Hello CGN,
I am in the process of restoring a Long branch training rifle and I am looking for pictures and references to the particular target paper used and how the target stand was built, as I am attempting to build a facsimile target stand for my training rifle so she can punch paper once again. I spent two days cleaning her up and taking her completely apart. I highly recommend that you avoid taking the trigger assembly bits apart if you value your sanity, what a PITA to get back together. My example was missing her needles but I have found two small finishing nails that fit perfectly in the charging pin mounting and are about the right length to punch some paper. The last item I am working on is making a replacement front sight base to replace the original base that was removed, albeit cleanly, years ago, with a piece of tight rubber that I will be fitting an original "LB" marked front sight blade I picked up.
Here is where I need some help from those that can shed some light on my troubles. I did read that the Long branch training rifles were designed to mimic the British Swift trainers. I noticed that the Swift trainers had specifically marked target paper and the stand appears to be slightly different in how the training rifle attaches to the mount compared to the Long Branch. It looks like the Swift trainers "hook" onto the mount but I cannot seem to figure out how the Long Branch trainers do it
. Any thoughts ?
I have also looked online and have found some references for the Long branch trainers but the pictures are not available or the quality is such I cannot make out the details. Does anyone here, who happens to look at this post, have an original target stand or the target papers ? I am hoping for some pictures of the target stand so I can figure out a way to build one and for some pictures of the target paper to try to make some high quality print outs to test.
By the way, there is a really cool 45 minute video on youtube that a former employee of Small Arms Limited had recorded many years ago, and someone uploaded to youtube years after that. The video shows some great footage from the plant in 1944 with some amazing commentary to go along with it. One important part of the video, for me atleast, shows a minute of the Long branch trainer with stand being operated. Sadly the original video quality was a bit too grainy to make out the details I was looking for but still, a very nice find on youtube. For those that have not seen this video yet, here is the link (the trainer rifle starts at 4:52 seconds for those interested):
A Trip Through "Canadian Small Arms Limited" - A Long Branch Documentary
On a separate note, after walking the former arsenal grounds at Marie Curtis Park more than once, it is a real shame that none of the production floor was preserved to show what the factory looked like at it's peak. I was taken aback how large the arsenal grounds were at the time, it must have been an impressive facility to see in person. I am, happy, atleast, that the former inspection building still stands today.
Thank you to anyone who can help me out. If you are interested in seeing pictures of my progress, feel free to let me know, and I'll post some up.
I am in the process of restoring a Long branch training rifle and I am looking for pictures and references to the particular target paper used and how the target stand was built, as I am attempting to build a facsimile target stand for my training rifle so she can punch paper once again. I spent two days cleaning her up and taking her completely apart. I highly recommend that you avoid taking the trigger assembly bits apart if you value your sanity, what a PITA to get back together. My example was missing her needles but I have found two small finishing nails that fit perfectly in the charging pin mounting and are about the right length to punch some paper. The last item I am working on is making a replacement front sight base to replace the original base that was removed, albeit cleanly, years ago, with a piece of tight rubber that I will be fitting an original "LB" marked front sight blade I picked up.
Here is where I need some help from those that can shed some light on my troubles. I did read that the Long branch training rifles were designed to mimic the British Swift trainers. I noticed that the Swift trainers had specifically marked target paper and the stand appears to be slightly different in how the training rifle attaches to the mount compared to the Long Branch. It looks like the Swift trainers "hook" onto the mount but I cannot seem to figure out how the Long Branch trainers do it
. Any thoughts ?I have also looked online and have found some references for the Long branch trainers but the pictures are not available or the quality is such I cannot make out the details. Does anyone here, who happens to look at this post, have an original target stand or the target papers ? I am hoping for some pictures of the target stand so I can figure out a way to build one and for some pictures of the target paper to try to make some high quality print outs to test.
By the way, there is a really cool 45 minute video on youtube that a former employee of Small Arms Limited had recorded many years ago, and someone uploaded to youtube years after that. The video shows some great footage from the plant in 1944 with some amazing commentary to go along with it. One important part of the video, for me atleast, shows a minute of the Long branch trainer with stand being operated. Sadly the original video quality was a bit too grainy to make out the details I was looking for but still, a very nice find on youtube. For those that have not seen this video yet, here is the link (the trainer rifle starts at 4:52 seconds for those interested):
A Trip Through "Canadian Small Arms Limited" - A Long Branch Documentary
On a separate note, after walking the former arsenal grounds at Marie Curtis Park more than once, it is a real shame that none of the production floor was preserved to show what the factory looked like at it's peak. I was taken aback how large the arsenal grounds were at the time, it must have been an impressive facility to see in person. I am, happy, atleast, that the former inspection building still stands today.
Thank you to anyone who can help me out. If you are interested in seeing pictures of my progress, feel free to let me know, and I'll post some up.
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