Canadian Long Branch No.4 Mk I* Enfield .303 British Bolt Action Rifle C&R
SOLD FOR: $725
WOA#: WY240117CB013
Make: Small Arms Limited, Long Branch Arsenal
Model: Enfield No.4 Mk I*
Serial Number: 63L9281
Year of Manufacture: 1944
Caliber: .303 British
Action Type: Bolt action, detachable 10 round magazine
Markings: The left side of the receiver is marked “No.4 Mk I*”, “Long Branch”, and “1944”. The top of the receiver is marked with a faded Canadian acceptance mark. The left side of the stock collar is marked “63L9281”. The rear of the bolt handle is marked “63L9281”. The top of the rear barrel band is marked “C.E.W”. There is an import mark on the right side of the barrel. The rear sight ladder and slide are marked “CMk 3”. The comb of the buttstock is marked “L”. There are small proof and acceptance marks throughout. The left side of the bayonet socket is marked “No4 MkII N 67”. The left side is marked 85.Z”.
Barrel Length: 24.5”
Sights / Optics: The front sight is a blade post dovetailed into a base set between two protective ears. The rear sight is an aperture sight when flipped down, and an adjustable aperture ladder when flipped up.
Stock Configuration & Condition: The two piece wood stock has a straight grip with finger groove, nose cap, two barrel bands, two sling loops, and a brass buttplate with a hinged door for storage. The buttplate has heavy wear at the heel and toe. There are compression marks, scuffs, and scratches throughout the wood. The LOP measures 14” from the front of the trigger to the back of the buttplate. The stock rates in about Good overall condition.
Magazine Quantity & Condition: 1x 10 round detachable magazine in Good Condition.
Type of Finish: Parkerized
Finish Originality: Original
Bore Condition: The bore is bright and the rifling is sharp. There is light erosion in the bore.
In this writer’s opinion, this bore rates 8 out of 10.
Many military and C&R eligible weapons have bores that will show erosion. This is not only due to age but to the fact that corrosive primers were commonly used in ammunition worldwide. For example, the U.S. used corrosive ammunition throughout WWII. The U.S. military did not begin to phase out corrosive-primed ammunition until the 1950s.
Overall Condition: This rifle retains about 85% of its metal finish. There are scuffs and scratches throughout the metal surfaces. There are small impact marks on the left side of the stock collar that have removed some finish. There is wear to the finish on the charger clip bridge. The edges of the front sight and front barrel band are worn. There is a dent in the top of the front barrel band. The bolt and action show usage wear. The bottom corners of the magazine are worn. The screw heads show moderate to heavy use. The markings vary from crisp to worn. Overall, this rifle rates in about Good condition.
Mechanics: The action functions correctly. We did not fire this rifle. As with all used firearms, a thorough cleaning may be necessary to meet your maintenance requirements.
Box, Paperwork & Accessories: This rifle comes with one 10 round magazine, a canvas sling, and a No.4 Mk II bayonet with scabbard.
Our Assessment: The Enfield No.4 Mk 1 replaced the SMLE No.1 Mk III* in British and Canadian service beginning in late 1941. It featured a number of improvements over the previous rifle, including a heavier barrel, but retained the cock-on-close action that lent itself to rapid fire. During the war, the two North American manufacturers of the No.4 rifle, Long Branch and Savage, began producing the No.4 Mk I*, which was meant to speed up production. This new variant had a simpler bolt release, a pinned magazine catch, and a 2-groove barrel. Long Branch in Canada would continue to produce the No.4 Mk I* into the 1950s until it was replaced by the Canadian variant of the FAL, the C1A1.
This is an example of a No.4 Mk I* rifle made by Long Branch in 1944. The stock has wear to it, with numerous large divots and compression marks, but these appear to be superficial. The metal retains most of its finish, with normal wear along many of the edges. The bore is very bright and in nice shape, with sharp rifling that should make for an accurate shooter. The rifle also comes with a No.4 Mk II bayonet with its scabbard and a canvas sling. This would fit into any Canadian, Enfield, or Second World War collection. Please see our photos.
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