Long Branch Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I* Sporterized .303 British Bolt-Action Rifle (1942)
Made at Canada’s Long Branch factory in 1942, this Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk I* offers WWII heritage combined with a period sporter conversion. The rifle retains its robust No.4 action, now paired with a shortened 22-inch barrel, trimmed fore-end, and lightweight sporter stock. Original micrometer rear aperture sight and matching-block serial prefix 16L confirm its Long Branch lineage, while BNP proofs document later British nitro testing.
Condition
Overall Condition: Fair – Shows extensive signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Fair – Generally clean, some residue or smudges, slight corrosion.
Specific Condition Notes: Numerous handling marks are visible across the metal and wood. The hardwood stock exhibits a crack above the trigger; a qualified gunsmith should evaluate before firing. Bore is bright with mild fouling, and rifling remains evident though worn.
What’s Included
- Stamped-steel Lee-Enfield No.4 detachable 5-round box magazine
Produced during the height of WWII, Long Branch completed roughly 330,000 No.4 Mk I* rifles in 1942 alone. This example carries the simplified Mk I* bolt-head removal slot, a hallmark of that wartime variant meant to speed production without sacrificing reliability.
The rifle was later sporterized—a common post-war practice in Canada—by trimming the barrel to 22 inches, removing bayonet lugs, and cutting down the fore-end. The absence of upper handguards and the addition of a slender sporter butt make the rifle lighter and handier in the field while preserving core Enfield strength.
Despite the conversion, the gun retains its factory No.4 micrometer rear sight with windage drum and a dovetailed blade front on a ramp base. These iron sights remain fully functional, providing precise elevation and windage adjustments often lost on sporter builds.
All major components show matching Long Branch serial-block markings, and the receiver, bolt, and barrel wear the original parkerized/blued finish. British BNP proof marks on the barrel and receiver indicate successful commercial nitro testing to 18.5 tons, assuring the action meets modern safety standards.