Picked up a cheap Long Branch
- Thread starter ArmedGinger
- Start date
I would call that wood BEECH and at one point it was dyed darker, then the stain was later removed after being surplussed, or it could and likely is a replacement stock done at an FTR or ???????
Whatever, that's a very nice rifle OP and your were in the right place at the right time, with a very reasonable seller.
The components on that rifle are, at this point in time, worth more than what you paid.
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It's not beech, grain is too tight an linear.
Longbranch intermittently used maple on rifles from 43 through 44, and this looks to be one of those. They are usually stained a deep mahogany color, and this one has lost its color, either in service or it's been lightly sanded at some point. For watever reasons, a lot of the LB maple stocked rifles went to new zealand - the two I owned were NZ stamped - not sure if this one is or not.
In late 44 and 45, you also sometiems see LB rifles with left over Savage wood - but that stock is clearly not birch.
Longbranch intermittently used maple on rifles from 43 through 44, and this looks to be one of those. They are usually stained a deep mahogany color, and this one has lost its color, either in service or it's been lightly sanded at some point. For watever reasons, a lot of the LB maple stocked rifles went to new zealand - the two I owned were NZ stamped - not sure if this one is or not.
In late 44 and 45, you also sometiems see LB rifles with left over Savage wood - but that stock is clearly not birch.
Take a look at it just under the shiny part. That's either Beech or Birch and it's unmistakeable
Last pic fore end
Hello AG. Looks like a nice original rifle that may have had a coat of oil on the stock in its post war lifetime.
Long Branch did not stain wood so the natural colour of wood is evident. As stated wartime wood can vary but starting 1944 walnut and black walnut was readily available in nearby Ontario sources and most commonly used. In manufacture most original 4 piece stocks were
machined from one slab. That inspection fore number 32 maybe on the butt. If there is no evidence of British nitro proofs then that is bonus as that indicates the rifle never left Canada. A nice find. JOHN
Long Branch did not stain wood so the natural colour of wood is evident. As stated wartime wood can vary but starting 1944 walnut and black walnut was readily available in nearby Ontario sources and most commonly used. In manufacture most original 4 piece stocks were
machined from one slab. That inspection fore number 32 maybe on the butt. If there is no evidence of British nitro proofs then that is bonus as that indicates the rifle never left Canada. A nice find. JOHN
Just goes to show all the people asking $1500 for kinda nice but maybe a bit beat up and well used No4 are out of their cotton picking minds. My suspicion is that people price compared to what they see but I wonder how many rifles are really selling for those prices?
Lee Enfield
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
That was dropped mid c.1943
