Interesting Long Branch *pics added*

macadoodle

macadoodle

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I was looking at a 1944 long Branch today. It originally thought it was an unwrapped and unused Irish contract. Clean Blonde wood, near perfect blueing. It turned out to be a long branch, really mint looking.

It has a button hole safety lever. I know LB used them early, but not sure about 1944.

They wanted a lot for it, but I have never seen any long branch in this condition and was wondering about the safety and the wood. what is the best way to determine if the furniture is correct?.

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macadoodle said:
I was looking at a 1944 long Branch today. It originally thought it was an unwrapped and unused Irish contract. Clean Blonde wood, near perfect blueing. It turned out to be a long branch, really mint looking.

It has a button hole safety lever. I know LB used them early, but not sure about 1944.

They wanted a lot for it, but I have never seen any long branch in this condition and was wondering about the safety and the wood. what is the best way to determine if the furniture is correct?.
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Is all of the wood marked with the LB symbol, C Broad Arrows etc.?

It could still have been replaced.

The early 41 and 42 LB's used the safety with a hole. Then they went to the one with a notch off top, then the slipper style. A 44 would probably have the slipper safety.

Do the bolt and receiver numbers match? Does it have a minty bore?
 
The wood could be Cdn maple. The tell-tale signs are the C broad arrow and superimposed LB over the number 32 stampings. Check for these on the forend bottom just behind the nosecap and on the bottom of the butt just behind the trigger guard. I've seen a number of this style of safeties on this vintage of Long Branch. They are stamped with an "S" indicating savage make and also have an electro-pencilled C broad arrow on the reverse surface. When Savage completed their No4 rifle contracts in 1944 they shipped a lot of spare components to Long Branch which were then used by LB.
 
I used to own a 1944 Long Branch that not only had the button hole safety lever, it also had the bolt head release lever instead of the notch up near the bolt. It also had a milled micrometer rear sight.

It had been sporterized at some point with the first few inches of barrel being cut off, but it still retained the original front sight assembly.

Man, I wish I still had that rifle.:(
 
MapleSugar said:
I used to own a 1944 Long Branch that not only had the button hole safety lever, it also had the bolt head release lever instead of the notch up near the bolt. It also had a milled micrometer rear sight.

It had been sporterized at some point with the first few inches of barrel being cut off, but it still retained the original front sight assembly.

Man, I wish I still had that rifle.:(
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??? Now that had to be a No4MkI (no star) which were only made in 41. I'd sure be interested in seeing some pics of that one...

Hard to imagine what combination of factors could have led to that receiver having 1944 on it...
 
cantom said:
??? Now that had to be a No4MkI (no star) which were only made in 41. I'd sure be interested in seeing some pics of that one...

Hard to imagine what combination of factors could have led to that receiver having 1944 on it...
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Unfortunately, I have no pictures of it and lost touch with the fellow I traded it to. I tried contacting him a few years ago to get it back, but the gun store he worked at is long gone, and I don't remember his last name.

I did not realize how rare it was when I had it. I just assumed they were all like that. If it hadn't been sporterized it would have been a real gem. I admit I removed the brass buttplate, mounted a rubber recoil pad, and had the receiver drilled and tapped for a scope mount. It was really accurate with Federal Classic 180 gr. SP's. The perfect little bush gun.

I wish I still had it and had not made any changes. Looking back, it was just fine the way I bought it for the grand sum of $69 in 1991.
 
Don't think that would be the one then. It was a 1941 Long Branch MkI that someone locally picked up sporterized and restored. Bbl. had been cut too.
 
RRCo. said:
Don't think that would be the one then. It was a 1941 Long Branch MkI that someone locally picked up sporterized and restored. Bbl. had been cut too.
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I had one of those. I restored it back to orginal condition with all correct parts. I even had the Long Branch 1941 re-pantographed as it had been polished almost off. It actually turned out really nicely.

The gent who did the pantograph work was an artist...he followed the original lettering, matched the font and size and made sure it was exactly as original. I still have the template.

There is no way to restore something like that to perfection but we can do the best we can. No intent to deceive, and it was clearly identified as what it was.


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cantom said:
I had one of those. I restored it back to orginal condition with all correct parts. I even had the Long Branch 1941 re-pantographed as it had been polished almost off. It actually turned out really nicely.

The gent who did the pantograph work was an artist...he followed the original lettering, matched the font and size and made sure it was exactly as original. I still have the template.

There is no way to restore something like that to perfection but we can do the best we can. No intent to deceive, and it was clearly identified as what it was.


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Nice job! I call that dedication.;)
 
'41 lb

Yeah,think I recall that one. Very nice job buddy. I bought my '41 LB from owner of Milarm several years ago. Mis-match bolt for $350 or matching for $500.I cheaped out and bought the $350, shoulda bought both...duh!
 
cantom said:
Only for a 41!
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Now I'm really kicking myself for trading my rifle away.

It differed from yours in that it had the later version of a cocking piece.

It was most certainly stamped as a 1944 Long Branch though. It also had a 5 groove barrel. Unfortunately it had been cut about 1/2 to 3/4's of an inch forward of the original front sight assembly. It only had the lower forestock, and it had been cut back in a sporter style.

The buttstock was original with a brass buttplate, the safety had the button hole. Most importantly, the bolt release was the plunger type.

I noticed the number on the bolthead while cleaning the rifle, but unfortunately I can't remember what it was.

I remember picking it up from the original Bear Creek Sports in Kelowna in 1991. There were two sporterized Enfields that the owner showed me, but I was drawn to the one that looked to be in the best shape. When I said I wanted it the owner said, "Wait a second, one of these rifles has a much better bore than the other." As it turned out I had picked the one he liked the best too. The way it shot, it was a steal for $69.

I'd probably still have it too, but I went through a kick of ridding myself of right handed bolt guns, and acquiring rifles that were more southpaw friendly. I traded it, a $100 Swedish Mauser, and $100 cash, for a 1954 Win '94 .30-30. I later sold the Model '94 for $450.

All in all, I still wish I had kept the Long Branch.:(
 
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I posted pics. has what I think are "sold out of service " markings. also the barrel does not have the same serial number. Maybe it was put together after production stopped? I was told it was given to someone high in the RCMP or military. No confirmation of that.
 
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