L42 A1 Don't judge a book by it's cover

[Buccaneer]

They say you should never judge a book by it's cover, and so it was with this L42 AI rifle. The box looks as though it has been kicked to hell and back it's cracked and split and carries the scars of every storeman that ever handled it but inside was hiding a little gem. I bought this rifle several years ago before the current hysteria about all things "sniping" realy took off, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. It was complete except for the normal small items which I have since managed to find the only thing that is not origional is the scope case carry strap and that came from "Moore" leather, one day I might find the genuine atricle but until then the repro will have to do.
With greatful thanks to "Simon" for the information on this rifle he informed me that it was No15 0f 30 rifles with a conversion date of 01-07-71 it then being sent to Donnington.
As can be seen from the pictures it does not appear to have ever been issued it is unmarked with all of the parts marked and serial numbered to the rifle / scope, the hang tags are where they were on the rifle when I bought it the one on the scope though rather fient shows a last inspection date of 1982 and this was done at Donnington. The tag on the front sight is nice as it shows the rifle serial number along with the stores information.
I have not shot this rifle and do not intend to do so as I am lucky enough to other rifles to take to the range, this rifle and it's associated CES is in fantastic condition and I want to keep it that way.

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[bearrowland]

Buccaneer, that is a beautiful rifle! Stateside most (including me!) would give a right arm for that rifle, and I respect your ability to resist taking her out to the range and see how she shoots!

[jmoore]

That very well may be the first stepped diameter barrel L42a1 shown on this forum! Have yet to see one in person. Always thought they were later than '71, though.

Your front pad might set some sort of staking record for this forum as well.

Linked this thread to the old L42 Photos thread (this thread is linked back in Post #41):

L42 Photos

[Brian B]

Absolutely gorgeous!!!

Thanks for sharing!!

Brian B

[Aussie48]

What an absolute ripper of a find well done

[Surpmil]

That very well may be the first stepped diameter barrel L42a1 shown on this forum! Have yet to see one in person. Always thought they were later than '71, though.

Your front pad might set some sort of staking record for this forum as well.

Linked this thread to the old L42 Photos thread (this thread is linked back in Post #41):

L42 Photos

Yes, noticing those two features I thought it must have had a very active career indeed.

[Simon P]

Great looking rifle, do you think it has been in store since the conversion or has it been overhauled & put back in to reserve stores.

It makes my one look rather scruffy......

[Buccaneer]

Great looking rifle, do you think it has been in store since the conversion or has it been overhauled & put back in to reserve stores.

I think it has probably been issued but never used the "Kinton" on the side of the box would indicate that it did not spend all of it's life at Donnington, perhaps Peter would know what "Kinton" refers to. The stake marks on the front pad indicate some pretty heavy use somewhere but I suspect it was when it was in its 4T form as it has been around in one form another since 1944.... Everything in the box is in "as new" condition which also make me think it has never been used.

[Peter Laidler]

I would say that it has been used and that KINTON is the name of the Scots Guards (SG) sniper as his name is on the top of the box too. The SID label (Stores Inspection Label) and the date of 87 tells me that it has been rebuilt at one of the big workshops (I suspect Aldershot who serviced Pirbright) and returned to Ordnance with the new barrel as Aldershot was one of the few facilities to re-barrel. his would have been after the first issues of the new L96's in 1987. The SID date of 87 indicates that it was inspected prior to being put back '...on the shelf'. People don't seem to realise that stuff only goes back to Ordnance in A1/serviceable condition and complete to CES UNLESS it has been deemed obsolete or other instructions are issued to the contrary. For example, the L42's were permitted to be returned to Ord less certain parts of the CES, like the cleaning kit and chamber cleaning stick as these were carried over to the new L96 and my own L96 CES comes with a note inside which atates that '......these items to be carried over from CES-46045' which is the old L42 CES.

Loose front pads on L42's were a constant problem simply because the recoil was greater and we used to set the Enfield Rest to hard when they were test fired to test this AND for the fastness of the telescope against interior movement under recoil. So I'd say that the rifle was a well but carefully used example

Additionally, the IWS brackets were removed (but not all I hasten to add) as these were a 'dual item' and as such formed part of 2 CES's The second being the L1A7 Image Intensified Weaponsight or the IWS for short. All of the container labels that I have ever seen were the usual 1.7" x 1.2" lick-and-stick-on, covered with sellotape type with an almost amateur type print on them. 1979 would be a bit late because these items were all simply carried over from the old obsolete Cark Gustav 84mm anti-tank CES but that's my only comment

For the last days of the old Bren Guns and L4's, and the Sterling L2 SMG's as I recall, these could be returned to Ord as the CES PRINCIPAL ITEM ONLY which meant that as the item was obsolete, only the main accountable item needed to be returned to Ordnance, like the actual gun, The rest of the stuff such as magazines, slings cleaning kits etc etc. were usually dumped at the big workshops and scrapped The principal items were side tracked straight to disposals without the need for the SID in-inspection where they were scrapped. Small Arms were usually quickly destroyed

There another bit of useless history for you

[XL39E1]

2 Scots got there first L96's in Oct 87, so the dates pointed out by Peter seem spot on!

Those stepped barrels first appeared in late 1973, so 2 years after conversion, so seems like a replacement barrel!