"S" stamp on trigger guard of a LongBranch

iirc, savage shipped a ton of parts up to long branch.
as much as guys nit pick on here about what part is correct, keep in mind that it may have swapped hands several times (not just canadian hands either, brit, resistance, etc) before even leaving military service. also, many parts could have been replaced in that time at the unit level, and it could have even been repaired in another country along the way. you can also bet that if it was, getting a rifle back in the fight was more important than what factory and date code it should have had.
 
I don't consider any parts improper since LB rifles served around the world and were repaired in many countries with whatever parts were available. It's not unusual to see a LB stamped "FTR (F)" meaning an repair in England. I had an English No. 1 MK III* that had it's barrel and stock replaced in India. It had been stamped .410 then a line through the .410 and a large P stamped on it when it returned to .303 cal. Having all this history stamped on the rifle just make it more collectable in my opinion. I have another that had been a .410 for a while, likely between wars.
 
It is most likely a Savage trigger guard, as Scott says. Also check the safety. A lot of our guns got a British safety put on them as soon as they went across the water (the Brits apparently didn't like the Longbranch safety.)

I have a Longbranch 1942 with an FTR stamp, a British safety, and a savage front sight and cocking piece. It's still a Longbranch :)
 
gerardjohnson said:
I don't consider any parts improper since LB rifles served around the world and were repaired in many countries with whatever parts were available. It's not unusual to see a LB stamped "FTR (F)" meaning an repair in England. I had an English No. 1 MK III* that had it's barrel and stock replaced in India. It had been stamped .410 then a line through the .410 and a large P stamped on it when it returned to .303 cal. Having all this history stamped on the rifle just make it more collectable in my opinion. I have another that had been a .410 for a while, likely between wars.
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Does this mismatching of parts extend to bolts?
In other words, what would it do to the values of a Long Branch marked rifle, that had a bolt in it, that didn't match the numbers of the Long Branch rifle?
 
"...sharing of parts between Savage and LB..." Sharing is communism. All remaining rifles, parts and machinery got shipped to Long Branch when the Savage contract ended. 1942, I think. Said rifles and parts were subsequently issued to CF units as required. Had a Savage No. 4 on my MIU, when I commanded a Cadet Corps long ago. Friggin' thing never would talk about its past.
"...has ENGLAND...export stamp..." Yep.
 
H4831 said:
Does this mismatching of parts extend to bolts?
In other words, what would it do to the values of a Long Branch marked rifle, that had a bolt in it, that didn't match the numbers of the Long Branch rifle?
Click to expand...

IMO a mismatching bolt is a the K.O.D. for value and collectibility except on the most rare types. "Mismatching" production codes is a collector's obsession that seems to have started in the Garand community. Effect varies on a case by case basis, as gerardjohnson said, Long Branch used lots of Savage parts during their original production for a time, so these parts are perfectly legit. Depends on what each individual prefers I think. If a rifle has served long and hard and had parts replaced in service, do you keep those parts because they were service replacements, or do you try to refit "original" parts that it would have had when new? To each his own.

Excuse me, I'm sure you knew all that long before I did.;)
 
H4831 said:
Does this mismatching of parts extend to bolts?
In other words, what would it do to the values of a Long Branch marked rifle, that had a bolt in it, that didn't match the numbers of the Long Branch rifle?
Click to expand...

Yes, you do find other maker's bolts in LB and visa versa. The key thing is that the bolt s/n matches the receiver s/n. EMEIs (Armourer's mauals) were quite specific on this. When a new /replacement bolt was fitted the requirement was to stamp the receiver s/n on the back of the bolt handle, even if this involved obliterating any previous s/ns on the bolt by filing/grinding out the earlier s/n.
 
TANK1867 said:
Just received a sporterized 1943 LongBranch no4 mk1* from a fellow CGNer that I will be restoring. It is in excellent condition full barrel etc. The trigger guard is "S" marked (Savage), I was aware of this before buying it but after doing some research today I came across a picture of another LB with the same mark on the guard.

I know about the wartime expedients and the sharing of parts between savage and LB, what I would like to know is if this is the norm for 1943 (the Savage trigger guard).

Also, the rifle came with the later style rear sight but also with a 300/600 yard L sight, which would be more common on a 1943 LB?

Lastly, the top of the receiver just over the chamber has ENGLAND stamped on it, my little mouse brain got confused with too much info today, does the stamp mean made in Canada for England or is it an export stamp later? I am confused.

Any and all information or just pure trivia on the 1943 LB and its different minor variances would be helpful.

Thank-you
Dave
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Yes it "S" is a Long Branch subcontractors code. Just like "Circled B" and "C.C.M.".

Even though many people believe it to be (and I've referred to it as such for ease of explanation); no it's not actually Savage (squared S) coded nor manufactured.

TANK1867 said:
snip...I know about the wartime expedients and the sharing of parts between savage and LB...snip
Click to expand...

This old wives tale drives me wild. No one considers the logistics nightmare this scenario would have created. It did not and could not have happened.
 
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