No4 mk1* sporter question PICS ADDED, BOUGHT IT.

Butcherbill

Butcherbill

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Hi all, a friend of my wife's cousin has a no4 mk1* that's been sportered. It has the bayo lug buy the looks of it in the crappy sell pics I recieved. It's a 1943 Longbranch, mag is missing, stock has been cut, bluing is somewhat there. Front sight blade is there but no sight protector.

What would I be looking at for a fair price? I have no idea on the condition of the bore, or if the bolt or anything else matches. I'm guessing 100-150 if it's got a good bore, am I in the ballpark?

He's interested in selling and is open to offers, I have a no.4 magazine. I'll be visiting soon and will be able to physically inspect it, I have no go and field gauges to check headspace I'll be bringing with me as well.
 
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$150 max without the mag. That is if all else is in decent condition. I wouldn't pay that much but it's in the ball park.
 
From the sounds of it more like $75-$80 not more. You don't even know what the bore is like. That rifle will cost another $300 in parts to put it back into military configuration. If it has been drilled and tapped for a scope don't even bother unless you are looking for a shooter.
 
Yeah, I will fully evaluate once it's in my hands. It's pretty grimy looking, I know it's sat inside somewhere for years. I'm going to push a brush and some solvent through it and really inspect the bore. I might have to give it a good cleaning and test shoot it if it passes the headspace check. Sounds more like a $100 rifle at best to me if the bore cleans up nice , which is fine with me. The guy who has it is a decent fellow so I don't want to insult him with a lowball offer lol, I just want to know what I'm getting into in reg. value prior to making an offer.

I'm on the fence as to what I want a no.4 sporter for, if it's not drilled and tapped anywhere and if what's left of it is #'s matching I might consider putting it back in stock trim. Or just make a shooter out of it for the meantime, I've desportered my old mans no.1 lithgow due to sentimental value so this might just be a beater/shooter if the bore is in decent shape.
 
Doesn't look so bad. Sling brings the value up. Aren you looking for a shooter or a restorable rifle? $100 would be a good offer. Genuine mags are pricey - $75 +- around here at gunshows.
 
Kjohn, it is missing the rear sight as well. The best sight to put on if he is going to restore it would likely be the L, MkII style for 1943 but for accuracy and a proper make a Long Branch MK I would be preferable and those run around $65 at this point. In the US they are over $50 so more if you bring one up. At least it has a milled trigger guard. It also needs a front sight protector which is around $20.

I still say it's a $75-$80 rifle as is. It will need a new LB or Savage stock set to be correct as well as LB bands, swivels and LB marked mag. You're looking at $200 for a stock set, $75 for metal set at minimum, maybe more. Maybe $400 to put it back into it's military glory and about 20 hours of work to do it properly.
 
Yeah, not an issued sling and I already have a no4 mag. We'll see what shape it's in when I get a look at it mid March or early April, If it's worth buying I'll likely keep it sportered till I collect the proper LB parts. Although a sporter has some appeal, as it's already in that state. At least I know where I'm at with an offer, thanks guys. If I pick it up I'll report back with better pics.
 
bearhunter said:
Kjohn, it is missing the rear sight as well. The best sight to put on if he is going to restore it would likely be the L, MkII style for 1943 but for accuracy and a proper make a Long Branch MK I would be preferable and those run around $65 at this point. In the US they are over $50 so more if you bring one up. At least it has a milled trigger guard. It also needs a front sight protector which is around $20.

I still say it's a $75-$80 rifle as is. It will need a new LB or Savage stock set to be correct as well as LB bands, swivels and LB marked mag. You're looking at $200 for a stock set, $75 for metal set at minimum, maybe more. Maybe $400 to put it back into it's military glory and about 20 hours of work to do it properly.
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20 hours? Are you carving the stock by hand?
 
I likely have all the missing bits but I also have 5 or 6 sporters I'm working on.

$100-150 would be about right. You'll never make money on restoration. Parts prices have gone crazy if you can find them.
 
So I bought it, it needs a good cleaning and some surface rust removed but the bore looks nice. Shiny with good rifling, bolt head is a #1. Bolt looks force matched but im no no4 expert, here's some pics. Let me know if anything stands out as out of the norm. Lots of LB markings on the parts it's still got. Has a flip up peep sight and has not been drilled for bases.



 
Someone chopped half the sight off. Even if you do plan to restore it, you'll need a new one. Plus side is that the "L" type sight cant be had for like 10 bucks
 
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