Who used Longbrach No.4's?

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
28   0   0
Location
Alberta
Seems to be that its a common misconception that Canada was the exclusive user of LongBranch made No.4 rifles. I know that quite a few were shipped to the Brits during the war, and we also provided quite a few as foreign/military aid to countries like Greece and India.

Main Question is, Who did the Canadian govt. supply, either through sale or free, Long Branch made rifles to? Im not gonna count third party transactions (like India selling to someone) as those would be impossible to track really, but mainly who we actually provided either new or used Long Branch No.4's to.

Also, After posting this, I noticed a very interesting ad on the EE for a Mummy wrap LongBranch rifle, I did not know Longbranch wrapped rifles like that, I know they sometimes were packed in wooden crates of twelve. Any input?
 
Last edited:
There was a batch of unissued C No. 4s sold surplus from Belgium some years back. Perhaps that explains the wrapping.
I think most SAL production that went overseas went into the pool of rifles issued as required out of England. The LB rifles weren't segregated for specific issue.
Many Canadian troops were overseas long before No. 4 rifles began to be issued.
For example, it appears that when a rifle in a photo of a Canadian sniper overseas is examined, and the rifle can be identified, all existing photos show a Mk. I bolt release, indicating a British made rifle.
 
My 1950 LB is unissued and has (to my knowledge) never been fired aside from the factory proof load. The Feed Ramp's parkerizing is unscratched and the wood is perfect aside from a couple of minor storage bruises. I paid $175 for it about 25 years ago....


212a2dy.jpg
 
i read something online once that said the US army found LB rifles being used by the teliban in Afghanistan. My thinking was that the rifles were sold by England to India or Pakistan and then stolen by the teliban. Crazy how our own gun could be used against us.
 
Actually, those Long Branch Rifles were supplied by the CIA to the forces fighthing the Russian Invasion. Rumour has it that a certain number of Long Branch rifles were left on a loading dock at CFB Longpointe and by morning they had disappeared.
 
masterdom2 said:
Crazy how our own gun could be used against us.
Click to expand...

LongBranch Stens were supplied to the Chinese with Chinese script on the top of the magwell, and the typical LongBranch markings on the bottom. During the Korean war, they were occasionally captured by the Cdn Army. Pretty sure the same thing may have happened with the 8mm Inglis Brens which were also supplied to the Chinese.
 
We had some 30,000 No 4s in reserve stocks in the late 1970s. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in late 1979. Suddenly there were no more No4s in our reserve stocks.:sok2

Lee Enfields were the among weapons of choice for the Mujahideen. Every Afghan kid cut his teeth on one and they were easy to use and maintain. The Mujis even liked the old Martini Henry's because they found that a big wad of lead produced good results when flung through the blades of a Russian helicopter.

Weapons do get pointed back at you sometimes. The PLA "volunteers" who entered the Korean War in late 1950 were extensively equipped with Thompson SMGs which had been provided to the Chinese Nationalists during WW2. And yes, the 8x57 Inglis BRENs that we provided to the Chinese during WW2 did get used on us in Korea.
 
purple said:
We had some 30,000 No 4s in reserve stocks in the late 1970s. The Soviets invaded Afghanistan in late 1979. Suddenly there were no more No4s in our reserve stocks.:sok2

Lee Enfields were the among weapons of choice for the Mujahideen. Every Afghan kid cut his teeth on one and they were easy to use and maintain. The Mujis even liked the old Martini Henry's because they found that a big wad of lead produced good results when flung through the blades of a Russian helicopter.

Weapons do get pointed back at you sometimes. The PLA "volunteers" who entered the Korean War in late 1950 were extensively equipped with Thompson SMGs which had been provided to the Chinese Nationalists during WW2. And yes, the 8x57 Inglis BRENs that we provided to the Chinese during WW2 did get used on us in Korea.
Click to expand...

I guess that's why some Canadian Rangers in the last 10 yrs were issued Fazakerly No4 Mk2'S.......no Longbranch rifles left in stock!!!!!!
 
masterdom2 said:
i read something online once that said the US army found LB rifles being used by the teliban in Afghanistan. My thinking was that the rifles were sold by England to India or Pakistan and then stolen by the teliban. Crazy how our own gun could be used against us.
Click to expand...

JP said:
Actually, those Long Branch Rifles were supplied by the CIA to the forces fighthing the Russian Invasion. Rumour has it that a certain number of Long Branch rifles were left on a loading dock at CFB Longpointe and by morning they had disappeared.
Click to expand...


As of 2010, a U.S. D.O.D. study found that 25% of casualties in Afghanistan were from small arms fire, and 19% of casualties in Iraq. The Iraqis tended to use Dragunov's for a full powered DMR rifle, the Talib in Afghanistan seemed to prefer Enfields, most of which were the CIA gifted LB's.

https://www.military.com/kitup/2010/04/taliban-snipers-reach-for-enfield.html

https://www.military.com/kitup/2010/04/the-myth-of-afghan-marksmanship.html

https://atwar.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/a-firsthand-look-at-firefights-in-marja/?hp
 
The 174gr .303 ball bullet has excellent long range performance, better than the AK or M16 in open country.

The Vickers MG was used to deliver harassing fire at extended ranges with clinometers and range tables to plan long distance plunging fire. A family friend was a Vickers gunner in the SLI in Italy where he used the Vickers quite often in this role. He called it "hailing the Jerries". Jerry shot back though and he was hit by mortar fire in reply. I remember visiting him in hospital in 1965 when he was having yet another operation to remove mortar fragments from his arm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom