North American Produced No4 Mk1*'s (pic warning)

Yup. Dum-dum, which as a lot of us know, was named after Dum-Dum Arsenal in "British India". Banned by the Hague Convention in 1899, which led to the development of MkVII ball with its aluminum tip and tumbling effect intended to restore some of the lethality that the elimination of dum-dums removed. The packet that came from was dated 1899 by the way.
 
I thought something was up. Nice find.
I have some WWI silver tipped. 303 that looks similar, but with the pointy tip of course.
 
I am curious,,, I was under the impression that all of the Long Branch guns were produced in Canada. However my new #4 Mk1* 1943 very clearly says "England" on the wrist. Was this simply and English manufacture Receiver that was finished in Canada? What happened here?

Another question,, Was there various finishes applied to these guns at different times? I see in the above photos some with smooth machined action sides and normal bluing like mine, and others that look to be Grit blasted, and blued, and still others that appear to be Parkerized ?

Will someone clue me in on what is right for which guns?

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Unfortunately for purists or Fortunately for me. This one has had the barrel cut and it is a two groove any way, so it is getting rebored to .35-303 and made into a Sporting Rifle. Bubba didn't do a good job on several cosmetic points of the Sporterization Process. Like not soldering the nice Parker Hale Ramp Front Sight on strait up and down. I will be fixing this in the redo along with new Wood.

But I am still curious about what is what with these guns.

Randy
 
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Hello Randy,

The England stamp is just an acceptance marking to my knowledge. It signifies that it made it overseas. This rifle was still produced at Long Branch in Toronto.
 
SMcGeown said:
Hello Randy,

The England stamp is just an acceptance marking to my knowledge. It signifies that it made it overseas. This rifle was still produced at Long Branch in Toronto.
Click to expand...

In fact in this case "ENGLAND" is an (incorrect) "Country of Origin" import marking so that it (the rifle) could be commercially imported into the United States for retail sale before 1968.

I also have a bayonet marked "AUSTRALIA" and a No1MkIII* marked the same way on the small of the pistol grip, and a No4 Long Branch marked "CANADA".

The US "Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA68) prohibited the import of all military arms for retail sale. This created a demand for ex-police arms as they were exempted.

From 1968 until 1986 no military firearms were legally imported into the United States, since 1986 imports have required more detailed import information to be marked on the frame or barrel of the gun.



Similarly I have a Ross with the British equivalent marking of "Not English Made"...
 
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