longbranch ever make #1mk 3 rifles? and or parts between the wars? and or were they rebuilding them? ive got a fellow trying to sell me a BSA he says was refurbed in the 50s at CA plant. I did not know or think CA or LB had anything to do with the #1mk3?
Canadian made #1Mk3 ?
- Thread starter Mongo62
- Start date
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
I had a '53 FTR with a LB barrel.
I've seen a few other LB barrels for the No1 over the years.
but I don't think that LB did the work and they never produced the No1.
one of the reasons that Canada used the Ross Rifle was that Canada was never granted the rights to produce No1 rifles. And we know how that worked out.
this is what I figured. we never officially used 1/3 rifles, but why do we find them with C broadarrow markings? quiet honestly ive never thought about it, and now am wondering as we used the ross in WW1. the fellow who has the rifle insistes it was rebuilt in the 50s at CA and it does have a big CA mark on the knox and is also C brodarrow stamped. it is a 1917 dated BSA
I was wondering when this question would come up. Yes, Long Branch made barrels for the SMLE rifle. The barrel contour around the neck is slightly different than the Brit made ones. Also, they were Long Branch blued (also different than Brit). I have 2 in my collection. One is new and obviously a never fitted spare with no view marks. The other on a rebuilt and reblued SMLE sporting a barrel date of '42 with full viewer marks.Canada went thru a serious SMLE refit for service program on their SMLEs which I believe started 1939 and obviously continued for a few years until all were complete. Most Canadian soldiers who trained in WW2 were trained with the SMLE in barracks and then marched off to war with a M17 which was turned over upon disembarkation in the U.K. No 4, Stens , Brens then issued in England. When supplies in the U.K were sufficient then Canuks carried their whole kit over with Canadian made weapons. In Skennerton's book it states in the Canadian section that Long Branch made barrels. I know because those were my words Ian used. JOHN TAYLOR
ok, so what I'm now wondering about is ive found that the 1/3 rifles that coewin arms has listed are Canadian rifles? here is what is posted on the rifles for sale
Lee Enfield SMLE Mk III 1917. Magazine Cut Off. Good++ Barrel, Bolt matching, Stock is good ++. Top Hand guard ears cut by rear sight. Full military configuration same unaltered condition as was when Canadian Government passed them onto other NATO Allies in 1950s
ive gotta admit I'm really in the dark here. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on the #4 LB stuff but know nothing of these
would like to know the whole story. so LB made barrels, but did they actually do any refitting here in the longbranch plant? or were the parts send elsewhere
Lee Enfield SMLE Mk III 1917. Magazine Cut Off. Good++ Barrel, Bolt matching, Stock is good ++. Top Hand guard ears cut by rear sight. Full military configuration same unaltered condition as was when Canadian Government passed them onto other NATO Allies in 1950s
ive gotta admit I'm really in the dark here. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable on the #4 LB stuff but know nothing of these
would like to know the whole story. so LB made barrels, but did they actually do any refitting here in the longbranch plant? or were the parts send elsewhere
- Location
- Richmond, BC, CANADA
Mongo62 - Canada did not make the No.1 Mk.III or III*. Your abbreviation 1/3 is very confusing and is incorrect by the way. It wasn’t for these rifles but 1/3 was style of numbering used for some No.4 rifles.
Canadian C/|\ issue marked No.1 Mk.III and Mk.III* rifles could easily have remained in the UK and been reissued to some British etc. troops as Canada reequipped with new No.4 rifles. The C/|\ does not mean that these rifles were made in Canada.
Canadian C/|\ issue marked No.1 Mk.III and Mk.III* rifles could easily have remained in the UK and been reissued to some British etc. troops as Canada reequipped with new No.4 rifles. The C/|\ does not mean that these rifles were made in Canada.
The Canadian Army did "officially" use the No.1 Mk.III. Initially the Ross was issued but having proved unsatisfactory in the trenches it was replaced with SMLE rifles from British stocks. They were retained after WWI and many were used by Canadian troops in WWII. The No.4 rifle was introduced through the course of the war but not everyone got one. The Middle East and Far East theatres tended to be supplied with No.i MkIII rifles from Lithgow Arsenal in Australia or Ishapore in India.
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
easily confused with the No4 Mk1/3
so while Canada never produced the No1 Mk III rifle we did use a lot of them. We had a lot left over from the last war. We didn't have them in sufficient numbers to issue to entire Divisions until just before D-Day, if you look at the pictures of the Canadians fighting in the Italian Campaign you will see that they have the No1MkIII along with STENs BRENs, and a few Thompsons and other weapons and equipment that were likely borrowed from the Americans.
