What Is The Rarest YOM For Long Branch Rifles?

[L42A1]

Ive always wondered, what is the rarest year of manufacture for Long Branch Lee Enfields? There must have been a year where more were made/required and a year where much fewer were made. I have a 1949 Long Branch and I havent seen many of them come up. But maybe thats just coincidence.

 

[JP]

1941 (the rarest, small production run and very few survived the War intact) and then 1949 (small production run).

 

[chanman]

Were they made in '46-'47 at all?

 

[superbee]

1955 and 1956 dated replacement receivers are the rarest.They were factory rebuilt rifles.FTR's

Also seen two 1953 dated longbranch .22's

 

[cantom]

1955 and 1956 dated replacement receivers are the rarest.They were factory rebuilt rifles.FTR's

Also seen two 1953 dated longbranch .22's

I agree. 55 and 56 are much harder to find than 41, and 41 is a ##### to find.

Most common by far, 43.

 

[L42A1]

Thanks Tom, I was waiting for your post. How rare are '49's?

 

[Lee Enfield]

1949 is the lowest production year with @6000 produced. Serials run from 91L0000 through @91L6000.

1941 was @ 17,000 receivers. Serial numbers run from 0L1 through @1L6500.

Part of the 1941 "mystique" is because of the way the serial numbers work.
0L1 through 0L9999 then 1L0 for number 10,000.

There were no No4 receivers dated '46, '47 or '48.

The 1954/55/56 dated receivers are leftover 1950 receivers with the last date digit removed from the marking die and handstamped during assembly.

1945 dated 90L snipers and early 1949 dated actions show this same characteristic.

 

[JP]

Original 1941 dated ones have a low survival rate, many were lost in combat and since a large number were sent to England those rifles were refurbised using british parts or even rebuilt into No4 MK 1/2 after the war. Most 1949's survived intact.

 

[cantom]

Thanks Tom, I was waiting for your post. How rare are '49's?

Pretty rare but they do pop up. I've had one and seen a number hit the EE. Not everyone values them as a premium item because they're not a war year.

 

[Rumpelhardt]

I paid $50.00 for my 41 Long Branch.

 

[cantom]

I paid $50.00 for my 41 Long Branch.

Here's a chance to double your money...

Yes, I know I'm all heart...

 

[Rumpelhardt]

It cost me about $300.00 more to make it presentable

 

[L42A1]

Well my DCRA conversion is built on a '44. I wouldnt mind a '41 DCRA. Based on sheer rarity. if they exist that is.

 

[longbranch*]

I owned all the war-year LB's several times over, but always kept my '41 and '45 MP/DCRA 7.62. Had two 49's, including a nice RCAF marked/DCRA 7.62. Story I heard was that crate loads of used and un-fired 1949 LB's were imported from a Belgian contract some decades ago. Brian #### (BDL ltd) in the U.S. used to have lots of '49 and other LB's for sale on his site. This goes back 8-10 years ago.
Geoff