Long Branch No4 MK1* with Savage serial No's

[Lee Enfield]

[QUOTE=Chubbs;394174]

I would note that pre 1926 ish, I'm told that the British practice was to use the barrel serial number as the master serial number - and have observed several actions with cancelled original serial numbers "force matched" to the barrel serial number.

So from that observation, the Canadian practice of using replacement receivers was similar to an earlier British practice.

Bare Long Branch No4MkI* actions dated 1944 + 1945 were available from ord. stores with no serial numbers.

1954,55 & 56 dated Long Branch actions usually show out of year sequence or LB manufacturer serial numbers, demonstrating that they were ALL? Used simply as replacement receivers rather than for any production run.

Thanks for the replies

I guess then there is no way of knowing whether its a repaired savage or Longbranch.

Regards Chubbs

Post a photo of the receiver markings and (partial) serial number.

[Chubbs]

Hi Peter

Which markings would they be? ie where abouts on the side.

Regards Lee

[Chubbs]

https://www.milsurps.com/asset.php?f...6&d=1489852769
https://www.milsurps.com/asset.php?f...6&d=1489852766
https://www.milsurps.com/asset.php?f...6&d=1489852763
https://www.milsurps.com/asset.php?f...6&d=1489852760

Sorry having problems with loading photos.

[Chubbs]

Here are the photos of all the markings.
Attachment 81949
Attachment 81950
Attachment 81951
Attachment 81952
Attachment 81953
Attachment 81954
Attachment 81955

[Peter Laidler]

It's a 1944 Long Branch - Canadian made rifle that someones re-numbered for reasons best known to themselves. I expect someone will come in and explain the markings shown in photo 7.

[Lee Enfield]

It's a 1944 Long Branch - Canadian made rifle that someones re-numbered for reasons best known to themselves. I expect someone will come in and explain the markings shown in photo 7.

I'm sure you're referring to the Italian proof marks?

the Italian Navy rifles were stored separately from their bolts and while some of them were matched up with their original bolts, some were just easier to renumber by the retailer...in this case apparently the receiver instead of the bolt.

explaining the recent and splotchy Parkerizing where the original serial number was removed and the receiver re-contoured.

the early BSA manufactured barrel is interesting too...

[Chubbs]

Does having a different bolt affect how the rifle shoots or is it just for the collectors that it makes a difference. It also looks like a new head on the bolt.

regards Chubbs

[Peter Laidler]

To answer that question you'll have to read a short article about fitting bolts. Then test yours to see whether it is fitted properly. If it IS, then all is well. If not, get it fitted properly, as per those instructional details, by someone who knows what he's doing and NOT your local enthusiastic amateur mate

[limpetmine]

It appears to me that an un-informed fellow used the pantograph he had to match the rifle to the stamped Savage bolt he had. Un-aware that the "Long Branch" tells truth to his ruse.
The receiver number is cut, not stamped. Look at the differences between the bolt and the receiver number.

Here are the photos of all the markings.
Attachment 81949
Attachment 81950
Attachment 81951
Attachment 81952
Attachment 81953
Attachment 81954
Attachment 81955

[Peter Laidler]

Sorry to disagree Limpet but I think that the new number has been simply stamped onto the butt socket and definately not cut, -as in an engraving machine! Too uneven. But the fact is that it has an registered and identifiable number now. Mind you, so presumably has the original......., with the same number!