Non-Production Variant Lee Enfield No. 4 Rifle in .22 Caliber by Long Branch

NSN, .22 LR, 25" barrel with an excellent, bright bore.  This rifle was built on a 1945-dated, No. 4 Mk. 1*-marked receiver and has a crowned, .22 caliber barrel, narrow blade front sight, and Lyman 48 target aperture sight on the receiver.  The barrel is marked with the Long Branch "LB," "C (Broad Arrow)" and "95 (in oval)" on the knoxform, but aside from the previously mentioned receiver markings, and a very small and unobtrusive import stamp at the muzzle, the metal has very few stamps or proofs.  The charger guide and rear sight base were milled off prior to the application of the finish, as well as to provide an obstruction-free area to mount the Lyman sight.  No serial number was ever applied to the receiver or bolt handle.  Additionally, the receiver ring was milled flat.  The wooden forend has a crisp "LB" and "C (Broad Arrow)" on the underside just aft of the nosecap, as well as a small "KB" stamp just ahead of the magazine well.  There is a further small "C (Broad Arrow)" on the top of the handguard just forward of the receiver, while the buttstock has a large "C (Broad Arrow)" and "LB / 33" on the underside of the wrist, and a large "N" on the top of the comb a few inches above the heel.  The metal retains 98-99% of the original dark gray phosphate finish, with only some very small spots of silvering along a few of the edges and on the bearing surfaces of the bolt.  The magazine is just a housing without follower or spring, and would have been used as a shell-catcher in common with earlier .22 Lee-Enfield variants.  In his book, "The Lee-Enfield – A Century Of Lee-Metford & Lee-Enfield Rifles & Carbines" (2007); Ian Skennerton notes on page 328 that some prototpes .22 rifles were assembled in 1946 after the transition of the Long Branch plant from Small Arms Ltd. to Canadian Arsenals Ltd. ownership.  This may be one such prototype, although it is also possible that it was an "off the books" rifle made for an employee or as a gift to a VIP.  The rifle was purchased in Canada from the family of a senior manager at Long Branch Arsenal, so the latter possibility is not unlikely.  In any event, this is a very unusual, possibly unique, No. 4 variant, and would make a splendid addition to any comprehensive collection of Lee-Enfield or Canadian military arms.  FFL or C&R