Long Branch Lee Enfield...

DMeNTED

DMeNTED

BANNED
BANNED
BANNED
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
20   0   0
Location
Burlington
I have not had the time to do the research that I should into Enfield... or LB enfields in particular... but I would like to get one and would love to know what to look for.

As I understand they were made with different numbers of grooves (2 and 5 I think?) But I'm sure there's much more to keep in mind when looking for what...

What should I be looking for? What should I avoid? What should I look at paying? I'm thinking of popping in to the Ancaster gun show in April and might as well look around for one...

I had picked up a Savage made enfield on one of the auction sites ... but sold it to feed the AR budget. I'd like to have a Canadian made enfield - I think its important to preserve as much of our own history as possible.

So... are there any good websites or books dedicated strictly to the longbranch?
 
"The Lee Enfield Story" by Ian Skennerton has a complete chapter on North Americian production. It is a great source of information. You can also pick up Charles Stratton book on British Enfield Rifles. Volume 2 deals with the #4; and it is a lot cheaper!
 
like he said, do a search for lee-enfield discussion forums, there is a bunch of them, and start reading. lot's of knowledge out there. course, you will then become hooked, but then you suspected that anyhow, didn't you?:)
 
Just come over so we can transplant my brain into your head for the short time you go shopping for a LB... lol. J/K. Before you plonk money down, just ask the right questions here and we'll help.
 
Well.. learned a few things today, just doing a quick search.

Here's an etiquette question - from my research I see that the SN is stamped on the BBL as well (looks like that would be under the wood) - would you consider it acceptible to ask to see the SN on the BBL if you were interested in a rifle?
 
303carbine said:
I checked my Longbranch and there was no serial number on the barrel ???
Click to expand...

From one of the sites I visited -

Seen in the picture above are the normal spots to find the serial number and manufacturers’ information on the No4 and the No5 rifle. Places that will have the serial information is on the bolt, receiver and normally the barrel. They may have the numbers stamped into the front portion of the fore-end and on the bottom of the magazine. Manufacturers will be noted either on the left side of the receiver or on the left side buttsocket. The mark and type of rifle will be stamped onto the left side receiver wall. Like the SMLE an all matching No4 or No5 will have all the serial numbers matching wherever they are found on a particular rifle.
Click to expand...

image003.jpg
 
Asking someone to take a rifle apart to look at numbers, unless it is a piece selling for lots of dollars would be considered bad form at most shops or gunshows. I think you would be asked to move along in a more or LESS polite way!
 
JP said:
Asking someone to take a rifle apart to look at numbers, unless it is a piece selling for lots of dollars would be considered bad form at most shops or gunshows. I think you would be asked to move along in a more or LESS polite way!
Click to expand...

Thanks ... almost all of the guns I've bought have been new. I'm not up on what's considered "polite" or not.
 
JP said:
Asking someone to take a rifle apart to look at numbers, unless it is a piece selling for lots of dollars would be considered bad form at most shops or gunshows. I think you would be asked to move along in a more or LESS polite way!
Click to expand...

Ohhhh... I don't know about that. Most of the dealers I know at the gun shows, that are selling enfields would most likely hand you a screw driver, and say " have at her". For a No.4 MkI or MkI* all you have to do is take off the barrel band, and lift the rear hand guard. I think if they were asking a premium price and didn't like you checking it, then maybe "they" had better find another hobby...

But yes, there are dealers out there that would get their back up if you asked.... but those are the ones that I refer to as, "ass holes".... and I have meet a few in my travels.... :D

Cheers
Dean
 
What price should I expect to pay for a decent Longbranch?

Also - is there a specific year I should be looking for and from what I've read enfields have the year of MFG in the serial. How do I decode the serial on a LB? It seems to be different depending on where they were made?
 
LB's

Regarding serial numbers on barrels, my 1941(first year production) has matching number and year on barrel, as were both 1942's I owned. The few 1943's Ive owned did not, so maybe practice was dropped by this point. Same applies to the 1944 and 45's that have passed through my hands.
As for rarity? 1941 (holy grail), 1945,1942,1944, then1943(most common) IMHO. I'm talking war years here obviously. The production run of 1949 and 50 was small but most survived service, probably the best finished LB's also.
Glad I bought my LB's when I did, but you'll find a deal if patient.
Geoff
 
longbranch* said:
Regarding serial numbers on barrels, my 1941(first year production) has matching number and year on barrel, as were both 1942's I owned.
Click to expand...

+1 ......... :)

Pics... Pics ... Pics .... Pics ....

Please Sir ............. :D

Regards,
Badger
 
1941 Lb

Ok Badger, will email some to you later today(its 04:25am here on the west coast..cant sleep) Feel free to post them if you like, I havent had the chance to figure how to do it yet.
Geoff in Victoria
 
Agree with Geoff :) Not all LB's (or even all No.4's) have seriallized barrels. Also, alot of mags are not serialized and never were.

Also common to find alot of Savage parts on LB's after mid-1944. When Savage stopped production, all the spares were sent to Longbranch and used up in production there. Many '44 and onward LB's will, for example, have unseriallized Savage magazines, sometimes milled Savage trigger guards, the odd piece of savage-looking birch stock wood with C-broad arrows stampd into it, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom