Fake Long Branch No.4’s??

[tiriaq]

Yes, 0L5555 would be a Mk. I rifle made in the autumn of 1941.
If a rifle's receiver was scrapped, its serial number might be applied to a new replacement receiver, so it could be possible for a Mk. I* rifle with a post -1941 date to have a serial number from an earlier rifle.
That is not the case with that auction prize though. Sure hope the buyer was happy with the $3750 plus commission, plus tax that he paid. Including delivery, the total would be scaring 5 grand. Putting together a quality representative specimen from components gathered from here and there isn't cheap these days, but the better part of $5000?
Sure hope he knew exactly what he was buying.
A buyer has to know what he is buying.
The Long Branch .22 that is the topic of this thread is a nice looking rifle, and could be a good purchase for someone who understands what it is.

[Thunderstreak]

Thanks for the info gentlemen, confirms my suspicions. Perhaps me calling them fakes wasn’t the best choice of words but they definitely aren’t originals. I sincerely hope the buyers know/knew what they were getting.

[Melanie_Daniels]

I was reluctant to post a link in case I was mistaken. Don’t want to make any false accusations!
Here’s one that is up for sale now.
https://www.icollector.com/1944-Long...hest_i50082278

Here ist a later model of the trainer:
Non-Restricted rifle Lee Enfield (Long Branch) model C No.7, .22 IN., Mk.I, .22 LR Single bolt actio

In 1944 they didn`t have a name for it.

But with this I understand your Problem:
Non-Restricted rifle Lee Enfield model L42A2D12 ( Long Branch), .22 LR Single bolt action, w/ bbl le

Never heard about this. And the butt seems to be Australian.

[tiriaq]

Yup, the butt is from an Australian SMLE.
Don't you think that someone had a lot of fun making up that rifle?

[Melanie_Daniels]

Some guys have lot of time. And a No. 4T-Trainer real exist - BSA made 100 in 1945. So the L42-Trainer is an interesting idea. But my favorite on this rifle is the Label in the box - you can see that there was another (larger) Label before. Interesting ideas but bad work.