1949 LongBranch No.4?

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1

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I am working on a collection on long Branch rifles and one I need is a 1949.

Funny thing, I have only ever seen a handful for sale in about ten years collecting. One or two here in the ee and one un issued one at a gun show for quite a bit more then I was willing to pay. Ive actually seen more 1941 LB's come up for sale.

How common/rare are the 1949's?

Ill probably put a want to buy ad on the EE in a bit but was curious to there rarity.
 
I think you will find 1949 a difficult year to fill your collection. Long Branch production tapered off in 1945 (plenty of demobilized troops and cooresponding rifles). Production kicked up again sometime in 1949 making it an inconsistent year of production.
 
Salt, meet wound eh lol? Very nice rifle.

I did not realize how low 49 production was. kinda kicking myself for not even attempting to get a deal on that one at the gunshow a few years ago. I think he wanted $1300, considering it was fresh out of grease according to the seller, and good condition "run of the mill" longbraches are going for not much less, it was not that bad.



lugermen said:
Hi I would like to share my 1949 LB .
View attachment 166892View attachment 166893View attachment 166895

I bought it at least 15 years ago at Cornwall gun show. It was wrapped in wax paper with cosmoline and unissued.

It is not for sale .

Have a good day

Lugermen
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There was a nice, albeit interesting one at the Calgary show for just under $1K. It had partly been tarted up in chrome, and the tag said something about parliament hill honour guard. Seems to me it was just some of the barrel bands, the bolt and the magazine were chromed, and not the barrel or receiver. Real nice wood too. It was at the very first tables (Hank's). If you want more info PM me.

But yes, they often are hard to find, especially when you are looking for them.
 
stencollector said:
...snip...

But yes, they often are hard to find, especially when you are looking for them.
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The "watched pot" senario is Ooohhhh so true.

Specific to LB 1949s, I think I have 3.

Both designation markings variations (rolled in and hand stamped "C."),
Type 1
xkrwns.jpg

Type 2
25astw2.jpg

and an "oval C" target rifle.
dnnam1.jpg
 
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I have a 49 DCRA rifle that is sill .303 bought from original owner it has the cool sale out of service marks on the top of receiver minty condition ... its funny i shot with some old boys when i was a member of the dcra and some of those guys the rifles were in minty shape some of those guys just didn't seem to care what their rifle looked like as long as it shot ok.
one guy we called captain high liner because he always wore a skippers hat (not a real one either) he saw my No4 T i was using and said he had one in the car would I like to see it ? ..he was very proud of it all cut down and the scope pads filed flush with the top of reciever he chucked the scope into the trash because it was too heavy ....lastly he painted the stock sky blue ... he had bought the rifle in Toronto in the mid 1960s for $30.00 lots of money then but he had the cash i new him in the mid 1990s...a little part of me died that day ..at least it wasn't a LB sniper ....
 
The 'C' was added to the front of the no4mk1* in 1945. On earlier receivers, it would be added, on later receivers it might be part of the rollstamping. The change is especially noticeable on the no7 rifles, where many variations and different applications of the markings can be found. The C likely indicates Canadian to the normal model numbers...it was used on a lot of other Canadian equipment as well.
 
stencollector said:
The 'C' was added to the front of the no4mk1* in 1945. On earlier receivers, it would be added, on later receivers it might be part of the rollstamping. The change is especially noticeable on the no7 rifles, where many variations and different applications of the markings can be found. The C likely indicates Canadian to the normal model numbers...it was used on a lot of other Canadian equipment as well.
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As in issued to Canadian Forces and was entered into CFFETs or the supply chain or whatever they called it back then? Versus sent to another country?
 
No, just a Canadian designator for a model. When I look at other items like cannons to telescopes, they also add the "C" in front of the model number. Not sure if it means the item differs from the original British model, and that may be a possibility. In the case of the no4mk1*, they were different from the British models, especially in regard to the bolt release. Mind you, the Savage built no4s also had that feature.
There was very little that we built that was exclusively for Cdn use.
 
Thanks for all the Info.

Just looking to fill a year gap in my collection, The other gaps are easily filled but 49 is the one that's got me puzzled. hopefully I find one.
 
I had several 49's.About 20 years ago they were common.Had several in "new" condition.Now long since sold.I kept my 49 DCRA target rifles.2 303 "competition" rifles with C inside oval and 2 DCRA 7.62's.
I still think the hardest long branch to find is a original factory 41 in "unissued" condition with a 41 dated barrel.Only seen one in 35 years collecting.99% of the 41's I have seen were FTR and well used.
1955 and 1956 are also hard to find.Only seen 5-6 of each.I still have my "new" 1955 and a 1956 DCRA 7.62.
 
I made a purchase order for long branch no4's years ago and got
4 49's in exc/ mint and 4 41's plus various 40's and 50's dates.
Kept most of them because they were so nice and no one wanted
them at the time.
 
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