Does anyone out there...........

[Peter Laidler]

Does anyone out there on planet Forum own No4T or L8(T) or L42 rifle with the serial number
33072 or 35389. Have you got these listed Simon P?

I ask because I've just unearthed some trials paperwork relating to some 1969 trials of the Leatherwood ART telescope at Warminster and these rifles were used with the special brackets. What we don't know yet is whether these two rifles were still in .303 or L8 guise or even Ex 42 because the paperwork specifies that they've been recently converted. Converted to what exactly is a bit unclear.

Anyway, if you've got one of these......... Additionally, a couple of L1A1's were also converted to accept the ART and the No74 sights too.

The Leathermans weren't acceptable (and the No32 was marginal too. The No74 was the best.....) and the trials ended. There ended the service life of those special brackets too. NEVER approved for fitting to the L42. The mounting bolts came in for a bit of stick too because they were allen bolts (yes they were.......) and subject to shear by the user who always wanted them tighter that jumbo jet wheel nuts.

While were on the subject, I have also unearthed the paperwork that relates to the Envoy rifle fitted up with a Leatherwood and supressor. I know a picture of this rifle exists with all sorts of captions but......... This was trialed by the UK MoD as a prvate venture on behalf of M.A.Corporation who fitted the sionics supressor and the ART Mk2 telescope in Sept 71

There, another useless bit of No4T or L8 or Ex42 history

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.

[Thunderbox]

Oooh... close. I have 4(T) 35347

Good to hear the info about the suppressed Envoy, after years of stories. There are, however, photos of at least two different Envoy/ART combinations; I wonder if they were both from the same venture?

[Simon P]

Sorry Peter, not even close:
No4T 3364#
L42 3591#
L42 3594#

My Envoy No E38# came set up, similar to an Enforcer with Pecar scope, one of the forumers has one very similar & believes they are both Ex-Sussex police, from memory he told me they purchased 10 Envoys?

Images that others have posted on the forum in the past:

[Peter Laidler]

Picture two is the rifle in our trials, with the No8 butt. That was taken on the grass at the side of the Trials wing at Warminster. I don't know what the mount is but the mounts for the 1969 trials were allen bolts while picture 3 shows the common IWS mount. Anyway, that's taken some of the mystery out of this fabled rifle. I wonder who these mysterious Middle Eastern nations were. Maybe they had another variation of the SBS too because it was never approved or adopted for the UK Army or Navy/RM according to SxxxRxxx

[Simon P]

I also had this image archived in the same folder, again some one had posted this on one of the forums a while ago:

[Peter Laidler]

Yes................ Thanks for that Simon P, that's the bracket. Made up at RSAF for the 1969 trial from the real grainy microfische photos complete with allen bolts that the ham fisted Scottish snipers on the trials team kept trying to shear off.

That's the history of these brackets if you happen to have one. It would appear, although it could be corrected if 7.62mm L8 or XL42 rifles 33072 and/or 35389 turn up, that these brackets were only fitted to No4T rifles.

I don't have a prefix number for the rifles either. Anyway, it'd be nice if one of them turned up on this forum. It'd make it a bit special....., or a bit MORE special than they already are.

Even more interesting is the fact that I still know Major Tony Bxxxxx, the Officer who conducted the trial. We worked topgether together on another trial a couple of years ago.

Anyway, thanks Simon for that info, that's put another Lee Enfield 'myth/mystery' to bed

[Thunderbox]

I also had this image archived in the same folder, again some one had posted this on one of the forums a while ago:

That used to be in my collection: an Envoy converted to L42A1 configuration with (apparently) all-new military parts and then re-suncorited.

[Peter Laidler]

The Envoy on the trials wasn't like that shown by SimponP Thunderbox, it had the No8 type fore-end with mag and No8 butt with rubber butt plate. The bracket fittings on that look a bit....., er how do we say it....., er...amateurish to me

There was also a report on the feasibility on using telescoped No8 rifles to be used for indoor sniper training. I'll see if I can't find that too

[Warren]

does 3 away on the No.4(T) count ??? :-)##

[Peter Laidler]

Good and very close Wheaty......, but no cigar! Have you got one or possibly two No8's fitted with pads or have the threaded holes for pads though? I'm just going through the paperwork for those trialled in July '77 at the sniper wing. They must be out there somewhere