Early Long Branch 3L

buffdog

buffdog

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I just picked up a 1942 Lee Enfield Number 4 Mark 1* a couple of days ago. It is a two groove, 3L9### rifle, that has a London Proof Mark and the "England" stamp along with the usual pressure testing markings. The "England" stamp is a private marking pre-1968. Typo error on the date --now corrected.

This rifle has the grooved trigger, no hole in the bolt, all numbers matching, a "0" bolt head, and DCP proof markings on the receiver, bolt, bolt head and barrel. There is the early round cocking piece. Front sight is Savage, as is the rear flip type Mark II sight - considered correct as Savage and Long Branch shared parts at times.
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I'll bet you that one could keep a couple of old farts busy all day!
jan

(oops, am I going to be punished?)

(could I borrow that and dangle it in front of the sock closet?)
 
1941? Are you really sure about that?

I'd almost bet money it's a 1942, but I'm easy to convince...just show the pics of the left side of the receiver showing the year...(that should be there...)

:)

The 2 early features are interesting (cocking piece and grooved trigger) but LB sure wasn't making No 4 Mk I*'s at the 39,000 number level in 1941.

But I'm all eyes...
 
OOOPPPs. Sorry, you are right. My fat fingers on a small keyboard and not really checking everything over.

It is a 1942 Long Branch Number 4 Mark 1 *.
cantom said:
1941? Are you really sure about that?

I'd almost bet money it's a 1942, but I'm easy to convince...just show the pics of the left side of the receiver showing the year...(that should be there...)

:)

The 2 early features are interesting (cocking piece and grooved trigger) but LB sure wasn't making No 4 Mk I*'s at the 39,000 number level in 1941.

But I'm all eyes...
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Sorry, Adrian. That was a limited-time offer and has now expired. ...Laugh2

This just arrived today. 1910 Carl Gustafs m/96 and all the numbers match.
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Another to add to the collection...very nice.

I've noticed a lot of these rifles have a similar rectangular pattern of holes in the buttstock behind the stock disc. Especially the M38's I've seen. What was located there and why is it always gone? Was it Civilian or military use? Target rifle?
 
AdrianM said:
Another to add to the collection...very nice.

I've noticed a lot of these rifles have a similar rectangular pattern of holes in the buttstock behind the stock disc. Especially the M38's I've seen. What was located there and why is it always gone? Was it Civilian or military use? Target rifle?
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The holes were for a conversion range plate. The m/96 was designed to shoot the m/94 156 grain round nosed bullet and the sights so calibrated. When the Swedes developed the m/41 Spitzer pointed bullet in 1941, and made it standard military issue, then the sights had to be changed, but those thrifty Swedes came up with a much cheaper alternative, simply make up a range plate that shows what compensation setting to use for different ranges. Thus, the plates could easily be attached to the stock, (usually upside down,) by any unit armourer using a small hammer and four nails, and the rifle did not have to be returned to an Armoury or Repair Station.
 
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Actually there were three main types of different range plates issued. One for the m/94 Carbine, one for the m/38 short rifle, (this one is quite rare because it was only used on a small numbers of m/96 rifles that were converted to m/38 short rifles,) and one for the m/96 rifle.

Also, there were stock decals issued, (usually yellow colour,) but I would advise against using them as if they start to peel off, they will tend to remove the finish on the rifle underneath them.

Modern made reproduction plates can be bought on E-Bay, but my own personal thinking is "if it has the original stock plate or decal on it when you buy it, then keep it, but if it does not or only has the holes, leave it as it is. The reproduction plates are easily recognized as such, and while they might look neat, they are not really original to the rifle or to the Swedish Military."
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I'm with you on the original vs. a repro. That's the same reason I didn't want a repro stock disc on my rifle.

Do you have any with the original plate or sticker? I've seen a few with the sticker still on them, but never the plate.
 
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