1943 Long Branch No. 4 Mk I* Sporterized .303 British Bolt-Action Rifle
Built at the Canadian Long Branch arsenal in 1943, this No. 4 Mk I* represents a wartime Lee-Enfield that was later sporterized in the classic North-American style. It retains its original two-groove “2*” barrel and simplified Mk I* bolt-release notch, while the wood has been reshaped into a Monte-Carlo stock with a right-hand cheek-piece and pistol-grip wrist. The rifle still carries its charger bridge and has not been drilled for sniper pads, making it an interesting blend of WWII history and post-war customization.
Condition
Overall Condition: Good condition, showing some signs of prior use and handling.
Bore Condition: Good – Clean, well-maintained, minor wear marks.
Rifling Condition: Good – Intact, well-defined lands and grooves.
What’s Included
- Detachable steel Lee-Enfield No. 4 pattern magazine
This rifle began life as a standard No. 4 Mk I* produced in the early “11L” serial range at Long Branch, Canada. Canadian and Savage Mk I* rifles are noted for their streamlined bolt-release notch, a wartime simplification unique to these factories.
The factory-marked “2*” carbon-steel barrel retains its original 18-inch length and two-groove rifling, a configuration introduced to speed production while maintaining accuracy. Proof and inspection marks remain visible on the barrel reinforce.
Post-war sporterization focused on weight reduction and hunting ergonomics. The upper hand-guards were removed, the beavertail forend was shortened, and bayonet lugs were ground off. A high-gloss varnished hardwood Monte-Carlo stock with a ventilated rubber recoil pad was fitted, giving the rifle a higher comb and softer shoulder feel.
Sights were simplified for field use: the rear ladder/aperture sight was removed, while the front sight sits in a shortened ramped base. The receiver’s charger bridge remains intact, preserving the rifle’s ability to load via chargers if a proper sight is reinstalled.
Overall, this Long Branch No. 4 Mk I* offers collectors and shooters a genuine WWII-era action combined with a period-correct North-American sporter conversion—an authentic example of how many surplus Lee-Enfields found new life after the war.