What Would an Investment Grade Long Branch No 4 Mk 1 T Sniper Rifle Set Me Back?
- Thread starter Bartok5
- Start date
Yea man, if you want / need it and it is rare and difficult to find, then buy it when you see it.
Exactly! See it? Need it? Got the $$? Then BUY IT!!!
Based on my recent purchases, the approximate "Going Rate" for Long Branch Lee Enfield No 4 Mk 1* (T) Sniper Rifles and selected Accessories in early 2023 is as follows:
1. All matching, Long Branch No 4 Mk 1* (T) Sniper Rifle, Scope and Mounting Bracket in Excellent/Unissued Condition, with correct matching markings, Canvas Scope Case, Scope Caps, M1907 Sling, Transit Chest - $15K
2. Scout Regiment Telescope (British manufacture) in Excellent Condition - $470
3. Research Enterprises Limited (R.E.L.) Scout Regiment Telescope Tripod (Short Version) in Excellent Condition - $550
4. British Rifle Cleaning Kit in Tin - $47
5. Original British Canvas Rifle Case (Does not fit rifle with scope fitted) in Excellent Condition - $100
6. Reference Books / Booklets:
- Without Warning - Canadian Sniper Equipment of the 20th Century, Clive Law - $100 (Back in Print and available for $30 - see link in 55reccce's post #65)
- The Lee Enfield No 4 Mk 1 - An Armourer's Perspective, Peter Laidler - $75 (Out of Print - Private Sale)
- BRITISH ENFIELD RIFLES VOL. 2 NO. 4 & NO.5 WW2 JUNGLE CARBINE - $35 (ebay)
- THE MATCHLESS ENFIELD .303 No. 4 MK I (T) SNIPER: AND BRITAIN’S ELITE FORCE OF SCOUT/SNIPERS WHO DOMINATED WWII BATTLEFIELDS. - $27 (Amazon)
- A GUIDE TO THE LEE ENFIELD .303 No. 4 (T) SNIPER RIFLE: With focus on British BSA manufactured rifles and the Holland & Holland conversions - $25 (Amazon)
- The British Sniper: A Century of Evolution - $70 (Amazon)
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ebay. Search "British Rifle Cleaning Kit in Tin" and it will pop up for you....
Sure thing - once I have the genuine Sniper Rifle in-hand, I will be (gently) firing it to confirm proper collimationof the scope to the rifle. I will provide a range report at that time. Then the real deal will get carefully cleaned and put on display, whereas my "Clone" Long Branch No 1 Mk 1* (T) Sniper Rifle with its repro "R.E.L." Scope will bear the the brunt of my .303 shooting thereafter.
I'm on the hunt for Laidler's No 32 Scope book for sure! ds
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Good find! I recommend that everyone looking for this book follow 55recce's link. Save yourself some $$, as most folks (myself included) evidently din't know that it is still (back?) in print despite the death of Clive Law, owner of Service Publications. I paid $100 for my copy, which was advertised as being out of print and unavailable over on Milsurps.com. Clearly that was incorrect information....
- Location
- Richmond, BC, CANADA
Comment on 90L8### rifles ending up back in Canada:
Thousands of surplus No. 4 (T) rifles were bought up by North American dealers and brought over and sold in the USA and Canada. Thus one can occasionally find Canadian made sniper rifles, scopes, scope cases and transit chests anywhere. I have found Canadian made rifles, scopes, cases and chests in Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and France etc. Since then collectors have moved some around. For example I repatriated a matching 74L0### Long Branch sniper rifle with matching Lyman No. 32 "Trade Pattern " scope from Australia for example, an R.E.L. scope mismatched on a British BSA made rifle from Arkansas and a matching 71L###x sniper set (100% complete and matching) from Hawai'i. I repatriated a Canadian made transit chest No. 15 Mk. I with inside label for the 74L0### Trade Pattern sniper rifle and exterior paper label for an 80L8### sniper rifle, from New Zealand.
As far as I know, there was no program to "repatriate" the 90L8### rifles to Canada as they were British property. Some were used and some were left mint in their chests. A few Long Branch sniper rifles and R.E.L. scopes ended up being used into the early 1990s by British after conversion to L42A1 rifles with L1A1 scopes. I believe that is just by chance, or by a collector's pursuit, that some of the 90L8### sets are back in Canada. My 90L8### set was found here in B.C.
Thousands of surplus No. 4 (T) rifles were bought up by North American dealers and brought over and sold in the USA and Canada. Thus one can occasionally find Canadian made sniper rifles, scopes, scope cases and transit chests anywhere. I have found Canadian made rifles, scopes, cases and chests in Canada, USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and France etc. Since then collectors have moved some around. For example I repatriated a matching 74L0### Long Branch sniper rifle with matching Lyman No. 32 "Trade Pattern " scope from Australia for example, an R.E.L. scope mismatched on a British BSA made rifle from Arkansas and a matching 71L###x sniper set (100% complete and matching) from Hawai'i. I repatriated a Canadian made transit chest No. 15 Mk. I with inside label for the 74L0### Trade Pattern sniper rifle and exterior paper label for an 80L8### sniper rifle, from New Zealand.
As far as I know, there was no program to "repatriate" the 90L8### rifles to Canada as they were British property. Some were used and some were left mint in their chests. A few Long Branch sniper rifles and R.E.L. scopes ended up being used into the early 1990s by British after conversion to L42A1 rifles with L1A1 scopes. I believe that is just by chance, or by a collector's pursuit, that some of the 90L8### sets are back in Canada. My 90L8### set was found here in B.C.
Thanks for your knowledgeable input, Colin - much appreciated! I've no idea under what circumstances my 90L8### Long Branch Sniper Rifle came back to Canada, all I know hs that the correct, matching R.E.L. No 32 Scope was separated from the rifle for approximately 75 years before they were reunited in Canada.
I am not sure the Cleaning Kit tin was used with the No 4 Mk 1(T). I think it was designed for the L1A1 (British FN) and also used for the L42A1
Does anyone know how many REL Scout Regiment Telescopes were made? There seems to be general agreement that 500 of the later single draw C Mk1 were manufactured but I can't seem to find a number for the REL SR.
WRT the tripod , were all the shorter ones cut down from longer legs or were some manufactured that way? I have a long legged Stand Instrs 22 Mk V manufactured in 1940 by Puddlefoot Bowers & Simons Ltd London and a short legged Tripod Tel No 21 Mk V manufactured by REL
Seems to be not a lot of information in the reference books or on the web about these
Does anyone know how many REL Scout Regiment Telescopes were made? There seems to be general agreement that 500 of the later single draw C Mk1 were manufactured but I can't seem to find a number for the REL SR.
WRT the tripod , were all the shorter ones cut down from longer legs or were some manufactured that way? I have a long legged Stand Instrs 22 Mk V manufactured in 1940 by Puddlefoot Bowers & Simons Ltd London and a short legged Tripod Tel No 21 Mk V manufactured by REL
Seems to be not a lot of information in the reference books or on the web about these
the ad states right off the bat that the rifle and scope are NOT matching. Add to the fact that the rifle and scope are not properly collimated for one another, the sad fact that the rifle is not even Canadian in origin. As stated by Robbs, it appearss to be a plain old BSA Shirley British rifle that is "force-matched" to a Scope and Mounting Bracket for sale as a "complete" set. The price seems more than a little bit steep for what you would be getting, seeing as how I paid the same amount for an all -matching Long Branch setup.
Definitely a case of buyer beware. At least they are up front about the fact that the rifle and scope are a mismatch...
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Hey Bartok ....... check this out
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/22554797682...nFzWY5qaJzkJVkCW/cq23ECA==|tkp:Bk9SR5rd3bn5YQ
While these are reproductions, it'd be cool to have the labels in your transit case.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/32558980202...Wx1n+Ny+p8OA/mH/640iMpug==|tkp:Bk9SR57d3bn5YQ
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/22554797682...nFzWY5qaJzkJVkCW/cq23ECA==|tkp:Bk9SR5rd3bn5YQ
While these are reproductions, it'd be cool to have the labels in your transit case.
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/32558980202...Wx1n+Ny+p8OA/mH/640iMpug==|tkp:Bk9SR57d3bn5YQ
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Not sure what kind of scope that is, but it is not a Scout Regiment Telescope, and is therefore not standard Sniper issue during WW2. Could have been a "one off" private purchase item believed to be superior to the issued scope. Hard to say at this point, other than than to note that it is not an issued item.
I've seen those labels and ordered up a set for my "Clone" Transit Chest. I would never mix repro labels, etc with my original, fragile Transit chest, but for the clone they are perfect!
I've been checking out the prices for legitimate WWII British Wris####ches as part of my genuine rifle's CES. Seaforth72 states on his website that wris####ches were issued to snipers rather than the more common pocket-watch style of timepiece. Makes sense, heing handier on he wrist than in the pocket, but Ouch!! Those prices on ebay are vomit-worthy! Where does it end?!?!
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- Location
- Richmond, BC, CANADA
The Canadian transit chests did NOT normally have an instruction/kit list label inside the lid. The ONLY Canadian No.15 Mk. I chest that I know of with an original label inside is a chest for a Trade Pattern 74L0### Long Branch sniper which is among my Transit chests. That label is about the Trade Pattern scope, not the standard No.32. This chest is now home to my 74L0###. I have multiples of both Canadian and British made chests. The British MiGHT have added a label to a Canadian made chest while it was in British service but it would be the exception. They did add a label to one of my REL No.8 Mk.2 canvas scope cases.
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Colin, you may recall that my clone Transit Chest came with a laminated Instruction/Kit List tacked to the underside of the Lid. That being the case, I see no harm in replacing the modern, laminated copy with something more age-appropriate appearing. Correct or not, it covers up the tack-holes left by the very out of place laminated version.....
