningautorifle]

it is actually the Choinard Trophy

Sounds right, do you have access to pics of this one? I'd know it immediately. I can't access those pics above.

[Surpmil]

So as for the maple wood, I can't say I recall seeing a MkI or 'trials pattern' Long Branch forend in maple, but have seen them in Birch and Walnut of course. Anyone else?

The maple was not popular with soldiers or armourers. A retired CF armourer in Calgary told me that the WO commanding one depot he worked in had three truck loads of it written off and burned in the 1950s as he disliked it so much. Soldiers didn't care for the extra pound or so it supposedly added to the weight of the rifle. However, target shooters liked the stocks for their extreme solidity and at least presumed stability. The extra weight was a positive in a target rifle as well.

A Long Branch with a full set of that golden wood and a deep blue finish on all the metal is something to see though!

[Seaforth72]

My apologies. I suspect that I was mistaken on the type of wood. I now suspect it is Birch, not Maple. Interestingly it has the low wood for the by then obsolete magazine cut-off which although used on Trials No. 4 was not used on WWII production Np. 4 rifles. The same questions however remain as to when the blonde wood was mainly being used in production. It does have the C/|\ markings so it is thus between 1941 (when Canada started production of the No.4) and 1948 (when the C/|\ was being phased out.)

[watty12]

I have a 1945 long Branch fitted with blonde woodwork and the cut out for the cut off

[shoe303]

Boy, you guys are killing me with your talk about Long Branch in blonde woodwork. Anyone care to post any pictures?

[Lance]

Here is my maple LB, an unusual example of a '41 receiver that was either at the bottom of the pile, set aside due to a problem or used as a trials receiver for the Mk I* modification. It is heavier than the standard No. 4 but I have never weighed it.

[muffett.2008]

My '42 LB.Attachment 77301

.........and my blonder Maltby.Attachment 77302

[Brian Dick]

Lance, I think your rifle is stocked in birch but I could be wrong.