Longbranch No4 Mk1* Markings + Sling question

S

sfx

Regular
Rating - 100%
8   0   0
Location
GTA
Hi guys,

I purchased this lovely 1944 Longbranch No4 Mk1* off a fellow CGN'er awhile ago and had a couple questions about it.

1) What's the significance of the "F" just below the C Broad Arrow and the "R" near the sling mount on the stock? R=repair maybe?

2qnxxc4.jpg


2) The rifle has a blue sling on it, RAF or RCAF use perhaps? Anyway, the canvas has a semi-gloss/waxy looking coating on it. Any idea what the purpose of that might be?

30jmnu1.jpg


And one more pic, just because... :)

2ur8oyh.jpg




Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
Tom
 
In any case, you are correct in that the blue sling is RAF. Probably the rifle was issued for airfield defence.

OR someone bought the rifle surplus and all they could find at the time was a blue sling. LOL
 
sfx said:
2) The rifle has a blue sling on it, RAF or RCAF use perhaps? Anyway, the canvas has a semi-gloss/waxy looking coating on it. Any idea what the purpose of that might be?
Click to expand...

It's blanco. http://www.blancoandbull.com/the-blanco-story/

Exceptionally unlikely that the weapon retained the sling it wore in service; far far more likely that that's what someone just put on it, in the absence of evidence to the contrary.
 
In regards to the "F". Without a better understanding of your rifle, I can only offer the following. Generally an F stamping refers to the Fazakerley England armourers (commonly "Faz"). You will note how this contradicts your Canadian rifle.

Do you know if the wood is original to the rifle? Or, (and more likely) did someone save it from the seventh level of Sporterized Purgatory?
 
To the OP. I dont think the "F" is Faz according to the pics unless it was FTR'd there. Doesnt look like a typical Faz mark to me but this is just speculation. It is properly canadian marked though 100% sure of it. With the C with broad arrow clearly on the forend.

Not to hijack the thread but I have similar markings on the underside of my forend.

Mine is Canadian as well. Has an LB mark (longbranch) along with the letter "N". These are near the cap. Halfway down to the sling swivel is the letter "L" in plain font similar to your "F". Then the letter "T" is in the same place as the marking near the sling swivel. Any help would be appreciated.
 
plinker 777 said:
In regards to the "F". Without a better understanding of your rifle, I can only offer the following. Generally an F stamping refers to the Fazakerley England armourers (commonly "Faz"). You will note how this contradicts your Canadian rifle.

Do you know if the wood is original to the rifle? Or, (and more likely) did someone save it from the seventh level of Sporterized Purgatory?
Click to expand...

I know basically nothing about Enfields to be truthful but I don't think it's been sporterized. LB and C Broad Arrow markings on all parts. #0 Bolt matches the S/N on the band. Even has a rack number of a circled "18" painted in gold on the right side of the butt stock... neat!

In fact, I don't think it was even shot much at all as the bore looks basically perfect. Most of the wear on the thing is around the muzzle area where it looks like it was resting against walls/racks.
 
mikerock, your DCRA #4 was never shot with this type of sling. A two point TR sling was used, it attached to the front swivel and the swivel in front of the magazine, the forerunner to a modern one point sling.
 
I always thought that the "F" stamp on the forend meant Fazakerly too. When I was trying to ID a laminate No4 forend with the "F" stamp I learned that it was in fact a Cdn made forend, but I still don't know what the "F" stands for.

Re the "waxy blanco". We used a OD green color latex rubber based web dressing on the 1951 pattern web gear which would take on this sheen when polished with a brush after it had dried. It was made by the Capo company. There was also a khaki colored version which was applied to the 1937 pattern web belts that we wore with the pre-integration Battledress and bush uniforms. Dirty web belts were always always an eye catcher on inspections. After the Capo treatment and a brushing we used to apply neutral Kiwi shoe polish and buff that up to a beautiful sheen as well. I don't know if there was an air force blue version of this stuff. Most likely not, as the air force was never as big on "chicken$hit".
 
Just purchased an estate #4 mk1* 1943 with an rcaf stamped buttstock. Has the blue grey sling like yours. To bad the serials can,t be traced to rcaf service.
 
purple said:
I always thought that the "F" stamp on the forend meant Fazakerly too. When I was trying to ID a laminate No4 forend with the "F" stamp I learned that it was in fact a Cdn made forend, but I still don't know what the "F" stands for.

Re the "waxy blanco". We used a OD green color latex rubber based web dressing on the 1951 pattern web gear which would take on this sheen when polished with a brush after it had dried. It was made by the Capo company. There was also a khaki colored version which was applied to the 1937 pattern web belts that we wore with the pre-integration Battledress and bush uniforms. Dirty web belts were always always an eye catcher on inspections. After the Capo treatment and a brushing we used to apply neutral Kiwi shoe polish and buff that up to a beautiful sheen as well. I don't know if there was an air force blue version of this stuff. Most likely not, as the air force was never as big on "chicken$hit".
Click to expand...

We used to get a can of Blanco, let it sit for a week, then drain off the liquid on top.

Then add Mop & Glo equal to the amount of Blanco drained off.

Spectacular results on an inspection parade!
 
Very nice old rifle. It is such a pleasure to see full wood Lee Enfield rifles. Thanks for posting good pics! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom