L42 To good to be true.

[CharnwoodOrdnance]

Hi Peter glad you are keeping well. Just a little info for you and everyone here that is not a serial number sequence we ever used. We never had a reason to make any L42s we had hundreds of then from all makers BSA Savage etc. I hope this helps with this rifles authenticity or not of course
Cheers

The serial number should tell you something. CO indicates Charnwood Ordnance. Have you ever heard the phrase '.....straight as a corkscrew?' If something is too good to be true, it usually is!

[Peter Laidler]

We KNOW that you didn't make them because if so, they'd have come to light by now. In any case, you probably 'owned' every L42 in circulation at one time!!!!! But CO was a serial number prefix that you used - although not 2CO. But reading it like that, you can see how the confusion arose. Regards.

[303 Collector]

From looking at the pictures and talking with the owner there are some things I'm not comfortable with.

The barrel is a chordal barrel which I thought were only on the later ones. You can see the step in the barrel just forward of the barrel band.
The machined area around the front pad.
Are there 72 dated L42's? I was under the impression the initial work was completed by the end of 71 resumed in 75 and again in 79,80.
The scope number 34288 is probably a rifle number as there is an E above the number which is hidden by the bolt in the photo.
The bolt has yet a different number.
Not sure if its the trick of the light or its painted in B and Q black paint.

I know some of these things can be explained but...

The owner has had it for 15 years and purchased it without a scope at Litts (?) auction.

[Peter Laidler]

The barrel could have been changed in service. This was a simple Base workshop job. Loads of '72's. Could the E-34288 have been another rifle number that a civvy had put there. Wrong bolt....... If it fits PROPERLY and gauges up, then just do what we did every day of the week.

Just being the opposite of The Devils Advocate.......

Regarding the number list. We had another official acceptance list at Warminster that was still restricted so never disclosed or discussed openly. But I did do a comparison with the 'other lists.....' when the opportunity arose one quiet Saturday morning of which we say no more. Some of the small discrepancies could be easily explained away, as could some of the duplicated numbers and on occasions, a couple of transposed numbers. So it's always worth looking at transposed numbers when back checking.

One of the old Lockies (RSAF apprentices) explained it to me as '.......it was just quantities that came in. But it was serial numbers that went out'

[Roger Payne]

Is it feasible to ask the seller for more photographs? Nice clear ones showing the front pad machining, mag well etc? The ones he's provided you with so far aren't great.....

If it's kosher then there's no reason for him not to co-operate.

[303 Collector]

He's helpful but has no idea on how to take pictures for emails, states its his age.
The previous ones were taken by a friend at his rifle club.
He is ok with a visit to view but its a 4 hour drive for me one way.
Have until the weekend to make up my mind.

[Roger Payne]

Then, & it's only my tuppence worth, I'd say if it is cheap enough to justify buying as a made up rifle using original components, then you can justify it. However, if it is 'proper L42 price' then I'd avoid it like the plague. None of us have seen it all, but I've seen approaching 1000 4T's & L42's over the last thirty five years & I've never seen front pad panel milling as messy as that on a real one.

[303 Collector]

Thanks Roger I'll think I will pass on it.
If anyone is seriously interested the price is around £1800 to £2000 in the North Somerset area.
Please PM me for details.

[CINDERS]

Yes your right Roger the milling under the front pad looks like woopdee do's on a moto cross track......

[Sentryduty]

For my own education here, the concern is the "wavy" edge on the bottom of the front scope mount pad, correct?

You fellows are much sharper at this than I am, that for certain.

Are there any concerns with the cheek riser and how it fits near the wrist? That looks poorly fitted to me, or where they like that some times?