Sporterized?
#6
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location:
Posts: 368
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Thats a beautififul #4 lee-enfield IMINRUT. Are the canadian/british/indonesian .303 rifle common in the U.S like they are here in Canada? personaly having 17 different .303rifle ranging from a asnew #5 jungle carbinecomplete with an original bayonete to sporterized rifles with synthetic stocks, five round flush-fit mags and scopes. i was wondering this because i have only seen 3 M1 grands, one springfield 1903, a couple of 30-40krags and i have never seen a trapdoor springfeild yet in life. I seem to reason that american militery rifles are scarce in Canada.
#7
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This rifle is almost a dead ringer for my first gunsmith project. My grandfather had this old #4 Lee Enfield and we made the stock from a plank of Turkish Walnut. Despite its two groove barrel, the gun shot almost MOA with handloads.
That was almost 40 years ago. I have since sporterized a lot of military rifles - mostly Mausers - in every case, however, the cost to convert the military rifle far exceeded what you could buy a quality sporting rifle for at Gart Brothers. My most recent personal project wound up costing me the same as a new Remington 700; despite getting the Mauser 96 action as a gift and using a barrel I had sitting around the shop. I guess old gunsmiths never learn . . . .
That was almost 40 years ago. I have since sporterized a lot of military rifles - mostly Mausers - in every case, however, the cost to convert the military rifle far exceeded what you could buy a quality sporting rifle for at Gart Brothers. My most recent personal project wound up costing me the same as a new Remington 700; despite getting the Mauser 96 action as a gift and using a barrel I had sitting around the shop. I guess old gunsmiths never learn . . . .
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: arlington tx USA
Posts: 17
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bigmatty,
I usually see a few at gun shows, but not many. I don't know anybody else that hunts with one. I have another one just like it that I inherited from my father. My grandfather had a #5 carbine that went down in a house fire.
Since you own 17, I'm going to assume that you know a thing or two about .303s, so I have a question. On my father's gun, the words "Long Branch" are stamped on the side just under No.4 Mk.1. What does Long Branch stand for?
I usually see a few at gun shows, but not many. I don't know anybody else that hunts with one. I have another one just like it that I inherited from my father. My grandfather had a #5 carbine that went down in a house fire.
Since you own 17, I'm going to assume that you know a thing or two about .303s, so I have a question. On my father's gun, the words "Long Branch" are stamped on the side just under No.4 Mk.1. What does Long Branch stand for?
#10
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Posts: 368
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Long Branch is one of the Canadian arsenels that made the rifles. Savage also made 303 #4 MK3s and the one that i have is marked U.S property. i also have a a #4 long branch made in 1954 that is in mint shape and shoots 1 moa at 100 yards.