Longbranch No4 Mk1* Mystery

M

M1akid

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
23   0   2
Location
Olds alberta
So I inherited a rifle from a gentleman I had done some work for years back.. the Lee is appears to be original, good parkerizing and a pretty decent bore on it.. wood is decent and matching as well... the story is that it was his uncles who was a commander in the Canadian Forces and it was gifted to him by his unit when he retired. I knew nothing of enfields until recently but i have a question..... Why does it not have a serial number on the receiver or the bolt, nor the barrel or anything... the only markings are a "B" above a "34" in a circle on all the stock pieces but everything is covered in LB's or broad arrows.

any help would be appreciated. Im hoping this isn't something that would cause me to be in legal trouble and have to have the rifle destroyed...
 
Last edited:
I can't see any reason to be concerned with the rifle's legal status. You break no laws, it's a non-restricted rifle. I wouldn't buy that story though- His (or Her) Majesty does NOT hand over Their property upon retirement.

Sounds interesting- lots of stamps, but no serial number???

Pictures would help, but that's not easy these days.
 
I've got one of these too. Does it have a date on it?

From what I've been told from a longtime Enfield collector, they were basically rifles that Longbranch put together at the very end of production with whatever parts they had laying around.

The parkerization is apparently the big give away with these rifles.
 
37480959064_016905c268_b.jpg



38191540421_5e02604586_b.jpg



37480960694_a38209d42b_b.jpg



38191541571_5ec51af1d5_b.jpg



37480962064_5cb7d9d28f_b.jpg



38191542691_77a1d57d0d_b.jpg



38191543081_74b00a40c4_b.jpg



38191543881_d1132a612d_b.jpg



38191544691_75d9df6c27_b.jpg



38135469106_00e0473624_b.jpg
 
Here is the relevant section of law. Note the exception.

Tampering with serial number

108 (1) Every person commits an offence who, without lawful excuse, the proof of which lies on the person,

(a) alters, defaces or removes a serial number on a firearm; or

(b) possesses a firearm knowing that the serial number on it has been altered, defaced or removed.

Punishment

(2) Every person who commits an offence under subsection (1)

(a) is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years; or

(b) is guilty of an offence punishable on summary conviction.

Exception

(3) No person is guilty of an offence under paragraph (1)(b) by reason only of possessing a prohibited firearm or restricted firearm the serial number on which has been altered, defaced or removed, if that serial number has been replaced and a registration certificate in respect of the firearm has been issued setting out a new serial number for the firearm.

Evidence

(4) In proceedings for an offence under subsection (1), evidence that a person possesses a firearm the serial number on which has been wholly or partially obliterated otherwise than through normal use over time is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, proof that the person possesses the firearm knowing that the serial number on it has been altered, defaced or removed.

R.S., 1985, c. C-46, s. 108; 1991, c. 40, s. 20; 1995, c. 39, s. 139; 2012, c. 6, s. 7.


<http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-23.html#h-44>
Click to expand...

Criminal Code (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46)
<http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/index.html>
 
Serial numbers have been removed/filed off for sure. Assembled from discarded parts by a unit armorer or Importer, many possibilities.
 
So essentially I have to get rid of it or call the cfo and explain the situation and apply for another serial number and then have the rifle serialized?
 
M1akid said:
So essentially it’s only good for parts and the receiver should be destroyed?
Click to expand...

No. It is probably a perfectly good rifle assembled from parts.

M1akid said:
So essentially I have to get rid of it or call the cfo and explain the situation and apply for another serial number and then have the rifle serialized?
Click to expand...

No you don't essentially have to get rid of it. There are a lot of rifles out there assembled from parts. There are many LB receivers from which the CF removed numbers. .22s, .303s. The CF would strip rifles for parts, remove the number from the receiver, refinish the piece, and put it in storage against the day it might be needed.
If indeed it was a retirement gift, it was probably assembled by an armourer from odds and ends of parts.
If you really want an official serial number, you could call the CFP, ask to have a serial number assigned, and then stamp it on.
 
That makes sense..... so if a guy goes hunting with it or sells it there won’t be any negative repercussions?

Really appreciate all the answers! My RCMP Dad told me I may be in #### so I’ll have to do some more investigating
 
I think the less stink you raise the better for you.

I think it's serial number is B34, personally. Im going to doubke check if theres any other atypical serialization, but i trust you looked over the rifle well enough.

Dont go committing crimes, including thought crime against yourself.

eta: yep i see, i see... if your story is genuine, then if youre ever taken to court, per the exception you should be ok, no? Heck, you could tidily serialize it yourself, as no registry currently exists, ¿no?
 
I would own it without fear. You are overthinking it.... If you do something illegal with it, or happen to have 3 or 4 that are void of numbers....a different story.

Ship it to me, I'll give it a safe home :)



ITB
 
You're better off to send it to me. I have a No. 4 with no serial number. I think they hang people that have old Lee Enfield rifles with no serial number. Best if I hang for having two rifles, than two guys hanged for having one each. :p

I can't imagine how many rifles and shotguns there are out there with no serial numbers. Tell your RCMP dad to cool down. This comes from a retired RCMP member and a collector for 50 years.
 
You know... There are some manufacturers you didn't put serial numbers on their product.
Doesn't anyone remember those little stickers the CFC would send you when your registered your non serialized long gun..?
 
667 said:
You know... There are some manufacturers you didn't put serial numbers on their product.
Doesn't anyone remember those little stickers the CFC would send you when your registered your non serialized long gun..?
Click to expand...

I didn't get stickers, they just assigned numbers to them, magic mystery numbers?? I always thought it was odd, as there was noting tying the rifle to the number..

ITB
 
In The Black said:
I would own it without fear. You are overthinking it.... If you do something illegal with it, or happen to have 3 or 4 that are void of numbers....a different story.

Ship it to me, I'll give it a safe home :)



ITB
Click to expand...

that's a very generous offer, good on you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom