1955 Long Branch single shot 7.62 DCRA

[cantom]

I've been looking for years for a post 50 LB, finally got this today.

DCRA marked 7.62, PH5C sight.

The barrel is wrapped with fibreglass, the action is bedded, custom bird's eye maple stock.

Now, I would have preferred to find a normal 1955 military Long Branch like Granite got recently, but now that I have this in hand, what a beauty!


I'd appreciate whatever anyone can tell me about it. Look at the custom work, trigger guard, adjustable king screw, no recoil pad? (no holes for screws)

What is that plate under the forend for?

Not even sure if this can be taken apart what with the action being bedded etc?

Here was the ad on the EE for those who didn't see it.

I have for sale an unusual Lee Enfield 7.62 target rifle built for D.C.R. Target Rifle Shooting. Built on Longbranch #4 MKI* . Action Mfg. in 1955.
Parker Hale 5C rear target sight. Custom hand-built birdseye maple stock . Now for the neat part.--It sports a 'Sonier Tube"---This was an attempt to stiffen the standard weight military barrel by building up layers of fiberglass around the outside of the barrel and then tensioning the barrel with a nut at the muzzel.This in the early sixties-Forty years before the graphite wrapped barrels started to show up in the U.S. The only other "Sonier Tube" target rifle I know of still in existance is on display at the C.F.B.Gagetown Military Museum in Oromocto,N.B.

Built as a single shot rifle only. No provision for a magazine.

 

[spinecracker]

I only have one question - where is the range report??? Nice looking rifle, Tom

 

[chanman]

I imagine your question about the fore-end plate might lie in the precision rifle forum. It looks like an attachment point for a handstop.

 

[DOOK]

That is friken beautifull!
I remember the ad, but never saw the pics.
Probably a good thing for you.
That wood is superb.

A very interesting find.

 

[stevebc]

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever." -somebody or other

 

[gaff]

the plate is for a hand stop . very nice .

 

[cantom]

I have a question. No buttplate...

Should there be one and if so what? What would be period correct?

Most DCRA rifles I've seen have stock Enfield plates on them.

This rifle is massive...I haven't held a plate up against it but I suspect it'll look like a toy against it.

 

[bearhunter]

Tom, that looks like a DCRA rifle that was rebuilt from a CA conversion. The barrel looks like one I have that was intended for an L42. There were a bunch of those barrels sold as surplus many years back.

Looks like a good job, by someone that knew what they were doing. The butt looks like it should be an adjustable type or one of those used in match shooting with an under hool and hand stop. It also has the mounts, for match slings.

This is a special purpose rifle, designed to be shot from kneeling, standing and prone positions, while wearing a special shooting jacket,that fits very tightly and a very heavy, stiff glove worn on the fore end hand. The sling mounts have several positions for different shooting stances. Once you are all stapped into your jacket and rifle, about the only thing you can move is you trigger arm.

The rifle is only part of the complete rig needed to make it effective for its intended purposes.

That birdseye maple stock, is very nice. Hard, stable and lovely. Great find

 

[ArtyMan]

I'll bet it will shoot like a laser! nice score!

 

[cantom]

I'll bet it will shoot like a laser! nice score!

Thank you people! All comments are appreciated.

BTW, here are 4 pics of a LB buttplate against the butt. Not as bad a size mismatch as I feared.

To do or not to do? I have black steel LB, brass and green parked new CA plates.

How could a smith bridge that difference in size?

Anyone got the skills?

 

[rgg_7]

Tom....It was not uncommon for DCRA conversions like this to be built without butt pads. Maybe this stock had a thin rubber stick on pad like Fulton's conversion. The metal military plate is not correct for this rifle. See it has the Sonier fibreglass wrapped DCRA military profile barrel. Very nice piece of history. I wouldn't change a thing....Ron

 

[cantom]

Tom....It was not uncommon for DCRA conversions like this to be built without butt pads. Maybe this stock had a thin rubber stick on pad like Fulton's conversion. The metal military plate is not correct for this rifle. See it has the Sonier fibreglass wrapped DCRA military profile barrel. Very nice piece of history. I wouldn't change a thing....Ron

Appreciate that Ron! I'm listening. I'm glad you've heard of this Sonier tube barrel before.

 

[catnthehatt]

By the look of the inletting it would seem that it was originally made for an Anschutz style rail instead of the PH rail - or maybe it was inletted at a later date?
These rifles are danged accurate, I've shot one that was made by Joe Gibault - super!!
Cat

 

[bearhunter]

Ron and Tom, the fibreglass wrapped military barrel? Tell me more please. I've seen lots of DCRA rifles before and rifles similar to Toms but nothing like you described.

That is interesting. How common were these special builds? Does anyone else have one?

What shooting stances were they used in?

Googled Sonier wrapped barrels, nothing, some ads for carbon wrapped barrels.

 

[chanman]

That stock looks like it might fit a hook as previously mentioned.

Something like these:

You should probably ask around the Precision Rifles forum. They'd be better able to tell you what your rifle is for. And more people get to admire your latest purchase

 

[John Sukey]

Why bother fitting a military buttplate? Just get a civillian one that will be the right size, or even an adjustable one. You have a target rifle NOT a military rifle!

 

[Baal]

Thank you people! All comments are appreciated.

BTW, here are 4 pics of a LB buttplate against the butt. Not as bad a size mismatch as I feared.

To do or not to do? I have black steel LB, brass and green parked new CA plates.

How could a smith bridge that difference in size?

Anyone got the skills?

Don't even think about it!

 

[catnthehatt]

That stock looks like it might fit a hook as previously mentioned.

Something like these:

You should probably ask around the Precision Rifles forum. They'd be better able to tell you what your rifle is for. And more people get to admire your latest purchase

If it were fitted for an adjustable buttle plate, it would have holes in it for the aligment pins.
Tis looks more like a bare butt plate affair to me.
Many of the palma rifles I have owned in the past have simply a piece of leather on them....

Cat

 

[Cocked&Locked]

Very interesting rifle Cantom! thanks for posting all the pics.., drool.....

let us know how it shoots!

 

[cantom]

Very interesting rifle Cantom! thanks for posting all the pics.., drool.....

let us know how it shoots!

When it warms up a trifle...