1943 Long Branch No.4 question

LawrenceN

LawrenceN

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Toronto (West end)
The rifle in question has obviously been in English hands. It's all number matching. It has the British proof marks on the muzzle end of the barrel and it came with an English Mk.3 rear sight. As you see, I've put on a Parker Hale 5C target sight since I'm taking it to the range tomorrow to see how it shoots. The magazine that came with it is an English Mag, and very badly stamped with the matching serial number of the rifle. Whoever did it didn't use the proper mandrel so I'll try to fix the indents. I have a stamp on the stock that puzzles me. On the right side of the butt are the letters "F.R." Have any of you Lee Enfield gurus come across this before? Any idea of the unit or designation indicated by the letters? Any information would be most appreciated. Thanks.

 
FR Indian Governmement Arsenal rebuilt marking, same as as british FTR (Factory Thorough Repair aka re-arsenaled/rebuilt).
 
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Perhaps just the butt was replaced? Is the rifle painted? Does it have it's original barrel and small parts. Some of these were replaced during FR process. You should be able to find a LB marked butt to replace your existing one. Ron
 
rgg_7 said:
Perhaps just the butt was replaced? Is the rifle painted? Does it have it's original barrel and small parts. Some of these were replaced during FR process. You should be able to find a LB marked butt to replace your existing one. Ron
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I hadn't mentioned the wood, but it seems to have come as a mated LB marked set. The serial number on the forestock does not match the serial number of the rifle though. Everything is LB marked except the rear sight and the safety retaining piece (marked SM). One unusual thing is the foresight block has not got the screw-in tensioner to hold the blade. It has a fixed block and the sight blade is the split dovetail friction fit, but it is LB marked. Odd, eh?
 
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