L42A1 (new to me), Rare Maltby Conversion

[Brian Dick]

The only problem I have with this hypothesis is that the rifles sold off in the 90s by the MoD were delivered straight from the disposals unit at Donnington to places like Charnwood Ordnance in England and Navy Arms in the USA. Siome did go to Germany but we're not talking about those here. How could someone remark them after leaving military stores? My guess, (and it's just a guess), is that they were legitimately renumbered by Armourers and the metal stamps used were also later than the old fonts that we are used to seeing on original rifles, (stamps purchase from Europe?). I was told years ago that the Armourers were also the new younger breed as the older experienced guys were mostly retired or gone to the big REME base in the sky. Some of the rifles I had were marked with the rifle serial number on the top of the wrist like some wartime Maltby produced No.4s examined over the years. The standard protocols were not adhered to. Maybe Peter can chime in with his thoughts since he was there! I do know one thing, many of the rifles I've imported and worked on that were survivors of the gas axe, had been flogged to death in class after class at the sniper schools after the L96 was adopted. The unit Armourers most likely had their hands full keeping them in spec up until they were released from service and sold off. We always guessed that at the very least, half of them were scrapped because they were just plain worn out.

[Roger Payne]

I suspect you may well be right Brian, although one minor point (which probably doesn't alter anything) is that the L42's that Charnwood got came from the MOD via Dince Hill. Charnwood were allowed to have them so long as they exported them all again. This led to the daft situation where they had to export them & then reimport some of them (60 IIRC) from CS in Canada. I know for a fact that Rob Hallam had about thirty examples in his 'personal collection' at one point! He kept so many that when they did have the big auction at Bonhams in 1998 he flooded the market & they weren't selling. Can you believe that the way things are now?! I also know how much Charnwood paid for them, rifles complete with pretty much the CES in the crates.................oh for a time machine!

[Brian Dick]

You've got that right Rog! I thought I'd die with the last ones I bought and imported. They were cheap too and repaired when I sold them. I still have a 1975 in my collection that was Rob's. My favorite is a 1971 that had a telescope PL described as one of the best he'd seen in years when he serviced it. It's a mismatch bracket but collimates properly and the one I shoot. The rifle is also a very nice one that wasn't dragged through many fences!