Cantom, you are a font of wisdom! I would think that the CAL means Century Arms Limited, and maybe something like Albany St. Vermont, so that clears up the mystery of the barrel stamping. Another gentleman had asked me to verify the sight as correct, and indeed it is the Cmk3 stamped sight. I'd bought a 1950 LB not too long after they hit the Canadian market, and since it belonged to an acquaintance, and had been fired, he let me have it for $185.00 at a time when they were going for $250. Try to find that now! I had to let it go when I hit a bad patch some years ago, and it broke my heart. Being an ex military, staunchly Canadian amateur history buff, it's nice to have a pristine piece of Toronto history back in my hands.
Interesting Long Branch No.4
- Thread starter LawrenceN
- Start date
Plinker, it's got the steel butt plate that seems to be parked. It's not the blue of the rest of the rifle. As to the wood finishing, your buddy is quite correct about hand rubbing in the oil. What you wouldn't know is that I was a cabinet maker/carpenter for 35 years, and I've refinished many rifle stocks over the years. One thing I know for sure, there are many roads to the same destination. When I get this puppy gently refurbed, it'll look factory fresh. I don't know the current market value of the '50 LB's in this kind of shape, but one fella had 2 consecutive serial numbered of these brand new in the EE and he was asking 2 G's!!! A little steep, I thought. Lest one assume perfection exists, in the spirit of true honesty, there are 2 correctable issues with the rifle. Somehow, the tip of the firing pin is broken. I have sourced a new one, and I have a bud with the tools and know how to replace it. Secondly, it has a "S" for short buttstock, and being 6' and long armed, the length of pull means I'm choking up on the butt. The good folks at Tradex tell me they have a walnut Canadian long butt which I'm ordering as my "shooter". Of course, I'll never let the original go out of my hands as it's mated to the rifle.OMG...look @ the mag and receiver (not a scratch)....ME LIKIE!!!! Raw linseed oil and a lot of elbow grease for the furniture. Brass butt plate or aluminium? anything inside?(oiler & pull through).
A tip for oiling that a fellow cgner gave me when I purchased wood from him {thanks Ron} he hand rubs in the oil with the palm of his hand.....I suspect that the added friction helps the oil and wood absorption ratio. either way it works well!....try it, I guarantee you will appreciate the outcome
Tradex's buttstocks are CA marked, Canadian Arsenals, which is correct for a 1950 LB!
Sounds to me that market value for your rifles is kind of irrelevant as they aren't for sale in the foreseeable future
.....a man after my own heart "THIS IS MY RIFLE, THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT BUT THIS ONE IS MINE!"
- Location
- West coast of Vancouver Island
Nice rifle, a keeper
Sounds to me that market value for your rifles is kind of irrelevant as they aren't for sale in the foreseeable future
Plinker, let me fill you in on the situation. In addition to the purchase of the '43 and '50 Long Branch No.4's, I have a 1949 dated LB. Research on the site has shown them to be collectable as not only are they as nice in fit and finish as the '50's, but they had a comparably small production run for that year so there ain't a lot of them around. The one I have came with a tag with some greek script on it, so it may have been one purchased during the insurgency troubles in that country. Not to prattle on, but now I have a surfeit of No.4 Long Branch No.4's. One will wind up on the auction block so depending on a promise to a friend, it'll either be the '43 or the '49. Hence, i was wondering about value.
Hmmm...my '52 Faz IS lonely......ooppps, and would you look at that, I seem to have some money too. So depending on your promise to a friend....wanta make a new one?! I promise a good home for her
