Long Branch, blank receiver

r.fallon

r.fallon

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I just picked this up of of the EE. I am calling it a LB because it's a No4mk1*, has a C/l\ stamp and the finnish is very similar to a 1943 LB that I had. What is a mystery is the receiver is void of any identification marks. In the pics you can see c/l\ on the top ring of the receiver and the bolt head. The left side of the receiver where you normally find the id info is blank, and there is no sign of metal being removed. At the wrist you can see where the old S/N (and possibly ENGLAND stamp) was ground off and a new s/n stamped. The bolt has had the S/N ground off. The barrel is stamped SURREY and is a 2 groove. Does any one know what the X stamp on the receiver ring is?
Interesting piece, if anyone has any ideas please comment.
http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab265/oblesk/102_0438.jpg
http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab265/oblesk/102_0437.jpg
http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab265/oblesk/102_0436.jpg
http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab265/oblesk/102_0435.jpg
 
Surrey was the name of a style of No4s sported in the UK by PH IIRC.
X may indicate that barrel that was once on it was blemished in the bore.
 
That's odd. C Broad arrows on the bolt head and receiver, all numbers scrubbed, no sign of there ever being a Long Branch stamping on the left side.(no grind marks)

Since it's a * it can't be British, which would be my first guess otherwise.

At some point it was owned by Canada.

I've seen a number of Long Branch unnumbered receivers, but they always had Long Branch on the left.

??
 
I'd suppose the 'scrubbed' appearance was done at the remanufacturing facility to pretty up the finish. Is the rest of the rifle anything special to look at?
 
my surrey converted No4 is also restamped AL###x on the butt socket. I am assuming that it was restamped when it was converted to sporter, or on importation to Canada.
Mine retained the origional Faz PF###### serial as well tho, it was not removed.
 
r.fallon said:
I just picked this up of of the EE. I am calling it a LB because it's a No4mk1*, has a C/l\ stamp and the finnish is very similar to a 1943 LB that I had. What is a mystery is the receiver is void of any identification marks. In the pics you can see c/l\ on the top ring of the receiver and the bolt head. The left side of the receiver where you normally find the id info is blank, and there is no sign of metal being removed. At the wrist you can see where the old S/N (and possibly ENGLAND stamp) was ground off and a new s/n stamped. The bolt has had the S/N ground off. The barrel is stamped SURREY and is a 2 groove. Does any one know what the X stamp on the receiver ring is?
Interesting piece, if anyone has any ideas please comment.
Click to expand...

Does the right side cut off block extend to flush with the bottom of the receiver?

The contour appears to be a 1942-mid43 Long Branch.

The receiver could have been wiped of markings, there appear to be milling markings on the side of the receiver.

I have several theories:
1. it could have skipped the marking stage (very unlikely) at LB and made it to issue.

2. It was wiped by the "re-manufacturer" to an essex grade gun ~ also unlikely because I have "essex" LB with all original markings ~ maybe a past owner just wanted a "clean" receivered gun.

3. Late Indian FTR guns have been wiped of original markings and a new serial number & Indian factory markings applied~I had an Indian LB which had no existing LB markings or serial #, all had been wiped and replaced.

4. I've seen AL number block british receivers ~ maybe someone lost a British action with that serial #

5. I've seen several "A"rmie "L"uxembourg rack numbered No4 rifles ~ maybe it was registered with the wrong # and someone wanted to correct it.
 
Hi guy I am happy that I am getting feed back on this thread, but I am in the field working right now and I will not be home until the last week of July. I will gladly post more pics of this rifle.
I have not had a chance to take it to the range yet, but once I get home and put it back together I will see how it does.
I have a good supply of the Speer 180gr and Horn 123gr (.312) these are a dream to shoot. The Horn 123gr would be excellent out of a No5, I'll give this a go too and post the resaults.
RF
 
My 2 cents
Scrubbed LB barreled action that was part of FTR process at Fazakerly. The tooling marks are crude and thus I believe this work to be just post wartime FTR (1948'ish).

I've seen a few LB that has the markings scrubbed off however you could usually still see the LB script underneath the new stencilled FTR assignments. Why there are no FTR marks on this receiver I do not know. Odd.
 
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