Mossberg 42M-B US Property marked

I got this rifle for quite cheap money, didn't have any time to do research on it but I took it on my risk. Find attached pictures of this rifle, I hope someone can help me with it. Especially the impressive amount of threads in the receiver and also the bolt - what are those for, are they original and which scope mount (?) belongs to that?

Also, during which period were those rifles being used and is there any possibility to (roughly) date it? And for which rifles was this the trainer?

Thanks,

Georg

Here's an excellent Mosberg site. http://home.epix.net/~damguy/index.html Your rifle should be from a March, 1942 contract.

Your rear sight is missing, should have been an S series Mossberg sight unless it's a lend lease rifle, then it could have had a Parker Hale on it. My 42M-b is a lend lease with a Parker Hale PH16 rear sight and it is a wonderfull shooter. Check for British proofs.

No, it's *NOT* one of the lend-lease rifles, therefore the sight is correct. It does have a normal rear sight on the barrel, check the first picture, there's just no detail picture of it.

Can someone tell me what for the drilled threads are? And what scope would fit on this rifle?

None of the US Property 42M-b rifles I've seen have had a leaf sight on them, only micro adjustable sights, so this is new information for me. If you browse the site Kirk put up your questions should be answered.

Your rifle has the incorrect front sight. Can't be sure but the front sights sorta looks like off the Mossberg fold-down forearm rifles from the 1940-1950's.
The #4 reciever sight is missing for the holes on the rear of the reciever on the left side.
The holes on the left side of the reciever were for the Mossberg scope mount but they look over size now.
The holes in the bolt are for attaching the dust cover.
Your rifle was a British Lend-Lease rifle. Since it doesn't have the British Proof Marks it just didn't go to the civilian use after the War. The British Proof marks were not installed on the firearms until it was released for civilian use.
Made 1940-1943. Approx 46,000 made for Britian. It appears the last 1,000 never went to Britian and all seen are in very good shape with no British Proof Marks. I have one of those last 1,000 rifle and I just seen another one this weekend and it is the same as mine.
The rear barrel sights were all taken off by the British. Very late rifles had no barrel sights installed by Mossberg. Your rifle has the rear barrel sight because someone took off the # 4 reciever sight.
The Parker-Hale sights were not installed until the Military released the rifles for civilian use.
Is that a thread protector in the end of the barrel? If so you have one of the rare seldom seem threaded barrels for civilian use silencers. The Military never used a silencer.

I hope this helps.

Frank

Its a slightly different to the one we have just taken in which has been hidden / lost since WW2.

militaryb

I bought a scope for this rifle and was lucky enough that the threads on the left side of the receiver matched exactly for a Mossberg type 8A scope. Looks perfect, doesn't it?:)

Yep , I have the exact same set-up except mine has the bolt cover and the #4 sight . You should try to pick those up to complete the rifle. The peep arm swings 90 degrees back to allow the scope to mount . Excelent little shooters . Mossberg knew how to make barrels , that's for sure.
Are you allowed suppressors where you're at ? If so , I'd recommend thinking about a modern made Maxum style ( offset to hang below the barrel so you can sight over it ) to go with it. I had one made for my WW2 Reising M65 and it's a hoot to shoot.
Chris

Chris,

Thanks for your advise. No, we're not allowed to use suppressors, but that's no problem because I'm mainly using subsonic .22s which are quiet enough for shooting without ear protection (they even don't scare the birds away).

Do you have any picture how the bolt cover should look like? I'd definately like to recomplete the rifle, the scope was only the first part.

Here's a good shot of one.
O.F. Mossberg & sons . 22 cal. Bolt/clip model 42m(b (03/17/2007)...
Chris

My daughter and I were just down by the creek with our 42M(b) & 46M shooting stalks of grass and twigs sticking out of the water. Lots more misses than hits but a good time and excellent practice.
Funny though; the rifles that I have sound like neither the US nor lend lease British models.
No proof markings or obvious S.N. on either rifle. A peculiarity of Canadian models perhaps.
I'm just trying to figure out the mysteries of a No. 4 peep that accompanied them. Neither has been mounted with such a sight as the wood is too proud to have had this unit installed.
The peep has gotten a WD-40 bath in hopes of increasing it's functionality, as it's elevate function seems somewhat impaired.
Cheers
Tokguy

The Brits changed the Mossberg sights after WWII. They thought the Parker Hale sight was better.....it was not. The story is documented in More Gun For the Money the Mossberg story by Cheryl and Vic Havelin. The lend lease rifles have a story unto their own. Regards, Rick.

little late to this thread , but very nice looking rifle ,

These rifles are great shooters. Mine with Parker Hale sight..

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...37f6338f-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e7da2aa7-1.jpg

[QUOTE=joefriday22;281222]These rifles are great shooters. Mine with Parker Hale sight..

99% did not have that beautiful PH 16D receiver sight....most were the plain Jane 1/2 inch jobs. I would love to have about 10 of those in my pocket! Very excellent. Regards, Rick.

Ten thousand model 42M-B rifles were made in 1941. They were sold to the U.S. Government and shipped to England under the "Lend-Lease" program. The government paid ten bucks each for them. We bought ours in 1965 for home protection during the Watts Riots in August of that year. Later, as a teenager I took it (often) to the national forest and shot cases of 22LR ammo through it. It was, as they say, a "tack driver". Very accurate, rugged but far from pretty. It has the wrong stock, but it's otherwise original. They're worth from $250.00 - $300.00 last I heard. If you're interested in finding out more, it's out there. I used Google with success. Good Luck ! Ted

You can't touch one marked US Property and correct for $300. $4 to 450 is common as the well has run dry. You can find out all about them on the Mossberg thread of RimfireCentral where there is a sticky on these fine rifles. Regards, Rick.