Interested in Lee Enfield Longbranch - what to look for

chriscris

chriscris

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Milton
After buying an SKS, I am hooked on milsurp. Right now 'just looking' for a Lee Enfield No4 Mk1? (not sure if that is correct)
What should I look for, stay away from, where to go etc.
Prefer unaltered etc.
Any help/suggestions appreciated.

Thanks
Chris
 
oh its a slipery road your headding down, once you start with enfields there is no end...

Research what you want, and know what your looking for, there is a lot of mismatched stuff out there and there is no need to pay a preimum for a de-sporterized rifle put together from bits.
 
Make sure all the parts are matching. Check the bore and make sure the rifling is decent and the bore isnt pitted to ####. make sur eit has the correct rear sight aswell. Check the buttstock for the infamous ZF marking, which I am told means the gun is junk.
 
If your looking for a Long Branch, its Gonna be NO.4 MK1*. You want matching serial numbers (bolt, receiver and wood on early ones, just bolt and receiver on later). Proper rear sight would be either the 300/600 "flip" sight, or a MkIII or CMK3 "Ladder" style sdjustible sight. Magazines were usually Not serialized in Canadian Service, so any Long Branch marked one is correct. Then condition such as good bore, good metal finish, nice wood, ect.
 
Speaking in very broad brush stroke terms you need to decide do you want a sporter or a full wood military configuration rifle. All sporters started out as military config. If you want a sporter (conventional hunting stlye rifle) there are lot's of them on the market so DO NOT DESTROY A MILITARY CONFIGURATION RIFLE = BUBBAH:eek::eek::eek: You will suffer the rath of the community for butchering a piece of history. There are a wide spectrum of sporters from the bubbah job done with a hack saw in joe's garage to beautiful Parker Hales etc. Like I say plenty to choose from and usually very reasonably priced. If you want a military config with full wood it's cheapest, easiest & fastest to buy one to start with rather than trying to debubba a sporter.
Many sporters are already drilled and tapped to accept a scope mount but if not, nobody will loose any sleep if you do that. To drill & tap a mil config full wood is against all rules of common decency. There are scope mounts on the market that do not require drilling & tapping the rifle.
Enfields were made in many parts of the British Commonwealth so there's lots of makes and vintages to choose from basically 2 real styles. The older ones are No1 Mk3 rifles and have the rear sight mounted on the barrel. The newer generation are No4 Mk1 rifles & the rear sight is mounted at the rear of the receiver. That's the easiest way to tell them apart at a glance. They're both great rifles. The usual matching serial #'s, condition of the wood & metal etc all apply.
Another little tidbit for you is the butt stocks were made in at least 3 different lengths of pull so try find one that fits you correctly! it'll make shooting it much more pleasant.
Google is your friend and their are a number of specialized websites you can get a wealth of info from.
 
LeeEnfieldNo.4_mk1 said:
If your looking for a Long Branch, its Gonna be NO.4 MK1*.QUOTE]

Well, it could be a No4 Mk1 but not likely.... unless you're as lucky as I was a couple of months ago...

Long Branch rifles have been used all over the world both during the war and after so there are lots of variations in added markings and levels / types of refurbishing. Do your research is great advice.
Click to expand...
 
Good taste in rifles, Chris :)

Lots of reading on Lee Enfield available. Great advices above.

Welcome to the addiction :D

Lou

Lou
 
I purchased a sporter because the price was right and I saw some potential in the rifle but I would give my left (you know what) for a full wood serial #'s matching longbranch with a good barrel. I wish you lots of luck in your quest you are getting yourself in a lot of trouble but you will have fun!

Don
 
chriscris....if you're at Ancaster Sun drop by Bob McCormick's table. He specializes in Enfields has has a good selection of his own and a few guys have consigned to him. I'd be prepared to pay $375.00 to $600.00 for a righteous LB depending on condition. Saw a full stocked 1944 LB in maple go for $500.00 at the Milton show this past Jan.
 
Thanks, that sounds right up my alley. I will be sure to check his table out.
Does the Milton show come and go? I didnt realize there was one there.
 
Lee Enfield

I'm enjoying this site and working my way through the threads a bit at a time. I opened up the Milsurp threads and started reading about Lee Enfields. I was encouraged to dig mine out and have a close look. It is a Long Branch No 4 Mk I. All the numbers match. I do have the ZF stamp on the stock. I find it difficult to believe this means the rifle is junk given the bore and chamber are very good and it headspaces properly. Overall condition is good and it shoots well. Why make a nice stamping on a junk rifle. The side of the reciever is engraved with (F) FTR above the engraved serial number.

Any information is appreciated

Greg
 
Seafury said:
I'm enjoying this site and working my way through the threads a bit at a time. I opened up the Milsurp threads and started reading about Lee Enfields. I was encouraged to dig mine out and have a close look. It is a Long Branch No 4 Mk I. All the numbers match. I do have the ZF stamp on the stock. I find it difficult to believe this means the rifle is junk given the bore and chamber are very good and it headspaces properly. Overall condition is good and it shoots well. Why make a nice stamping on a junk rifle. The side of the reciever is engraved with (F) FTR above the engraved serial number.

Any information is appreciated

Greg
Click to expand...

Mk I or Mk I*

also is the stock original to the rifle check for a serial number, botom of the stock near the muzzle
 
More detail

Mk I*

The serial number on the stock matches and all the wood appears to be original. Same color same grain. This rifle is in good condition. The stocks have all the usual little dents and dings and the black finnish on the metal is worn off in spots but it looks to be very functionally sound. I have checked head space and it is tight. The bore and chamber are shiney with no dark spots and sharp rifling. If this stamping does indeed mean the rifle is junk I fail to see how. I have never really put it through its paces at the range to see how well it groups but have fired it and it functions fine.

Greg
 
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