Printable View
Now that the No.4 T on auction has been picked apart, what about the L42A1 that has been on GunBroker for about three months. GB Item# 366494412. Other than the price and the slightly altered scope mount, what do the experts here see wrong with this kit if anything ?
I had a quick look in the MKL and found a few things that might help you ….
http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.JPG(Click PIC to Enlarge)http://photos.imageevent.com/badgerd...20_Medium_.jpg
Milsurps Knowledge Library - 1971 L42A1 Enfield Sniper Rifle
Milsurps Knowledge Library - 1973 Rifle 7.62mm L39A1 L42A1 (Illustrated Parts Catalogue)
Milsurps Knowledge Library - From No4 Mk I (T) to L42 AI - Part 1 (by Graeme 'broadarrow303' Barber)
Milsurps Knowledge Library - From No4 Mk I (T) to L42 AI - Part 1 (by Graeme 'broadarrow303' Barber)
Regards,
Doug
Nothing new there Badger. Asking for personal opinions of what people think about this rifle and the kit.
No problem... :thup:
You might get more responses by publishing the link to the auction itself, to make it easier for members to get to and review .. ;)
British L42A1 Sniper Rifle : Curios & Relics at GunBroker.com
Regards,
Doug
It's an L42a1 with lots of goodies. Too bad no photos of the extras, as some are quite desirable in of themselves. But it's an L42 with what must be a mismatched scope and bracket that may or may not fit well. Never mind the cosmetic issues of the massive divot out of the bracket. Or whether the wrist has been cleaned up to "nicely" match the new scope number. (also no photo.) Considering that a fair number of L42a1s were imported into the US without scopes or with non-matching units, it's to be expected.
But if you are asking if it's a fair price? Wait until the auction ends and see! Figure it's worth about 20-30% less than the selling price, normally. Then figure how long it'll take to make up that 20-30%. Or just buy it, shoot it ( or whatever makes you enjoy such things) and be happy!
ETA: Stupidly enough, I think the bracket was altered to move the L1A1/No.32 scope way back! I can see the limited utility in doing so, but given the hit in value, wouldn't want to do such a thing myself to a real bracket.
Having thought that, I'm now wondering if it isn't actually a matched set. The bracket numbering is a little unusual, but no concrete similar style marking spring to mind without doing some digging. Check Badger's links above. I'm headed out to do some prep work on the hunting property and don't need to be be sitting in front of this infernal machine any longer!
I would concur with JM. It is clearly a 'real' L42 but more photo's would have been much better. The style of markings on the bracket look very 'teutonic' to me. I have seen other L42's that were released initially on to the German market that bore this style of letters/number as later additions, but these were stencilled onto the woodwork, not the bracket.
ATB
The auction write up clearly states that a detailed picture album is available on request. This is what was sent to me when requested.
Picasa Web Albums - Tony Roberts - June 24, 2013
Very detailed pictures. Take a look and tell us what you think. When asked, the seller stated that the scope mount came to him with the rifle as you see it and seems to be well aligned. The cutout was for some el crappo scope that had been mounted in it.
He has stated that if it doesn't sell as a kit he may break it up and sell off all the parts separately. I would think that he could get at least $6k or more that way. The scope and matching tin should go for well over $3k alone. Your thoughts ?
The GOOD thing about an L42 with a bit of a pigs ear bracket is that, as some of you already know, (and don't tell him that I'm telling you this.......) 50 or so of the very first run of Roger Paynes telescope brackets were fitted to needy L42's being destined for War Reserve stocks*. On that basis, the fact that this example has a bit of a butchered bracket should be of little or no concern because you could easily replace that butchered bracket with another of those very brackets as one becomes available. That it might not be 'original' - then I wouldn't worry about that either because by definition, nor is ANY L42! They're all simply converted hybrids........
Just so long as the new bracket is fitted and collimated correctly as were the replacements, then what's the problem?
*They were set aside but hastily re-issued following a series of mishaps with the ....... Oooops, better not say any more. But alls well that ends well as they say!
Just my 2c's worth
In the UK a complete L42A1 and accessories as described in the advert sells for at least £6000
That's helpful! But the "matching S/N" Scout Regiment scope boggles the mind! None of my transit chests have a "SRS" number assigned, IIRC (and have no photos of such). Since they were brought into the US without any accessories AFAIK, it seems rather unlikely that this one would be the exception, esp. as it's misssing some important bits. i.e. this ludicrously expensive little business:Quote:
Originally Posted by Charlie
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a39d0e6d-1.jpg
Never mind the night vision bracket or the chamber cleaning stick.
You should know a bit more about this L42 Pete, it was one of the batch that was sent to the school of
infantry, Warminster, and not Donnington? For trials or for instruction purposes do you think?
Getting feeble minded:
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...DSC01774-1.jpg
Scout Regiment scope S/N on the OUTSIDE of the transit chest...But no match to the optic inside!
---------- Post added at 06:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:38 PM ----------
BTW, I think that if someone looks hard enough, that mangled bracket has been a subject of a thread here previously. I'm pooped, so it's up to y'all. Cut two trails through the "jungle", cleared a couple of kill zones, and drove a 100 miles afterwards before flopping down here. An L42 would be an encumberance in these woods...
^%$$**&!!! Left the swing blade at the tree line! No scabbard, unlike the machete. Dad gum it...Tarnation, even.
Most of those School of Inf rifles were there at the end of their lives Colin. Some were taken away very early on and I suspect that these were the 'non standard' rifles/barrels/bodies that were modified at RSAF tyo a codified spec and then put back into the system later. And hence, duplication of serial numbers
A chum who worked with the snipers at Warminster can never believe how clear my post-Peter revamped scopes are - the ones he used to deal with were very much as DPL describes - very tired and at the end of long service years.
I imported the last batch of 30 or so that no one wanted in England back in 2001. Even the tired ones tuned up with freshly serviced scopes. All went out the door test fired and ready. Even the real tired ones shot better than I could once serviced and tuned.
Note to self not to use auctions selling L42. LOL
Good Day Roger,Quote:
Originally Posted by Roger Payne
It's interesting that you mention a Teutonic look. I saw a fascinating No 4 (T) when I went to the German Army Technical Museum (Die Wehrtechnische Studiensammlung) at Koblenz. What struck me was that the Germans had modified the stock so it was a straight grip and that the scope and mount were repainted in bronze green. A number of pieces in that museum were unique.
I was lucky enough to find one of the rifles that Brian Dick brought back and add it to the collection. It took allot of patience and determination, but I completed its CES some time ago.
Best Regards,
Michael
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...dtRgW9al-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...xkGFMxXl-1.jpg
https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...55UPVh0l-1.jpg
Michael,
Thanks for that; it's certainly a new one on me! Thanks for posting the photo's - they're another interesting little addition to the saga of the Lee Enfield.
ATB
R
There's something not quite right about that rifle (thread 17 pics) if you ask me............ I have seen one or two and......... Yep, not happy. Not the stupid butt configuration or mickey mouse paint on the telescope but....
Peter,is it the .303 magazine that's catching your eye...
I just had a closer look & now you come to mention it the rifle has a textured brunofixed finish which would be correct for a late war 4T but not for a L42. Also, there's no designation engraving on the body side wall. Looks like a real 4T action though. Flight RN, was it definitely marked up as a L42A1? Was the forend cut short........just wondered if it might have been a 4T that got mis-labelled as a L42.........?
Odd, but presumably it has some sort of provenance to have got into the German Army Technical Museum.
Good Day Roger,
I think you are spot on. The museum was so...overwhelming that I might have mislabeled the picture. I don't have any other pictures showing the fore end so I will concede that its likely a No4 (T) an not a L42A1. The museum is still very impressive and full of some unique pieces. These are a very, very...very small sampling.
Regards,
Michael