Any definitive info on when(serial # range or date) Longbranch was fitting No4 rifles with maple stocks? I have a set as spares-all marked as per the walnut wartime stocks.Reference books are silent on this-only mention walnut and birch.
Maple stocks-Longbranch No4s
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Stock Long Branch
You see maple on a few 1944 and 45's 303's as walnut became scarcer as war production increased...these should be marked LB. A large number are seen on CNo7's (22LR) again LB marked. Very common on CNo4's...1950 - 55 production. Post your markings or couple of pictures and I can tell you more. It is quite common to mistake birch for maple especially the top guards. Some maple is rather plain and occasionally you will get a highly figured stock component.
You see maple on a few 1944 and 45's 303's as walnut became scarcer as war production increased...these should be marked LB. A large number are seen on CNo7's (22LR) again LB marked. Very common on CNo4's...1950 - 55 production. Post your markings or couple of pictures and I can tell you more. It is quite common to mistake birch for maple especially the top guards. Some maple is rather plain and occasionally you will get a highly figured stock component.
Longbranch maple
Both butt and forend are stamped B/32 with the "C broad arrow" as are the wartime walnut stocks.Handgds are also inspector stamped on the inside.This is'nt birch as I've seen a lot of it on the Savage-Stevens No4s.I also have a new post-war production Longbranch birch forend which has the Cdn Arsenals "C with an A"stamp on the wood in the same spot as the wartime marks.No mistaking the birch for maple in this case.They are a very attractive stock and I have since installed the set on an LB 44 74L series rifle.From what you are saying that might just be the correct vintage for them.Thanks.
Both butt and forend are stamped B/32 with the "C broad arrow" as are the wartime walnut stocks.Handgds are also inspector stamped on the inside.This is'nt birch as I've seen a lot of it on the Savage-Stevens No4s.I also have a new post-war production Longbranch birch forend which has the Cdn Arsenals "C with an A"stamp on the wood in the same spot as the wartime marks.No mistaking the birch for maple in this case.They are a very attractive stock and I have since installed the set on an LB 44 74L series rifle.From what you are saying that might just be the correct vintage for them.Thanks.
You are good to use this on a 1944 LB. Maple is only marginally heavier than walnut. The orange/honey coloured maple stocks really set off the metal work. I've always found that the No's outfitted with maple furniture sell quickly and at a premium. Sounds like a very desireable No4!
Longbranch maple
This rifle was a farmer's "behind the door" gun c/w bubba butt and sawed off forend.It is an ex-Brit piece with 48 stamped on the butt socket below the s/n and the usual Brit re-proof/export marks.The nice thing was that it had a matching bolt and a ticketty-boo original,un-molested barrel- and an LB mag to boot.Had all the necessary LB parts sqirreled away in the parts box to restore it to original condition.The maple does set it off very nicely.
This rifle was a farmer's "behind the door" gun c/w bubba butt and sawed off forend.It is an ex-Brit piece with 48 stamped on the butt socket below the s/n and the usual Brit re-proof/export marks.The nice thing was that it had a matching bolt and a ticketty-boo original,un-molested barrel- and an LB mag to boot.Had all the necessary LB parts sqirreled away in the parts box to restore it to original condition.The maple does set it off very nicely.
maple_leaf_eh
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
To be doubly obnoxious, I have a genuine birdseye maple No.4 foreend. Unissued and really really unusual. One of the most knowledgible Lee Enfield armourers in Canada (now passed away) said it was the only one he'd ever seen, and kept it for a presentation rifle that never got built.
