RCAF marked 43 LB N04 Mk1* Questions

savageuser

savageuser

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Hi Guys,

I'm relatively new collecting milsurp rifles. Enfields especially, and had a few questions about this 43' Long Branch N04 Mk1* I picked up from a great fellow CGN'er.

It's matching bolt and receiver, and has visible LB stamps on all the parts, as well as "RCAF" stamped into the buttstock. The rifle also has the number 8 stamped into the front sight protector, upperband, bolt handle, buttsock and handguards.

I've been unable to find much information about RCAF marked Enfields, or what the 8 stamp might mean. Any info from the Enfield aficionado's out there would be much appreciated.

The bore on it is excellent! I'm Hoping to take it out this week to see how it shoots.
If you guys would like more pictures of a certain area let me know.










 
I could easily be wrong about this but I have always been under the impression that the RCAF didn't stamp their rifles.

I have had two rifles so marked. One was a C7 22lr and the other was almost identical to your rifle, other than the placement of the stamp which was on the top of the butt.

It is a nice start for a collection and that stamp will definitely be a bit of a conversation piece.
 
Very nice! You are off to a good start. Be warned that you have jumped into a bottomless pit. Don't rule out looking into other military rifles. You just never know what you may stumble on to. I have been gathering milsurps for 50 years, and have lucked on to some real gems. Some people on here openly sneer at Mosin Nagants, SKS's, and some others, but you collect what you want, not what others think you should.

Most of all, you will meet some really good people. Have fun! :)
 
Cool. I have a similar one, blue blanco sling and all, but mine's got a rack number stamped into the butt stock instead of the "RCAF" marking like yours has.

Sweet rifle.
 
A rack number is a visual organizer when there is, 'a place for everything and everything in its place'. Space number 8, wherever that was, was occupied by this one.
 
Thanks for the info guys. I'm already eyeing my next milsurp.

I had a feeling that the 8 was some sort of identification number but wasn't sure.
Dumb question, but I assume the 8 would have been stamped by the RCAF, and not LB? Any ideas what the RCAF would have used the rifle for? Training or guard duty? The bore and overall condition of the gun makes it seem unlikely it saw action.
 
Why does any military organization have rifles? To shoot them, of course. Every year military members are expected to prove various qualifications and capabilities. That rifle could have been issued to a flying base and used to fire qualification scores of so-many rounds on paper for familiarization. (In my exposure to the Air Force, they have a cultural unwillingness to sully themselves with 'Army' training, and Rifle Number 8 might have stayed on the rack for many years except for inspections or cleanings ordered as punishment .)
 
I have 2 RCAF rifles a P14 and a No 4 Longbranch both have RCAF electropencilled on the receiver I have seen one with a stamped RCAF on the receiver as well .The No 4 was converted into a DCRA 7.62 competition rifle by C.A.L. in the 1950"s
 
The RCAF of the past is different than the current 'RCAF'. They actually used to have there own units used for defending airfields and such. They had their own standards and expectations completely separate from what the Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Navy had (not the bastardized versions we currently have but the actual separate military force).

During WWII the RCAF had 250,000 Airmen so there was a need for some rifles.
 
Is the buttstock stamped RCAF with a upside down 5 next to it??

The rest of the gun is stamped with a number 8 which would be a "rack number"

That number on the butt is the significant one!!!!

I just had this conversation on the weekend here at the Milton Steam Era with a RCAF Veteran who just happened to be a RCAF Armourer during WW2.

We where both perusing the military vehicle setup.

If it is a number 5;

No. 5 Squadron RCAF was a Royal Canadian Air Force squadron that was primarily used in an anti-submarine role with Eastern Air Command and was based at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Gander, Newfoundland, Torbay, Newfoundland, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Sydney, Nova Scotia.

The squadron flew the Supermarine Stranraer, Consolidated Canso and Consolidated Catalina before disbanding on 15 July 1945

I have one like it stamped with a number 7;

RCAF Station Prince Rupert: Established November 1941 as the home of Bomber-Reconnaissance Squadron. No. 7 (BR)
 
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When I was in the airforce (early 60's) the airbases had small arms for "base defence". Comox, for example, had Lee Enfeilds, Stens and Sterlings to issue to airmen if it was decided to post patrols in an emergency.
 
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