I need some help with a Long Branch

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   he!!o everyone, new member here.  I'm an old USN Chief Petty Officer, a former Peace Officer, and a former Fire Fighter.  Nowadays I fix stuff, and help out at a small farm.
I purchased a very inexpensive 1943 Long Branch via GunBroker because...well...I collect guns no one else wants.

I knew it would not have a bolt and that other parts were missing.  While waiting for it I did some reading and came to the understanding that this is a No. 4 mk I SMLE.  I found a "No. 4" stripped bolt for sale on GunBroker, and purchased it.  I can slide the bolt into the receiver but the orientation causes the bolt handle to be at "three o'clock" instead of "twelve o'clock" when inserted.  This prevents the bolt from being able to close.

Do I need to find a Canadian-made bolt?  Is my 1943 Long Branch NOT a No. 4 mk I?  Or did the seller of the bolt not properly identify it before offering it for sale?

Here are a few photos:

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NavyGeo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: February 22 2025 Location: Witch Wells AZ Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote NavyGeo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: I need some help with a Long Branch Posted: February 22 2025 at 4:02pm
	he!!o everyone, new member here. I'm an old USN Chief Petty Officer, a former Peace Officer, and a former Fire Fighter. Nowadays I fix stuff, and help out at a small farm. I purchased a very inexpensive 1943 Long Branch via GunBroker because...well...I collect guns no one else wants. I knew it would not have a bolt and that other parts were missing. While waiting for it I did some reading and came to the understanding that this is a No. 4 mk I SMLE. I found a "No. 4" stripped bolt for sale on GunBroker, and purchased it. I can slide the bolt into the receiver but the orientation causes the bolt handle to be at "three o'clock" instead of "twelve o'clock" when inserted. This prevents the bolt from being able to close. Do I need to find a Canadian-made bolt? Is my 1943 Long Branch NOT a No. 4 mk I? Or did the seller of the bolt not properly identify it before offering it for sale? Here are a few photos:

SW28fan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: July 02 2007 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 3388	Post Options Post Reply Quote SW28fan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 22 2025 at 6:44pm
	he!!o The bolt heads come in different sizes to adjust headspace. There could be another issue come you show us a picture of just the bolt. I was in the Navy from 81-85 on an old Charles F Adams Class DDG
	Have a Nice Day If already having a nice day please disregard

NavyGeo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: February 22 2025 Location: Witch Wells AZ Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote NavyGeo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 22 2025 at 7:56pm
	SW28fan, I served on the Belleau Wood 85-88. The bolt only goes in one way due to the very long lug that's at 12. The bolt handle makes contact with the back of the receiver before this lug clears the area enclosed by the stripper-clip guide. Because of this I can't turn the bolt. It seems like the bolt is for a different SMLE.

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 3:27am
	A few things. First, there is no cocking piece at the back of the bolt, probably no striker (firing pin) either. The bolt handle looks wrong for a No. 4. Something looks wrong at the bolt head too (is there a bolt head)? Take a few photos of the bolt, you may have a bolt body for the No. 1 SMLE and not the No. 4. They are not interchangeable. The action body needs to be cleaned really well, especially the areas where the bolt locking lugs engage and the bolt raceway. Looks like years of accumulated crud. Also missing the rear sight.

Sapper740 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: July 15 2021 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 1737	Post Options Post Reply Quote Sapper740 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 4:56am
	Welcome to the forum and thank you for your service. First up, let's clean up the nomenclature a little: the SMLE is the predecessor to the No.4 rifle so your rifle, being made at Long Branch is a No.4 Mk I. The is important as the method of inserting and removing the bolt is slightly different. To ease manufacture No.4 MkI * rifles had the depressable "button" removed and a simple gap in the bolthead groove machined. I don't know if the difference would prevent a No.4 MkI bolt from being placed into battery on a No.4 MkI * rifle as I've never tried that. I'll give it a shot later today and report my findings.

Honkytonk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: December 30 2017 Location: Brandon Mb Status: Offline Points: 5190	Post Options Post Reply Quote Honkytonk Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 7:09am
	Just a thing that caught my eye. The safety lever looks like an older style than I've seen on my No4's.

NavyGeo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: February 22 2025 Location: Witch Wells AZ Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote NavyGeo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 7:51am
	he!!o, and thank you each for your inputs so far. The bolt was sold to me "stripped"; there is no front piece, cocking piece, or any other parts other than the bolt body. I've taken some more photographs which I hope will help all of you help me! The title of the GunBroker advertisement was "Enfield SMLE No.4 stripped Bolt"; there was no further amplification within the 'item description' portion of the advertisement. The safety lever simply rotates a horizontal pin with a cutout under the bolt, which would appear to act both as a safety and to prevent bolt removal.

DisasterDog Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 21 2025 Location: Brewery Status: Offline Points: 256	Post Options Post Reply Quote DisasterDog Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 7:58am
	The solid rib points to it being a MkIII bolt.

Zed Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Special Member Donating Member Joined: May 01 2012 Location: France Status: Offline Points: 6460	Post Options Post Reply Quote Zed Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 10:58am
	That is very odd. I think we need to get some accurate measurements from a selection of our members rifles and compare. The only thing that Looks like a possibility from these photos, that I can see. The long lug doesn't seem to have that slight bevel on the leading edge of the contact surface. Could it be that the bolt was not finished properly? It's a long shot, but something isn't right.
	It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 12:40pm
	The Nomenclature can be confusing which may explain whats going on. The NO4 Mk(1, 1, or 2) are NOT* SMLE's I'd avoid using that term particularly when ordering parts if I were you. I have a no4 & a SMLE (aka No1 MkIII) I can pull the bolt from the SMLE & see what happens when I try it in a No4 Give me a day or two
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

Shamu Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Logo Designer / Donating Member Joined: April 25 2007 Location: MD, USA. Status: Offline Points: 20510	Post Options Post Reply Quote Shamu Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 1:59pm
	OK, pics: First the good news, we've identified the problem. Now the bad news you have a No1 Bolt & it won't fit in a No4 rifle I took the bolt for one of my SMLEs, removed the head & tried fitting it to my No4 Mk2, It wouldn't even begin to enter with the head fitted. Removing the head it exactly replicated your problem. Stopped short & bolt handle wouldn't roll down fully. Couple of views of the 2 bolt types, No1 at top, No4 below.
	Don't shoot till you see the whites of their thighs. (Unofficial motto of the Royal Air Force)

britrifles Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: February 03 2018 Location: Georgia, USA Status: Offline Points: 8404	Post Options Post Reply Quote britrifles Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 3:51pm
	Yup, that’s what I thought, it’s a No. 1 (SMLE) bolt body. See if he will take it back. You will need to find a No. 4 bolt with all the associated bits to make the complete bolt assembly. The bolt will need fitting to the action and checked for headspace.

NavyGeo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: February 22 2025 Location: Witch Wells AZ Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote NavyGeo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 23 2025 at 4:40pm
	Well that's a bit of a setback, but I am ever positive. Thank you all who've helped so far. Oh, and if anyone has any bits-n-pieces I can use I would appreciate a word. I'm sure the rules would prefer such communications not be in this thread/forum, but I figure a PM is ok. Again, thanks!

NavyGeo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: February 22 2025 Location: Witch Wells AZ Status: Offline Points: 36	Post Options Post Reply Quote NavyGeo Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2025 at 8:32am
	Some good news. It looks as if I can get some of the parts I need from Liberty Tree, Numrich, and SarCo. Thanks to SW28fan for making that suggestion! Not knowing much of the history of my particular piece, I will look for either old-issue ammunition or I'll reload with black powder. I do that for my rescued Winchester 94 in .32 Winchester Special. It was a ball of rust when I rescued it from a barn in Alabama years ago. It runs black powder just fine.

Enfield trader Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: May 11 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 923	Post Options Post Reply Quote Enfield trader Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2025 at 2:45pm
	It a Long Branch made safety lever

Enfield trader Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: May 11 2006 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 923	Post Options Post Reply Quote Enfield trader Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: February 24 2025 at 2:48pm
	No difference in the bolt - bolt heads are a little different due to the No4 MKI* bolt head it removed at the cut out of the rail. The bolt heads for that take down type is chamfered where the bolt head slides in the rail.