No 4 Mk 1 Long Branch rear sight option related to serial number

[Surpmil]

Hm, it's not often you see a bolt head retaining catch and a bolt head release slot on the same rifle...

A 1941 6L rifle...that doesn't square up either...

There is a No4 Trials rifle in the Pattern Room, also shown in The Lee Enfield Story which shows a similar "double billing" It was a trial of that ill-starred MkI* modification.

Maybe your rifle is something along the same lines done at Long Branch?

But the MkI* modification was introduced before the 6L series wasn't it?

An orphan MkI receiver that got put back into the production stream when they were working in the 6L range and for ease of production was just fed through and got the release slot cut in like all the rest?

Can you post a few closeups of the slot with the bolt retracted?

[CINDERS]

I have heard/read somewhere that the 300/600 yard flip sight was graduated with having to have the spike bayonet attached when using the 300 yard aperture is that correct?

[Peter Laidler]

That's what I was always taught too. And here\s how we were taught to interpret it. 300 yards, when the enemy are close,bayonet fixed. 600, when they're some distance away and you've still got time, bayonet UN fixed!

[Bindi2]

https://www.milsurps.com/attachment....6&d=1512686114

Hm, it's not often you see a bolt head retaining catch and a bolt head release slot on the same rifle...

A 1941 6L rifle...that doesn't square up either...

There is a No4 Trials rifle in the Pattern Room, also shown in The Lee Enfield Story which shows a similar "double billing" It was a trial of that ill-starred MkI* modification.

Maybe your rifle is something along the same lines done at Long Branch?

But the MkI* modification was introduced before the 6L series wasn't it?

An orphan MkI receiver that got put back into the production stream when they were working in the 6L range and for ease of production was just fed through and got the release slot cut in like all the rest?

Can you post a few closeups of the slot with the bolt retracted?

The forend has been cut for a cutoff as well.

[Surpmil]

I'd say definitely.

So would I, it's been through a UK FTR, had it's bolt replaced, etc. etc.

[limpetmine]

Your 1942 No. 4 Mk1* came with the milled sight or flip sight, but is correct with any of the 4. I have data entries showing all 4 types on the 153 1942 rifles in the database.
I see that you are restoring the rifle.
Based on this, I'd recommend using the replacement wood as a guide. If you find late war or post war wood, use a milled sight. If you find FTR wood, again, use the milled sight.
If you find unmarked WWII wood, use whatever sight you want. They are all correct. If it's 1943 era wood, the flip sight would be "more" correct.

The data I have for the year/serial change is:1941 1L6926 /// 1942 1L5979, so even here you see that there is a serial discrepancy. The 1941 rifle has a later serial than the 1942 rifle.


EDIT: A 7L rifle is most definitely a 1942 rifle, but I have a handful of cases where the serials are clearly out of range. No common, but not unheard of.

Hi,
Since few months, I'm working to restore a Long Branch riffle. This one have the serial number 7L8215. Now it's time to work on the rear sight wich is gone. Is there any data about the choice of the rear sight related to the serial number and date of production? Where can I find the proper information to choose the right one??

Thanks!

[Littlejohn]

But the MkI* modification was introduced before the 6L series wasn't it?

Attachment 90077

Attachment 90078

Attachment 90079

[Peter Laidler]

Littlejohn, you need to get the butt to butt socket gap corrected because before long that split will start to break off a part of the butt. Then glue, peg and make good the split part. There must be a gap the width of a hacksaw blade between the butt and the socket.

[Littlejohn]

Littlejohn, you need to get the butt to butt socket gap corrected because before long that split will start to break off a part of the butt. Then glue, peg and make good the split part. There must be a gap the width of a hacksaw blade between the butt and the socket.

I need to stop using those old photos, I guess. I was unhappy with the fit and appearance of that buttstock from the day I acquired the rifle. I purchased a NOS Long Branch buttstock from Springfield Sporters in 2016, and replaced the stock in the above photo.

It was discussed here:
https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=57343

Attachment 90111 Attachment 90112

[Surpmil]

The forend has been cut for a cutoff as well.

True, and that is a feature which persisted at Long Branch until somewhere between approx. 3L and 6L---- I believe.