Long Branch problem

[Snider shooter]

I now have a LB problem. I went to go buy some Lee Enfield parts and was given some information but no pictures. I never asked what the actions where but on the way there I was hoping one would be a Long Branch. I ended up with a bunch of parts as expected included was two LB actions. I now have everything to rebuild another LB.
My problem is the second action and what is printed on the side of it. Now I need a bolt and barrel. So my big problem of the day is I found a C No. 7 action which is in excellent condition.

 

[points]

You'll probably never find an original barrel. You could get a 303 barrel sleeved. Then you will need a bolt and rear sight . That will give you a faux #7

 

[tiriaq]

Most .22 receivers are dated 44-45-46, so that one is interesting. But I don't think you got an action - you got a receiver.
As mentioned, original barrels are hard to find. There are folks who have them, and they seldom offer them for sale. .22 bolt heads with extractors and firing pins do turn up. Apart from the rear sight assembly (getting harder to find complete) and action swivel, the rest of the parts are standard .303. To be a best match for a 50s receiver, the stylized maple leaf mark might be preferable to the C broadarrow, although I suspect whatever parts were at hand would have been used.
Anyway, it is going to be an interesting project to assemble a rifle on that receiver. Sort of like assembling a M-1 Garand. The receiver is the easy part.

 

[Snider shooter]

I wasn’t planning on building a No. 7 but I now have another project in the making. As said a couple of the parts my be harder to find but I am not in a hurry. The other LB has a barrel on hand tight, will probably tighten it up later today. I have the LB parts for it so should have it rebuilt before too long.
I was thinking of having a barrel relined as finding an original might not happen. Finding an original site I can see being a problem. I am thinking of possibly a Parker Hale 5C until an original shows up. As far as the rest of the pieces go I have a good supply of LB parts

 

[enefgee]

I have an original sight, less the axle. If you find a barrel let me know, I have no use for it.

 

[tiriaq]

I wasn’t planning on building a No. 7 but I now have another project in the making. As said a couple of the parts my be harder to find but I am not in a hurry. The other LB has a barrel on hand tight, will probably tighten it up later today. I have the LB parts for it so should have it rebuilt before too long.
I was thinking of having a barrel relined as finding an original might not happen. Finding an original site I can see being a problem. I am thinking of possibly a Parker Hale 5C until an original shows up. As far as the rest of the pieces go I have a good supply of LB parts

Instead of a PH5C, look for a PH4. Smaller, mounts in place of the issue sight, has full adjustments.
As far as lining a .303 barrel goes, this is a viable alternative to finding an original No. 7 barrel. Turn off the bayonet lugs. The front sight base mounts differently, but this isn't an issue. I've posted photos of SMLE and No. 4 barrels I have sleeved.

 

[Snider shooter]

The question about putting in a barrel liner concerns the chamber. Is the outer diameter of the liner large enough to take care of the chamber? If not I assume an insert is needed.
Basically in the thought process of what I need to do to build this. I think the hardest part is going to be finding the parts. I now have all the tools for changing barrels. Today I just did my first barrel swap by myself. I helped with acouple about 20 years ago And another problem I have is I also found two Martlni receivers. I keep looking at them and wondering what to do with them.

 

[tiriaq]

The liners I use are 5/16" in diameter. I machine a chamber insert from a piece of scrap barrel. This is bonded into the chamber, then the liner drill is run through the insert and the bore. The liner is bonded in. The breech end is faced off leaving the necessary protrusion to bring the barrel breech back to the bolt face. The muzzle is crowned, the chamber reamed and the extractor groove cut.

 

[Snider shooter]

I expected a chamber insert. Looks like I am going to have to buy a drill bit. My little lathe can handle the insert. I am also going to need a reamer and gauges. A bit of money but it’s the fun of learning and doing it myself.

 

[tiriaq]

Another option is to drill out the chamber and bond in a cylindrical insert, rather than one that is cartridge shaped.
I run the drill through on my lathe, but it can be done without.
I use JB Weld to bond the liners.

 

[woodchopper]

Well I have a receiver like that.

and a No7 barrel

and just found a PH4 sight that will be in my hands in a few weeks

slowly getting parts together.

 

[Lee Enfield]

I wouldn't consider either of the 2 lowest production years for the c.no7 to be a problem.

 

[stencollector]

Yes, a rare date. I have seen 51 dated rifles, and have a 53 dated receiver in my collection. I have not seen a 52 dated receiver so that year may or may not exist. The production of these years was likely only around 2 or 3 hundred in the low 2L serial range. My 53 dated receiver was not one of the scrubbed ones which are commonly found. Yours also appears to be un-numbered nor scrubbed, which may mean they were replacement receivers that never got assembled.

 

[Snider shooter]

No serial number stamped on it. It does have one of those stupid registery stickers on it so someone likely registered it. Barrel threads are extremely clean compared to any other receiver I have seen.

 

[stencollector]

Can you post a close up photo of the wrist/serial area? A non-scrubbed receiver is a lot more desirable than on of the hundreds of scrubbed receivers that are out there.

 

[Snider shooter]

I could after work but hasn’t any blemishes nor any scratches. When I had the parts home and started sorting them my first thoughts on the receiver was that it looked unused. I doubt it was used.

 

[Snider shooter]

I am sure the receiver wasn’t scrubbed. Only stamps I have found are a B with the bottom missing and something below it which I can’t make out. On the bottom is an S and a 3. It does look like a bolt has be cycled in it. Some rub marks.

 

[gaff]

the flat under the lb is where the serial was scrubbed off.

 

[Snider shooter]

the flat under the lb is where the serial was scrubbed off.

Where do you see an LB ? I don’t see one. No machine marks indicating a scrubbed serial number.

 

[ArmedGinger]

My boss just bought one of these with a transfer crate...