Long Branch No4 Mk1 Stock Markings

[SMcGeown]

Hello fellow CGNers,

I was wondering if anyone could help me identify the markings on the butt of this Lee Enfield and tell me what they think of the rifle as a whole? It appears that the Canadian broad arrow is located on the underside but the 'S' marking on the top has me confused.

Sorry for the relatively small pictures.

Thanks.

 

[Tinman204]

S on the butt stock is for "Short"
B="Bantam"
N="normal"
L=Long

That's the beauty of the lee enfield is they actually fitted the rifle to the soldier allowing in many cases better marksmanship.

 

[JP]

Length of stock, S for short.

 

[mkrnel]

As said above and it has a Savage front band. Typical late war model Longbranch in average external condition. Also went thru a after war refinish with the military black Suncorite finish

 

[SMcGeown]

Thank you for the feedback everyone. I am relatively new to collecting so I am trying to learn as much as possible about the various markings.

A follow up question, if it was indeed covered in Suncorite would it not be marked 'FTR'? I read that Long Branch started this process in mid 1944 on both their No4s and Stens. Would it not be possible that this rifle was coated before being shipped overseas? What is everyones opinion on this rifle as a whole?

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

...A follow up question, if it was indeed covered in Suncorite would it not be marked 'FTR'? I read that Long Branch started this process in mid 1944 on both their No4s and Stens. Would it not be possible that this rifle was coated before being shipped overseas? What is everyones opinion on this rifle as a whole?

Suncorite is some gooey enamel the British invented, which was an improvement on whatever heat-activated finish they had before. Suncorite is so full of solvents and methyl-ethyl badstuff that no one can apply it nowadays without tempting their grandchildrens' DNA. But, it was a British product, not a Canadian one. Long Branch used a phosphate finish we generically call Parkerizing. My guess is your part was swapped over at some stage between the end of the war and now. It might even have been done last year by the fellow who sold the rifle time before last. If you are anxious to have a conforming matched rifle, be on the prowl for the right Canadian (or Savage) part. But I would not obsess a moment about the mismatch. These things happen.