1942 No. 4 MK I* Long Branch (Lots of Photos!)

[kentb]

Here's my second rifle belonging to the Enfield family. I purchased it not too long ago here in Kelowna. If anyone has any obvious or not-so-obvious points to make about the rifle, please post.

From what I've gathered...
It's all original wood,
A previous owner buffed the front band,
A previous owner swapped the bolt so it is obviously not matching and also polished,
The body band's serial number is the only other serial number visible (if I remove the rear hand guard will I reveal the barrel serial number?).
This was a later modified version of the No. 4 MK I made in 1941, thus giving it the Star(*),
Grooved handguards were removed in later versions (1943 & on?),
Made in Canada (Toronto Area?) Long Branch Armoury,
These rifles were Canadian military standard issue intended to be used in Europe,


If anyone's got any other facts or corrections to make on what I think are factual points about this specific rifle, please let me know. Thanks and Enjoy...

Whats is this number on the butt stock?^

Thanks guys.

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

Looks like a nice rifle, not a major collector piece due to the bolt, but still a nice looking rifle. Wood look great, maybe a refinish? And looks like a rack number on the butt.

 

[bearhunter]

Seeing as it's non matching anyway, I would replace the bolt. If it doesn't have the same # bolt head, swap it out with the old one.

Nice looking rifle. If the bedding is good, it will be a great shooter as well. As far as the serrated hand guards go, I've seen them on rifles dated 1945 and on later dated FRTs. They used what they had on hand at the time. It's not unusual and correct for either hand guard to be on any war time date. It's also not unusual and correct to find rifles with mixed wood and mixed countries of origin of some parts, including the stocks. Their main ambition during the war years was to get as many rifles to the military as possible.

 

[cyclone]

It looks very nice.....

 

[bobfortier]

Nice one, and I'll use those pics for my project (see "Next one will be blonde") a couple of post down

Thanks !

 

[kentb]

Good enough for me! Thanks guys. I'll enjoy this rifle no matter what. I'll be stretching it's legs on some steel plates in no time. With peep sights like the MKIII rearsight on this rifle, what sort of groups do you guys get at 100, 200, and 300?

 

[tiriaq]

The bolt is mismatched, if the headspace is good, don't bother changing it.
The Mk. III rear sight is a replacement. Rifles were routinely upgraded. Your rifle likely left Small Arms Limited with a Mk. II sight (300/600y). Grooved handguards were used early and late, and possibly in between depending on what was in the bin.
I would touch up the blue on the parts that have been scrubbed.
The band screws should enter left to right.

 

[stevebc]

Good enough for me! Thanks guys. I'll enjoy this rifle no matter what. I'll be stretching it's legs on some steel plates in no time. With peep sights like the MKIII rearsight on this rifle, what sort of groups do you guys get at 100, 200, and 300?

In my case, terrible groups. Even using the smaller aperture of the flipped up sight (as opposed to the battle sight you see when the main sight is folded flat), you'll notice it's an awfully large aperture.
I'm hoping that putting proper target sights on my No.4 will give me better groups. I'll post pics when I get them.

 

[cantom]

This rifle does not appear to be a Long Branch done FTR. (factory thorough repair) I say this because the metal work is not green.

The forend appears to have been changed, a 42 would have the low cut on the right where the cut off used to go.

Rear sight changed, forend changed, bolt changed.

I'd check the headspace and enjoy it...nice looking rifle.

 

[bgcameron]

Where in Kelowna did you find it??

 

[kentb]

Hey, thanks for all the information you guys, I really appreciate it. Thanks for the compliments as well. I'm quite proud of my purchase and I'm glad you guys shared your insight on what you've come to know about this model in particular.

I'm gonna see how well I can group on Sunday and report back.

bgcameron, I bought the rifle from Chris at Weber & Markin. He's got a 1941 SMLE III* (all matching). I wish I had the extra cash to pick that one up as well, but it just didn't turn out that way. The wood is in rough shape, but it would still be a decent piece. If you go check it out, let me know what you think.

 

[kentb]

This rifle does not appear to be a Long Branch done FTR. (factory thorough repair) I say this because the metal work is not green.

The forend appears to have been changed, a 42 would have the low cut on the right where the cut off used to go.

Rear sight changed, forend changed, bolt changed.

I'd check the headspace and enjoy it...nice looking rifle.

is a FTR like a refurbishment in other words? And where you mention the fore end being changed, wouldn't that just fall under the understanding that 'they just grabbed whatever parts out of the bin that were available'? Was every 1942 identical?

 

[cantom]

is a FTR like a refurbishment in other words? And where you mention the fore end being changed, wouldn't that just fall under the understanding that 'they just grabbed whatever parts out of the bin that were available'? Was every 1942 identical?

Yes, FTR is factory refurbishment. The thing is, I don't think this rifle was. No electropencil scritchy scratchery on the left side with FTR (F) etc, scribed, and no green Long Branch parkerizing.

It may have been sporterized at one point and then brought back to full wood with what parts could be found. Not an uncommon thing at all.

Since the bolt doesn't match, checking headspace is recommended. I can do it in less than a minute if I had it.

 

[kentb]

Alright, well if anyone in the area has a headspace gauge I'm totally down with you checking it out. Here's some more pictures...

There's no serial on the mag, just the Arrow in the Circle (for the life of me I can't recall what it stands for. The Long Branch Arsenal?) Also a "B" within a circle stamped on the follower.

Since the bolt was not matching, this might be and indicator of its origin...

Thanks for all the help so far guys. Hope these pictures come in useful for someone.

 

[Billyboy13]

FTR is "Factory Thorough Repair".
Nice looking rifle. I really like it.
And the Broad arrow in the C is the symbol to ID it as a Canadian Service Rifle.

 

[macadoodle]

The polished bolt looks good

 

[joe n]

I like it very much, thanks for showing!

 

[LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1]

As mentioned, the circle with the arrow is actually a C with an arrow. It the Canadian C broad arrow and was the Canadian Military property stamp. Its a modification the the British broad arrow, which is just an arrow. Most commonwealth contries used some shape or form of the arrow.

As for the magazine, most Long branches did not have serialized magazines, and I was told that was more of a feature unique to certain units. I do believe the Italians numbered theirs as well. I was also told if you had a Long Branch magazine, its counts as a matching one.

The "B" that you can see on the trigger guard, is a "L" with a "B" inside. It was the Long branch marking up until I think 1949 when it became the "CA" marking.

Overall it a beutiful rifle, and if you got those front nose caps and the bolt reblued would be an excellent looking rifle.

 

[firemachine69]

In my case, terrible groups. Even using the smaller aperture of the flipped up sight (as opposed to the battle sight you see when the main sight is folded flat), you'll notice it's an awfully large aperture.
I'm hoping that putting proper target sights on my No.4 will give me better groups. I'll post pics when I get them.

You mean a "scope"?

 

[stevebc]

You mean a "scope"?

s**t disturber.

No, I mean this: