Long branch with no bolt serial number and not sent over

icehunter121

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Looking at a long branch that appears to have never left Canada. I cant find any markings on it that it was sent overseas but the bolt doesn't have a serial number on it. Any one ever run into this? Sorry I don't have any pics of it.
 
I am assuming that you are saying the bolt never had a serial number? Versus now having none because old one ground off? From the serial number of the receiver, or on the scroll on the left side, should be able to identify the year that the receiver was made - could be 80 years ago?? A spare, unmarked bolt could have been inserted by anyone (military or other owner) over that many years? Might want to check the bolt head for over-turn, and then check the headspace. If both lugs are bearing within the receiver, and the other two checks pan out, should be good to go?
 
I am assuming that you are saying the bolt never had a serial number? Versus now having none because old one ground off? From the serial number of the receiver, or on the scroll on the left side, should be able to identify the year that the receiver was made - could be 80 years ago?? A spare, unmarked bolt could have been inserted by anyone (military or other owner) over that many years? Might want to check the bolt head for over-turn, and then check the headspace. If both lugs are bearing within the receiver, and the other two checks pan out, should be good to go?

When you look at the bolt handle rear there is no serial number, but yet there is a stamping on it like some kind of proof/armourer marking. I had my flashlight and magnifying glass with me but couldn't make it out. There are no markings on the end of the barrel at the bayo lug area. Its at a gun show 40 minutes from me,I might fire up and head back to it and look at it again.
 
I think the marking at the bayonet area that you mention were markings required to be installed on mil surp rifles coming into the USA from where ever, was not a Canada thing. If it had been owned by Britain, would have two broad arrows - point to point - indicating it was sold out of service, and almost all of those that I have seen then also had the British proof markings on the chamber, which were required as they entered civilian market. Again, do not think that was an "in Canada" thing...
 
A couple of years ago, I picked up an ammo can full of LongBranch bolts from my local scrap dealer. They were straight out of Canadian service back in the 70s, and had been placed in the can, and the can filled with oil. Out of the 70-80 bolts, at least a third of them were ground and re-stamped with a new serial number, so it apparently happened more often than we would like to think.

One sign that the rifle was in Canadian service would be that there should be a C/l\ stamp on the front of the receiver, either on the top, or possibly on the side.
 
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