Longbranch Fever

The Longbranch factory was in.... Longbranch :)
Well Etobicoke really.... I think... Or is it Mimico actually...?
Right by Dixie Rd. and Lakeshore Blvd.

http://www.pbase.com/mrclark/long_branch_factory_production_photos

Wow look at this bad ass:

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Thats too cool. I've been around that area all my life.
Had to do a telephone line repair at the rod and gun club stilll operating in the bunker.
The guy there gave me a 'quick' load of history.
 
I have a lead on an Ishy rebuilt 1942 Longbranch No 4 Mk 1 * in fair condition at a decent price, are Ishy rebuilds with the cross screw really all that scary ?
 
I have a lead on an Ishy rebuilt 1942 Longbranch No 4 Mk 1 * in fair condition at a decent price, are Ishy rebuilds with the cross screw really all that scary ?

I think some of the more snooty collectors turn their nose up on it, but it is like the shellac on RC K98 rifles. It is part of the history so in my mind it is not something to poo poo on.
 
I have a lead on an Ishy rebuilt 1942 Longbranch No 4 Mk 1 * in fair condition at a decent price, are Ishy rebuilds with the cross screw really all that scary ?

Nah, from the perspective of some collector's it might be considered a turn off, but if a rifle saw service in India it should be considered correct for that rifle.* There is absolutely nothing wrong with them and it's intent is to strengthen the stock (or repair it), so from a shooter's perspective it could be see as a plus.

*Although it is not widely known, the British sometimes used the same method (they actually developed the practice and it was adopted by India full scale as a preventative method to avoid split forestocks) when rifles went through FTR. So it doesn't necessarily mean that a rifle was used in India/Pakistan.*

Might be worth making note here, if anyone is looking for No1 MkIII*, that some of the Ishapore ones have the nicest bores I've seen.
 
My RCMP marked 1943 Long Branch also has CANADA on it, as well as the usual C broad arrow. But my 1943 Long Branch DCRA conversion only has the C broad arrow.
 
My RCMP marked 1943 Long Branch also has CANADA on it, as well as the usual C broad arrow. But my 1943 Long Branch DCRA conversion only has the C broad arrow.

The Canada stamp is not commonly seen. I've had a bunch of LB's and not one of them had it. It wasn't done by the factory.

I think it was a US import marking? (someone correct me etc.)
 
So here's an old chestnut to re-roast on markings. Some say that mags and forestocks were serial numbered to the rifle at the factory while some say that numbering was done at unit level. I think I've seen enough original condition rifles to persuade me that this was not done at the factory.
 
Early in production Serial Numbers were stamped, but that was discontined fairly quickly. Most of the serial numbering seen was at Unit level or by Foreign Governments after leaving the factory.
 
Early on Long Branch did FTR a few SMLEs, I think I heard the number was around 1000 or so IIRC. I have on such SMLE with C^ and the Long Branch proof on the bbl. sadly it was otherwise brutalized by bubba removing the butt socket markings and of course dispensing of the furniture, not to mention a hack job on the sear to make it an unpredictable hair trigger. (because you should be surprised when the gun actually fires for proper trigger pull technique...lol)

My two LB #4s both had the mags serialized to the receiver in Greece

funny thing, CFB Gagetown is in Oromocto, Gagetown is actually a little ways down the road too.
 
You should head down there and take some photos to post on here. I would be interested in see them.

Try typing in "Marie Curtis Park Mississauga, ON, Canada" into Google Maps or Google satellite. Zoom in (set to "Satellite" if using Google Maps) and look for the water tower. You are looking at what's left of of the old Long Branch, Canadian Arsenal factory. :(

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LBWaterTower.jpg
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