Serial Numbers on L42 Brackets (One for PL).

I was asked yesterday by someone if the rifle serial numbers on the scope brackets on L42's were always engraved or if they were sometimes stamped. My impression was that I have seen both engraved & stamped rifle serials, but when I stopped to think about it I couldn't be absolutely sure I'd seen stamped numbers. I have seen lots that were engraved (often within a milled oval panel) & I'm sure I've seen stamped serials as well (I mean other than as originally stamped on the bracket during it's No4 T incarnation in the 1950's), but the old grey matter is failing & I can't be absolutely sure of I'm not mixing up stamped L42 era serials with the original ones that were done just post WW2.

In a nutshell, are both milled & stamped rifle serials acceptable on L42 scope brackets?

I'd better write the answer down.......

Roger, would it help if L42 owners on the forum submitted pics of their brackets?

Great, but not necessary to go that far, really. I'd just like to know if both are 'acceptable'.

I've seen them both ways Rog.

Both. Contrary to what I have been told by the many experts, the telescopes DID NOT go back to Enfield during the conversion programme. They went to 3 or 4 of the big workshops with dedicated Instrument sections and were converted and IF NECESSARY, repaired, in a what was called a WORP or War Office Repair Programme.

Sterling Catterick, Warminster and Aldershot were the usual ones but Bovington was another who workshop who did a few.

I don't think 27 or 43 Command milled a slot and engraved but I have seen a couple that would seem to contradict this. Warminster were guilty for re-engraving the new deesignation BELOW the old designation where it became illegible when assembled to the bracket. Later when the spec was clarified, they re-engraved to the norm of ABOVE the old designation. That's why you'll occasionally see the new designation engraved twice!

Cheers Peter & Brian. I was pretty sure I'd seen both but when I stopped to think about it I couldn't be absolutely certain I wasn't confusing stamped rifle numbers on brackets from the earlier 4 T era.
You know, it's like when you're convinced you locked the front door before you went out, but........

ATB.