Never seen one before
Enfield L8A2(T) Sniper Rifle - 7.62 NATO : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com
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Never seen one before
Enfield L8A2(T) Sniper Rifle - 7.62 NATO : Bolt Action Rifles at GunBroker.com
Well, the L8A2 should have the Mk II trigger upgrade and the modified stock, and this has the Mk 1 stock. Looks suspect to me. The engraving looks like nothing I own or have seen.
Very odd.
In addition, the muzzle looks odd. No bayonet lugs.
If it is a 7.62 NATO barrel without bayonet lugs, it could well be a Lithgow "Range Pattern" barrel as produced in large numbers in the 'sixties.
Apart from genuine L8 tubes, what is the bayonet lug status on the various UK and Canadian 7.62 barrels?
Looks likes a fake or fantasy piece
After looking again, it looks like the lugs are under the front sight.
Sure looks like a Lithgow 7.62 barrel
Can anyone identify the telescope number? LOOKS like one that's been through my hands
Is it just me or does the entire front-end of that "L8" look odd?
The relationship of the front sight assembly to the fore-end looks all wrong; ditto the distance to the muzzle.
As far as I can tell, all "proper" L8s should have bayonet lugs forward of the lugs for the front sight base, as per a No4.
The "competition" barrels are reputed to be sans bayonet lugs, just like the Lithgow and Canadian made 7.62 barrels for the No4.
I don't own one (and probably never will), so all I am going on is a couple of photos and the data from several of Ian Skennerton's books: S.A.I.S No. 18 is the slim volume covering the L39A1, L42A1, 2A and L8 series.
Another thing: the REAL barrels are supposed to be hard-chromed in the chamber area. A dab of "cold blue" in the rear of any alleged L8 barrel will soon tell you if it is real: "colouration" = not real.
I will put my money on a non genuine rebarrell. Civilian target barrell.:D
All the genuine Ordnance Depot L8's I saw, mind you that was only 8 or so among a large batch of unknowns, didn't have bayonet lugs.
Peter,
Does 19231 register, thats what it looks like after a bit of darkening
Gil
Shouldn't the very fact that it has been engraved 'L8A2' arouse the greatest of suspicions. I don't know a lot about the later 7.62mm conversions but wasn't the L8A2 the converted No4 Mk1/2. As has already been mentioned the rifle shown still appears to be a Mk1 so should presumably be a L8A4. Or gave I goofed?
Engraving also looks sus to me - pix aren't great but have a good look at the EFD logo. I concur with limpet mine.
19231. Nope....., not one of mine
I've seen one legit one and it didn't look anything like that. I'd have to say it's as phony as three dollar bill.
Should it not be an L1A1 scope, being that it's on a 7.62 cal. Rifle?
So what was the lost intrinsic value of the base rifle that has been "Bubba'd". A shame......
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Dick
I've seen one of the six documented "Trials" L8T's and it was equipped with a bog standard No.32Mk.III. The marked one was from a small batch done in the 1970's and it didn't have a scope. I'd guess they would have had an L1A1 on it if it did. I can't remember if the wrist had a scope number stamped on it or not.
I just unwrapped a couple of "New, old stock", 7.62 "No4" barrels.
6 groove, RH twist. Narrow lands like the L1A1 barrel.
No bayonet lugs, mid-grey phosphate finish.
A tiny stamp on the LHS of the Knox Form.
Attachment 49646
"A W" stamped in 3mm sans serif letters, about 60mm forward of Knox Form, on the lower side of the barrel.
Thread on tenon is longer than a No4 and thus requires a breeching washer.
(No "cold-blue" to test for chromed chamber)
So, any ideas as to the origin?
I still believe the barrel to be of Lithgow origin.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bruce_in_Oz
I too have a couple of the parkerized military contour ones as Bruce describes above, but I think that the one one this rifle is what I have seen called a Lithgow 'fatso" barrel. It is heavy profile where the barrel is normally covered by furniture, then slims down to fit the front sight. The front sight ends up a bit further out than on a standard barrel, and there are no bayonet lugs on them.
It looks like there are grinding marks behind the front sight protector, could that be something removed from a Lithgow barrel?
The one I looked at in the basement of the National Army Museum (Chelsea) had a Canadian Arsenals barrel identical to those fitted to the DCRA conversion rifles done at Long Branch. The scope was still graduated for .303 and it was in the Chest No.15 I believe the chest was re-marked but can't remember now.
The Trails L8T I saw had an Enfield 7.62 barrel complete with the additional milling cuts for a wrench and CR1281 part number. The 1970's variant had the Canadian Arsenals barrel like the one Surpmil saw at the NAM.
Would it still be a no4 mk1 though? ie the stock is a mk1? Wouldnt it be a mk 1/2?
Yep, it would have a Mk2 fore-end. The only time we were allowed to fit a Mk2 fore-end to a Mk1 or 1/1 rifle was if it was a DP.
Final Assessment ....
Quote:
The authenticity and overall correctness of this item is open to question, in doubt, or undetermined.
