A study in Long Branch serial numbers

[limpetmine]

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....760#post521760


This is based on 13 years of compiling serial numbers of Long Branch No.4 rifles.

-limpetmine


A study of Long Branch Serial Numbers by -Limpetmine
All rights reserved October 17, 2022

1941
0L1 to 0L9 One known example 0L5 (mine)
0L01 TO 0L99 One known example 0L79 (mine)
0L001 TO 0L999 One known example 0L244
0L0001 TO 0L 9999 Numerous examples 0L7266 (mine)


1941
1L1 TO 1L9 None found to date
1L01 TO 1L99 One known example 1L25
1L001 TO 999 Numerous examples 1L882 (mine)
1L0001 TO 1L9999 Numerous examples


1942
2L1 TO 2L9 None found to date
2L01 TO 2L99 None found to date
2L001 TO 2L999 One known example 2L788
2L0001 TO 2L9999 Numerous examples


1943
3L1 TO 3L9 None found to date
3L01 TO 3L99 None found to date
3L001 TO 3L999 Numerous examples
3L0001 TO 3L9999 Numerous examples

4L0001 TO 4L9999 Numerous examples
5L0001 TO 5L9999 Numerous examples 5L1028; 5L4315 (mine)
6L0001 TO 6L9999 Numerous examples 6L9575 (mine)
7L0001 TO 7L9999 Numerous examples
8L0001 TO 8L9999 Numerous examples

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Roy W]

Here is a link to a 1942 dated 10L rifle

https://www.henrykrank.com/enfield-n...ritish-k31670/


A 1942 6L rifle

https://www.henrykrank.com/enfield-n...umbers-k31724/

[Singer B]

I just wish I had one Long Branch....but I'm still looking.....

[Lee Enfield]

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread....760#post521760


This is based on 13 years of compiling serial numbers of Long Branch No.4 rifles.

-limpetmine


A study of Long Branch Serial Numbers by -Limpetmine
All rights reserved October 17, 2022

1941
0L1 to 0L9 One known example 0L5 (mine)
0L01 TO 0L99 One known example 0L79 (mine)
0L001 TO 0L999 One known example 0L244
0L0001 TO 0L 9999 Numerous examples 0L7266 (mine)


1942
1L1 TO 1L9 None found to date
1L01 TO 1L99 One known example 1L25
1L001 TO 999 Numerous examples 1L882 (mine)
1L0001 TO 1L9999 Numerous examples


snip...

I'm a little confused regarding your change from 1941 to 1942.

There should be numerous 1941 receiver dated Long Branch actions in the 1L prefix range? In fact I probably own at least 1 or 2 myself.

Are you going by receiver date, or barrel date?

Your rifle serial number 1L882 is receiver dated 1942?

[limpetmine]

This study is about the numbering sequences of Long Branch production, and when the change from single, double and triple digit serial numbers changed to four digit serial numbers.
This happened at the 4L series. To date no single, double or triple digit 4L rifles have shown up. As 4L0955 is in the database, this lends credence to my thought that the 4 digit change happened with the introduction of the 4L series.

My 1L882 is on a 1941 date receiver.

Based on what I know with proven serials:
There are 9 single digit 1941's
There are 90 double digit 1941's
There are 900 triple digit 1941's,
There are 6926 quad digit 1941's, (based on 1L6926 being the latest 1941 in the database).

As far as we know, no rifles were ever manufactured with 0, 00, 000, or 5L0000 type numbering. No all zero serials have been seen by me.

I did note that there are numerous examples of the three and four digit 1L 1941 receiver serials.

-limpetmine


In checking my post, the error I made is that the second paragraph with 1L1-9 should be dated 1941, not 1942. I'll ask Badger to correct this typo.
This is how it should read.


A study of Long Branch Serial Numbers by -Limpetmine
All rights reserved October 17, 2022

1941
0L1 to 0L9 One known example 0L5 (mine)
0L01 TO 0L99 One known example 0L79 (mine)
0L001 TO 0L999 One known example 0L244
0L0001 TO 0L 9999 Numerous examples 0L7266 (mine)

1941
1L1 TO 1L9 None found to date
1L01 TO 1L99 One known example 1L25
1L001 TO 999 Numerous examples 1L882 (mine)
1L0001 TO 1L9999 Numerous examples

1942
2L1 TO 2L9 None found to date
2L01 TO 2L99 None found to date
2L001 TO 2L999 One known example 2L788
2L0001 TO 2L9999 Numerous examples

1942
3L1 TO 3L9 None found to date
3L01 TO 3L99 None found to date
3L001 TO 3L999 Numerous examples
3L0001 TO 3L9999 Numerous examples


4L0001 TO 4L9999 Numerous examples. No known examples of 1, 2 or 3 digit serials.
5L0001 TO 5L9999 Numerous examples 5L1028; 5L4315 (mine)
6L0001 TO 6L9999 Numerous examples 6L9575 (mine)
7L0001 TO 7L9999 Numerous examples
8L0001 TO 8L9999 Numerous examples

[Brian Dick]

Singer B,

Maybe you ought to send me an email.

Brian

[Mk VII]

Wonder if the RCMP's computers have difficulty distinguishing between 0L01 and 0L001. Some data entry clerk can't see why it should matter.