What do the letters AL mean on a 1941 LB No4 mk 1

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neal

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Hi I just picked up a 1941 Long Branch No 4 mk I and I see the letters AL under the serial number, I am not sure if this is a country code or what.

As for the rifle it is a 1941 with a 1942 barrel, both matching numbers as well as original stock numbered, magazine numbered, and the front barrel band. It doesn't have a matching bolt or the early rounded cocking piece but I guess I'll be on the lookout for those.

I'm going to try and find a period correct LB rear sight as it has a later replacement.

Any Help would be appreciated, sorry for the bad pictures
 
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Interesting. Rifle has original 1941 serial number and then a second one "AL 6505". What number is on the barrel? Are there any other makings on the receivers that would indicate if the rifle had been in another country? A number of 41 and 42 LB's went to New Zealand. What is the marking on the rear sight as it may give us a clue. It was not uncommon for India to put there own serial/control number on a rifle that they refurbished.The round cocking piece and the correct sight are pricey...about $300.00 if you can find somebody that will part with them. Rare rifle...nice find.
 
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rgg_7 said:
Interesting. Rifle has original 1941 serial number and then a second one "AL 6505" which is British. What number is on the barrel? The round cocking piece and the correct sight are pricey...about $300.00 if you can find somebody that will part with them. Rare rifle...nice find.
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the Barrel is the same as the serial number and has the long branch stamps and c broad arrow marks but with a 1942 date? The stock has a few of the al 6505 marks to at places but also faint Long Branch serial numbers and stamps. I can't figure it out for the life of me as well.
 
Receiver manufacture outstripped barrel manufacture late in 1941 at Long Branch, so Long Branch was still using up 1941 marked receivers early in 1942 with 1942 dated barrels. I have one the same, and have seen several the same. No problem with that barrel at all.
 
spinecracker said:
Receiver manufacture outstripped barrel manufacture late in 1941 at Long Branch, so Long Branch was still using up 1941 marked receivers early in 1942 with 1942 dated barrels. I have one the same, and have seen several the same. No problem with that barrel at all.
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That is nice to know, I bought the rifle for a great price within seconds of seeing it and didn't get to do the full check over like I usually do since I have been looking for a 1941 for a while.

Now I'm really interested in the british markings under the serial number,

thanks everyone for all the info so far.
 
I have seen New Zealand issued rifles with similar numbers, it could also be an Indian refurbished rifle with new serial number applied to it.
 
I think I recall reading something about those numbers and how they had been applied by Australia or NewZealand as an inventory control number, rather then using all sorts of different serial numbers to try to track rifles.
 
neal said:
Thanks for all the info everyone, this forum is a wealth of information.
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Nice grab Neal. You're lucky you spotted it first...:):p

I've seen those AL s/n's before but have no idea what it signifies. Not NZ for sure.

Using Google-Fu just yields more people asking what the AL signifies...
 
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I also have Long Branch with the AL. I had heard it stood for "Army Luxemburg". But then I spoke to a Luxemburg militaria collector and he said he had never heard of that before. So who knows.
 
AL numbers

So far, it seems that the AL serial numbers are on Long Branch rifles.

Does anyone have a Lee Enfield of another manufacturer with the same type of serial numbers on it?
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I've just seen another LB with the AL serial number on it, it was a 1943 with the AL 6695 which is only 190 away from mine.

I'm learning something new everytime I look at this thread. Thanks for all the existing info and please keep all the new stuff coming!!
 
AL secondary serial numbers

Now we are getting somewhere. Mixed manufacturers, dates from 1941 Long Branch to 1944 Maltby, and at least 17,500 rifles so far.

To throw out a thought here, the large number of rifles would indicate a Post WW2 serial numbering. Either surplus sales to the "Trade" for gunsmithing to sporters and serial numbered by the Gun Shop, or a Sale or Gift to another Country to equip their Army after WW2.

My rifle came to me in a sporter configuration, with the barrel cut off about 2 inches, and crowned just below the bayonet lugs. It was a "SHOP" job, done on a lathe, and not by the usual Bubba.

Anyone have the bayonet lugs left on the barrels of their rifles?

If anyone has a full stocked rifle, does the wood look original or look mismatched or replaced?
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neal said:
.... It doesn't have a matching bolt or the early rounded cocking piece but I guess I'll be on the lookout for those.

I'm going to try and find a period correct LB rear sight as it has a later replacement.

Any Help would be appreciated
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Congratulations ... nice find and they didn't make very many of these ...

Tangential to this thread and for others who may want to see one for comparison, with thanks to Advisory Panel member Lance, you could check the Canada - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here) http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=117-canada

A rare 1941 No.4 Mk1 Long Branch Rifle (click here) ..... http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=3447

Complete with a 150 picture photo montage, this is a fascinating rifle to study its markings and components in detail, with some interesting oddities and variations from the standard No.4 Mk1* noted in the "Collector's Feedback and Comments" section of the main Knowledge Library entry. There's also information with pictured examples of how to check for a correct front waisted sight protector, versus a home made, or possible fake.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug[/size]
 
Badger- I wonder if Peter L would know about the AL prefix s/n range? I have this nagging thought that it's been brought up before but can't quite remember?

BadgerDog said:
Congratulations ... nice find and they didn't make very many of these ...

Tangential to this thread and for others who may want to see one for comparison, with thanks to Advisory Panel member Lance, you could check the Canada - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here) http://www.milsurps.com/content.php?r=117-canada

A rare 1941 No.4 Mk1 Long Branch Rifle (click here) ..... http://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=3447

Complete with a 150 picture photo montage, this is a fascinating rifle to study its markings and components in detail, with some interesting oddities and variations from the standard No.4 Mk1* noted in the "Collector's Feedback and Comments" section of the main Knowledge Library entry. There's also information with pictured examples of how to check for a correct front waisted sight protector, versus a home made, or possible fake.

(Click PIC to Enlarge)

Regards,
Doug[/size]
Click to expand...
 
buffdog said:
Now we are getting somewhere. Mixed manufacturers, dates from 1941 Long Branch to 1944 Maltby, and at least 17,500 rifles so far.

To throw out a thought here, the large number of rifles would indicate a Post WW2 serial numbering. Either surplus sales to the "Trade" for gunsmithing to sporters and serial numbered by the Gun Shop, or a Sale or Gift to another Country to equip their Army after WW2.

My rifle came to me in a sporter configuration, with the barrel cut off about 2 inches, and crowned just below the bayonet lugs. It was a "SHOP" job, done on a lathe, and not by the usual Bubba.

Anyone have the bayonet lugs left on the barrels of their rifles?

If anyone has a full stocked rifle, does the wood look original or look mismatched or replaced?
.
.
Click to expand...


The wood is original on mine, full markings of serial number as well as the ccm marks and LB even though the LB has faded a bit.
 
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