When did Longbranch start/stop numbering the stocks and magazines?

Steve1987

Steve1987

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Hi,

I have a question for the Longbranch gurus.

At what points in production did Longbranch number the stocks and magazines to the rifles from the factory and when did they stop doing this?

Is there a suggested book that deals with the features of Longbranch Enfields between 1941 and 1945?

Thanks!
-Steve
 
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The conventional wisdom is that LB never serialized the stocks. That seems to be a continental European practise. I have a very late production LB which very likely went to Belgium.

The easiest to find book is by Charles "Skip" Stratton, published by North Cape Publications. It was compiled from surveys and lists he made with the help of old fashioned physical mail research. He is dead now, so there is little opportunity to get a second edition.
 
Thanks!

I also believed that Longbranch never serialized the stocks during wartime production, however I have seen photos of 41 Longbranches with serial numbers applied at the bottom of the front handguard, that made me think this might be a feature of early production?

I assumed if these serial numbers were factory, this practice was very quickly discontinued?

-Steve
 
This is kind of an old chestnut, but the consensus seems to be that stocks and mags were serialized after leaving the arsenal. I'd be inclined to believe that stocks were serialized in Cdn service. I've mostly seen s/ns at the top end of the forend just aft of the forend cap. I had an ex-Belgique LB yrs ago that didn't have a s/n on the stock.
 
purple said:
This is kind of an old chestnut, but the consensus seems to be that stocks and mags were serialized after leaving the arsenal. I'd be inclined to believe that stocks were serialized in Cdn service. I've mostly seen s/ns at the top end of the forend just aft of the forend cap. I had an ex-Belgique LB yrs ago that didn't have a s/n on the stock.
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Thanks! Sorry if I have brought up an old question again. If there are other threads that cover this topic I would be interested if anyone can provide me a link. I've never done any extensive research on these rifles. I was never comfortable with the numbered stocks and mags as original, but figured it was time to do a little more research to be sure.

Perhaps numbering the stocks in this location made it much easier to read the serial number while on the racks?

I realized my Longbranch reference was lacking when I didn't have an answer to this question. I will search for Strattons book that is mentioned above. Are there are any other suggestions for reference that will cover these sort of technical questions that I should add to my library in the future?

-Steve
 
I think Stratton's book are OK. There are some folks on this forum with some pretty comprehensive knowledge of the Long Branch rifles. FWIW I have a copy of Cdn Army EMEIs on the No4 and CNo7 rifles. They are silent on s/ns, except for the need to have them match on the butt socket and bolt. Having the s/n show on the bottom of the forend while rifles are in the rack would certainly simplify the CQMS's problems. Again FWIW, we didn't have s/ns on the FN stocks where the same storekeeping/accountability concerns existed.

Also, you do see CNo7 rifles with the s/n stamped on the bottom of the forend like the No4s.
 
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I base my opinion on the general absence of serial numbers on my Canadian foreends, except for the one mentioned late production rifle. The evidence that serializing rifles is a European stores' practise, is supported by serial numbers on almost all Danish M1 Garands imported fifteen-odd years ago.
 
Steve1987 said:
Hi,

I have a question for the Longbranch gurus.

At what points in production did Longbranch number the stocks and magazines to the rifles from the factory and when did they stop doing this?

Is there a suggested book that deals with the features of Longbranch Enfields between 1941 and 1945?

Thanks!
-Steve
Click to expand...
1941 numbered everything possible
1942 forends numbered
1943 appears to have been the year numbering of forends ended - probably early in the year.

Magazines? If they were numbered its probably only the early guns and some early snipers which i've seen that appear to be factory applied.
 
Hey Lee Enfield,
I think it was later than 1943 as I have 2 1943 Longbranches with matching forends. I think it was closer to early 44 when it ended. I have yet to come across a 44 with matching forend. I could be wrong, maybe im just not looking hard enough.
 
greyman441 said:
Hey Lee Enfield,
I think it was later than 1943 as I have 2 1943 Longbranches with matching forends. I think it was closer to early 44 when it ended. I have yet to come across a 44 with matching forend. I could be wrong, maybe im just not looking hard enough.
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I have a 1943 with original serialed forend and several with unnumbered forends.

1943 was also the year that Long Branch made several machining changes to the receivers.

1943 is also the year of highest production.

If you look at target rifles and mismatched serial numbered forends the highest date by serial is always 1943.

There is 1 exception to this, the 1949 dated "Oval C" target rifles have serialed forends.
 
In the 1950s I was a Sea Cadet at HMCS Unicorn in Saskatoon. I remember one bulkhead running the full length of the deck that contained, to me anyway, a gazillion No4s, all locked in racks with bolts removed. I should have taken a pencil and paper and checked manufacture dates and s/n stampings.;)
 
AFAIK Longbranch never serial numbered the stocks or mags, this was done by other users.
I never saw a Cdn issue No4 with a numbered stock or mag. Most of LB's production went to foreign govts.
 
FWIW I have a CNo7 forend which is stamped with a 1L s/n running vertically, rather than horizontally as is normally seen. I know this one was on a CF owned rifle as I removed it 20 yrs ago or so before the piece went for destruction. Small arms accountability is maintained by recording the s/n which is stamped on the receiver/body of a weapon. It would have been a big help for the storeman to be able to eyeball the s/ns of rifles in the racks if they were stamped on the bottom of the forend though.
 
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green said:
AFAIK Longbranch never serial numbered the stocks or mags, this was done by other users.
I never saw a Cdn issue No4 with a numbered stock or mag. Most of LB's production went to foreign govts.
Click to expand...

I just sold a 1944 LB that had matchin stock, mag, receiver and bolt. It had numerous C broad arrow marks including the barrel shank and magazine.
 
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