Anybody out there own one of the rare Long Branch converted L42A1's No 50L0027 or know of its whereabouts?
Printable View
Anybody out there own one of the rare Long Branch converted L42A1's No 50L0027 or know of its whereabouts?
I wonder if the Armourer who scribed the number on that tape was a tad myopic? I've got a 30L0027 but not a 50L0027.
Peter, anyone in your workshop have a pair of glasses made from the bottom of old Coke bottles?:lol:
Cheers,
Simon.
50 or 30...... It just shows how easy it is/was to get serial numbers mixed up. Then the WOCS ledgers get changed, then fiction becomes fact and then the 'correct' serial number is overstamped and then......... and then........ The last bit is a load of confusion so that eventualkly they call the correct number 'lost' and one of the special SA74A xxxxx numbers gets issued. No4/5's ,Stens, Signal pistols and Sterlings were notorious for it
Hey Simon. I resemble that remark! As a young armorer in the US Army back in the '80s, they'd never let me go to sniper school but made me an armorer instead so I could work on the weapons instead. I was about 20/400 and wore "Coke bottles"!! I had my eyes repaired in '94 but when I turned 40 it was all downhill again!! Ain't life great?
It's hardly surprising numbers are misread with light stamps, worn stamps etc. I've got a S.M.L.E. in the Armoury that looks, even under close examination, to be a 1918 Enfield, however under a glass it's clear it's a 1916.
Cheers,
Simon.
FTR will dull those markings too sometimes making them hard to read without a magnifier.
Brian,
I know exactly what you mean. My headlights are rapidly heading toward dipped beam these days. Infact I've often found the only way I can find the finer details of something is to photograph it with my phone then zoom in on the bloody image!!!
Cheers,
Simon
Simon...is the long branch L42 # in your records? what year was it converted?
I'm a watchmaker and blind in one eye. I use my eye loupe for a lot more than watch repair. Like looking at pictures on my phone. So yes, I'm blind in one eye and can't see out of the other.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon
From my research, 50L0027 is probably the correct serial number.Quote:
Originally Posted by Simon
Brian, this is an interesting post. You might recall the Long Branch sniper you restocked for me is one digit off of this L-42 conversion. One wonders what the chances of that is.
Hope you have been well.
Edit, from my collection of serial numbers, I agree that the 50 is a valid serial number.
Thanks for the input.
I was aware before my original posting that L42A1 rifle 30L0027 was on the list with multiple asterisk alongside entry suggesting something amiss as discussed with Dr R P prior to posting the transit chest images. What with the rifle No 50L0027 on the chest albeit on aged masking tape or similar I thought that the L42A1 list perhaps should show 50L0027 instead.
Now thanks to Limpetmine perhaps we are closer to confirming what the true number is? Perhaps he could be persuaded to post some pictures of his L42A1.
Peter if the sniper who was issued with the rifle and accessories and whom you would expect to have 20/20 vision and be at one with his issued equipment realised rifle number and or scope bracket didn’t match chest markings, what steps would/should he take to report fact and get rectified? Was it a simple matter of paint out and mask off old erroneous markings on chest apply new and say no more to avoid unwanted paperwork? I wonder what other marking is under masking tape and further paint finish in that area.
Quick chest question - What is the thickness of teh wood for these? and is it the same for the wooden bands which go round it and which it stands on that are about 1 1/2 inches wide?
Valleysniper, limpetmines rifle is still a No4T.
From known serial numbers on my list I have estimated @25+ rifles in that range.
[QUOTE=Lee Enfield;255431]Valleysniper, limpetmines rifle is still a No4T.
From known serial numbers on my list I have estimated @25+ rifles in that range.[/QUOTE
Apologies when I had private PM from Limpetmine thought he was implying had an L42A1 and not 4 (T).
The serial number on the lid of the chest wouldn't have made much difference to the sniper but if the rifle was stored in the chest while in the armoury, as many were, then the Arms storeman would simple paint-out the old number and paint in the new one. The important number was the master number on the rifle body
Sorry about that confusion Valleysniper. I was speaking of my L42 chest. The 50L (T)* that I own is still a No. 4. I wish my L-42 was a Long Branch!
Alas, it is not. But it is a Brian Dick import and a fine rifle it is.
Just posing teh quetsion again. what are the L42 chests made from. The No.4T were pitch pine i beleive but the L42 ones seem to be more sort of erm. plywoody. Is that right?
Marine ply. By a couple of makers including Remploy from Blackburn(?) as I seem to remember and another offshoot at Papworth in Cambridgeshire
Thanks peter,. Is the thickness of the actual case the same a s the thickness of the wooden bands which are around it which the case woud rest on / stand on.
From my readings, any LB rifle chosen for conversion was especially accurate to start off with. No surprise the rifle was chosen for the L42A1 conversion program.
Rifle and transit chest have been reunited and CES populated. Thanks to all that helped make both sides of the reunion possible!
Enjoy, thought you'd post some pics of the reunion though.
Was thinking that myself........but must admit I doubt any pics for sometime will beat Promo's P14 with the No32 scope and his bracket he got made.Quote:
Originally Posted by Valleysniper
Sorry Gents. Work life has been getting in the way. Will post soon.
I agree, that was first rate firearm porn :super:Quote:
Originally Posted by bigduke6
Brian, where did you go to Armorer school? I went to the I Corp one at Ft Lewis back in 1986. Also sadly cursed with **** poor vision. Only gotten worse since, lost my entire right visual field a little over a year ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
Cold Zero, very nice rig!
Fort Bragg, NC.
And me, Carlisle, 63A. January 1963 to Dec 18th 1965. Completed First Class Course, 1 Base Workshop Bandiana and 40 Base in Singapore 1968