Long Branch Mk.1 cocking pieces - hen's teeth?

Well, the replacement forend and rear sight have shown up, and are better than I could have imagined (thanks, Cantom!), and I should be getting the rest of the necessary metal parts over the next week or 2. By sheer luck, I happened to have an early LB front guard with the relief for the hinged upper band just laying around (I'd bought 2 upper hand guards on a whim a couple of months ago, and this was one of them), and the colour match with the replacement forend is almost perfect. The only parts really left to find are the lower hand guard (preferably ribbed, of course) and a previously fitted buttstock (so it has the correct inspection stamps).
 
Matching Long Branch wood...the search continues

The saga so far - I have a Long Branch forend that I am trying to find a matching buttstock and rear guard for. I would have thought that knowing the type of wood may be useful in my quest, so here goes (by the way, if anyone here has the parts that would match, I'd be interested in them). By the way, do the inspection marks typically match on forend and buttstock? The forend has an inspection mark numbered "66" and I did see a Long Branch with a buttstock on Gunbroker that had the exact same inspection mark. This is what I have to work with:

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af290/spinecracker/New%20Long%20Branch%201941/1941LBforend4.jpg

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af290/spinecracker/New%20Long%20Branch%201941/1941LBforend3.jpg

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af290/spinecracker/New%20Long%20Branch%201941/1941LBforend2.jpg

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af290/spinecracker/New%20Long%20Branch%201941/1941LBforend1.jpg

http://i1016.photobucket.com/albums/af290/spinecracker/New%20Long%20Branch%201941/1941LBforend5.jpg
 
Trade Ex has new Long Branch made butt stock for around 12 bucks a peice, they also have what I think is LB made hand guards. Are you just trying to get color match?
 
I'm looking for used parts (i.e. they look like they have had 70 years of use without being reduced to a pile of splinters :p ), and I have been informed by someone on another forum that I should be looking for birch stained to match black walnut to get the right kind of colour match. Is there any significance to the "LB 66" inspection mark? I was told that meant a replacement part, but I was also told that the inspector marks should match on forend and buttstock - so I am a tad confused lol. I am based in the US, so I can't purchase parts from Trade Ex, but I will send an email to Springfield Sporters and see what they have.
 
Update - just bought the right LB MK.1 cocking piece, hinged upper band (going to sell this to help finance the restoration), early thick-walled milled upper band, milled trigger guard, Zamak buttplate, milled lower band, swivels and all the screws (someone had them put aside for me, but he was going through his spares bins to make sure he didn't have anything else I wanted). I should have the parts within 1 and 1/2 weeks. I started sourcing parts about 4 weeks ago, so I think I've done pretty bloomin' good! Bring on the rear hand guard and buttstock!!! This would be a great project to finish before the New Year, but I do not have my hopes up lol.
 
I will keep my eyes peeled, Granite - I seem to have some kind of weird luck at finding rare parts lol

While we're at it, a Mk.1 LB cocking piece just showed up on ebay from a UK seller. I had been watching some of his earlier auctions, and I think he stripped down an early Long Branch for parts...
 
Update on the 1941 Long Branch restoration - the parts I ordered from the UK have turned up, so all I have left is the buttstock and the rear hand guard to find. Woohoo!!

I did end up with a spare LB hinged upper band by some miracle. Any idea of how much these sell for in Canada/US?
 
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I had to look at Granite's comment a couple of times before I realised he was taking to another SC! (stencollector).

Apart from the buttstock, which is in the mail, and the foresight blade, all parts are LB. All the parts that should be correct for a 1941 Long Branch are there. I had hoped to have the rifle complete before Christmas, but I do not mind waiting a little.
 
Bolt

Wierd thing is that yours and one I almost got - a LB refurb, both had bolts with the lightening hole in the knob, meanwhile I though all LB had the solid bolt knob? PS - should be getting mine here in January hopefully :D. Oh, and here is a bad pick of it that the seller took - you will note the late safety (but early safety spring), mkIII sight and later cocking piece. I have the correct early parts to replace them. The stock is a low cut, the butt is replaced and I am certain it has a Brit front band. Hopefully it is the original forend and then I can replace the butt and small parts. It does have a 42 date 2 groove barrel with matching # serial and LB proof, not sure if the bolt matches at this time though.

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Early LB bolts had the lightening hole in the knob, as far as I am aware. Every 1941 LB I have seen (ok, 2 in person and 4 or 5 over the internet) had the lightening hole. I am sure others here know way more than I do lol.
 
I just looked through my bunch of 41 pics...all of the 4 I've owned had solid handles, but here's some pics of another one that had the hollow handle. (sadly not mine)


LongBranch1941018Large.jpg


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LongBranch1941024Large.jpg
 
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