Anyone seen a No4 MK1 Long Branch with a gernade laucher? Wire wrapped forend, 2 groove barrel, no front/rear sight, full walnut firniture. Told these may have been converted by the Dutch. Guess at the value? Rarety? Rifle is not an off shore rework. interesting piece.Opinions pls???????
Canadian Long Branch Gernade Launcher
- Thread starter rgg_7
- Start date
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
If it's wire wrapped and has NO sights, it's a line throwing gun.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Could be, Of course my No4 fits the description, but the biggest clue is the white L.T. painted on the buttstock!
Line throwers would not need sights since a SHIP is a relatively EASY target at thirty to forty feet away.
Line throwers would not need sights since a SHIP is a relatively EASY target at thirty to forty feet away.
John Sukey said:Could be, Of course my No4 fits the description, but the biggest clue is the white L.T. painted on the buttstock!
Line throwers would not need sights since a SHIP is a relatively EASY target at thirty to forty feet away.
So they did the wire wrap with dedicated line thrower Long Branch rifles? I've only ever seen that on Ishapore grenade throwers...
John Sukey said:Could be, Of course my No4 fits the description, but the biggest clue is the white L.T. painted on the buttstock!
Line throwers would not need sights since a SHIP is a relatively EASY target at thirty to forty feet away.
So you have an LB line throwing rifle? John, we have to get you up to speed on posting pics...
We'd like to see these things please...Long Branch Gernade Launcher
I will post some pic's when received. It should be available to me in approximately 10 days as its part of an estate settlement...collectors widow has commissioned a chap to sell these on her behalf. Most everything has been sold pending CFC registration.
This rifle is the only Canadian one I've seen. It is a 1943 MK1* Long Branch with a wire wrapped forend. The copper wire wrap is between the mid band and the tip of the rifle. Has dark walnut stock and Zamac butt plate. Matching bolt and unserialized mag. Excellent condition and Canadian markings only. Was able to inspect the bore only. Could be a surprise under the wood however The lower forend can not be removed with the wire wrap. Don't believe it's a line launcher however anything is possible. Regardless....a rare piece.
I will post some pic's when received. It should be available to me in approximately 10 days as its part of an estate settlement...collectors widow has commissioned a chap to sell these on her behalf. Most everything has been sold pending CFC registration.
This rifle is the only Canadian one I've seen. It is a 1943 MK1* Long Branch with a wire wrapped forend. The copper wire wrap is between the mid band and the tip of the rifle. Has dark walnut stock and Zamac butt plate. Matching bolt and unserialized mag. Excellent condition and Canadian markings only. Was able to inspect the bore only. Could be a surprise under the wood however The lower forend can not be removed with the wire wrap. Don't believe it's a line launcher however anything is possible. Regardless....a rare piece.
SMLE EY rifles were wire wrapped. I suppose that they were dedicated grenade launching rifles. During the period when grenade launchers were used, I am unaware of any suggestion that grenades be launched using only wire wrapped rifles. It is not mentionned in the 1936 manual. According to the manual, a rifle could be used either as a rifle or as a launcher.
I have no idea whether RCN line throwers were ever wrapped. There is no way of telling where or when this particular rifle saw use.
I have no idea whether RCN line throwers were ever wrapped. There is no way of telling where or when this particular rifle saw use.
tiriaq,
Oh ok, thought I read somewhere they wire warped the rifles because of the possibility of a over pressure situation. So they'd have dedicated rifles for launching but your the expert not me
Dimitri
Oh ok, thought I read somewhere they wire warped the rifles because of the possibility of a over pressure situation. So they'd have dedicated rifles for launching but your the expert not me
Dimitri
I'm no expert... Grenade launching really stresses the rifle, barrel and stock. Cracked barrels happened, so this was the reason for the wrapping. Bulged barrels were also a problem, particularly with rodded grenades. A line throwing rod is much lighter than a rodded grenade, but the rod is still something of an obstruction in the bore. The cup discharger was probably easier on the barrel than a rodded grenade. During WWI rifle launched grenades were commonly used. The 1936 manual deals with grenade launching, the later 1942(? - not at hand) Rifle and Bayonet does not mention launching grenades. A sightless rifle would only be useful as a launcher, so the RCN line throwers were specialty tools. FWIW the USN used a H&R shotgun based launcher with a .45-70 smoothbore barrel for line throwing.
- Location
- Tucson, Arizona
Wire wrapping came about with the rod grenades. The cup discharger and later the spigot discharger are different animals While the latter two will also put additional stress on the stock, it's not the same.
