LB Sniper Question

[rgg_7]

i recently purchase a non matching scope and tin case. The case was marked rifle "44L5178" and Scope "99C". The scope and bracket is "Brit" matching a BSA No4T. I was very surprised to find this marking. Where there 1943 LB sniper rifle in this serial range? Anybody out there have this rifle? Maybe the scope? Gent I purchased this from had it for 25+years and never paid attention to the markings. Comments pls.

Ron (Canada)

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[Lee Enfield]

i recently purchase a non matching scope and tin case. The case was marked rifle "44L5178" and Scope "99C". The scope and bracket is "Brit" matching a BSA No4T. I was very surprised to find this marking. Where there 1943 LB sniper rifle in this serial range? Anybody out there have this rifle? Maybe the scope? Gent I purchased this from had it for 25+years and never paid attention to the markings. Comments pls.

Ron (Canada)

Ron, is the BSA matching?

In answer to your LB questions
1. there are (known) LB snipers serial numbered within 5,000 of your stated serial number.
2. I do not have that rifle, nor that scope number on my list as having been "found"

[Lance]

I checked my records too, no luck, but I have a can on record that is close to yours. Sadly, it is not mine.

[rgg_7]

The BSA bolt and mag match with no scope serial number on the butt stock wrist. The scope bracket bears a different serial number than the rifle therefore I'm assuming the scope is not original to the rifle. It's a 1944 Watson and may be original to the rifle - just no proof.

Ron (Canada)

[rgg_7]

Lance - your info is very interesting. Your pix shows a rifle serial number "44L5177" and mine is "44L5178" - you can't get much closer than this. Same lettering, paint color etc. Lee Enfield - I have seen the LB production number some where. Confirmation of the 1943 production volume would validate the fact that LB No4 T's were manufactured in 1943. We have 2 good serial numbers.

Any other 1943 LB No4 T's out there?

Ron (Canada)

[Lee Enfield]

Lance - your info is very interesting. Your pix shows a rifle serial number "44L5177" and mine is "44L5178" - you can't get much closer than this. Same lettering, paint color etc. Lee Enfield - I have seen the LB production number some where. Confirmation of the 1943 production volume would validate the fact that LB No4 T's were manufactured in 1943. We have 2 good serial numbers.

Any other 1943 LB No4 T's out there?

Ron (Canada)

Yes, there are lots of 1943 LB No4T rifles out here.

Between the members of this site I know of 4 or 5.

[stencollector]

Lance - your info is very interesting. Your pix shows a rifle serial number "44L5177" and mine is "44L5178" - you can't get much closer than this. Same lettering, paint color etc. Lee Enfield - I have seen the LB production number some where. Confirmation of the 1943 production volume would validate the fact that LB No4 T's were manufactured in 1943. We have 2 good serial numbers.

Any other 1943 LB No4 T's out there?

Ron (Canada)

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=60046
The records from REL show that by Mar of 43, 135 no32mk1 telescopes had been delivered. If you look through the other pages I posted on that thread, there was some information as to deliveries of complete rifles. 165 were delivered by the end of 1943.

[Seaforth72]

Rifle 44L8186 was originally fitted with R.E.L. scope (C No. 32 Mk. I or Mk. IA) S/N C-135, later refitted in service with British scope S/N 18378 and is now wearing R.E.L. scope C No. 32 Mk. II S/N 477-C. It had an R.E.L. C No. 8 Mk. 2 scope case and a British No. 15 Mk. I transit chest, which the seller erroneously claimed was Canadian. This set was sold a year ago by 5starguns in Utica, MI.

[rgg_7]

stencollector - some very enlightening information in your REL post. p175 of the REL document states 1943 sniper production as " Snipers, Canadian - 91" and "Snipers, Mutual Aid - 74" for a total of "165". Was there a list of serial numbers of the sniper rifles produced?

Why the two different categories "Snipers, Canadian" and "Snipers, Mutual Aid"?

Ron (Canada)

[stencollector]

There was no list of serial numbers that I know of. As to the differentiation between Canadian and Mutual Aid snipers, if you read that particular section, it deals with distribution of all no4mk1 production up to the end of 1943, and not just sniper rifles. Have a look at the bottom of the second page of post #4 on the link I gave earlier. I have no doubt that the sniper rifles were the same, just that the section is showing the different countries and accounts that SAL supplied rifles to.