L42A1, pictures and question

First off Big thanks to Promo who made it possible and being patient.

It arrived last week just before I was due back to work so had little time take some pics, the scope was stripped soon after to repaint etc, a big thanks to Peter who offered his services but as its apart will plod on.

Few pics below, the one question is has anyone seen an FTR mark on a L42, I gather it was from its days as a No4 T, but only seen similar mark on trials No4 T's. If anyone does have an L42 with the same FTR please contact me.

Rifle does check out, iThe hand guard is numbered to the rifle and the inside of the fore-end iI've not included pics of these as gives the forger too much info.

It was mentioned in a previous thread the condition of some of these rifles, and think this one has had a hard life but overall not too bad.

Think someone liked shiny brass as the scope brass parts have been cleaned of paint etc, but that is getting sorted........ the rest will get a good clean, oil and some linseed on the timber.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2mai8qaf-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1ph0bws2-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...i3e3o9x0-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...k9jjwt8z-1.jpg

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https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...tysrm6ca-1.jpg

Big Duke,

Congratulations!! It's a great day when you can acquire a special Enfield like an L42A1. They are excellent rifles and all the kit and transit case make them even neater!! Let the search begin for all the missing bits. It's part of the fun.

Enjoy it and let us know how it shoots!!

Brian B

Cross referenced this thread in the old "L42 Photos" thread, for future use. Link below:

https://www.milsurps.com/showthread.php?t=19309

Well done Geoff, been looking forward to your pics mate. It's a very difficult rifle to acquire in the UK for a reasonable price, really pleased for you and slightly green with jealousy too!

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Originally Posted by Brian B

Big Duke,

Congratulations!! It's a great day when you can acquire a special Enfield like an L42A1. They are excellent rifles and all the kit and transit case make them even neater!! Let the search begin for all the missing bits. It's part of the fun.

Enjoy it and let us know how it shoots!!


Brian B

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Brian, hope to get to the range soon, have sourced a few unusual items and have a Scout Reg scope ready to fill the gap.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Well done Geoff, been looking forward to your pics mate. It's a very difficult rifle to acquire in the UK for a reasonable price, really pleased for you and slightly green with jealousy too!

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Thanks John, Its certainly made a dent in funds and means clearing out a lot of stuff a bit sooner than I thought, have to see what sells and doesn't also will have to let the LEC carbine go (if anyone is interested PM me)

Received a PM this morning with some good news regarding the rifle, will post more later regarding that. Its certainly one way of clearing the Gun cabinet.....

It was easier to part with this rifle since I still have another L42A1 sitting in my gun room. But it was a hard decision between those two, since the one which now Geoff has shown is matching to the transit chest, while the other one isn't (but in a bit better condition).

I feels great to know that it now has a good home and someone who also gives the old horse some more care than I did (not that I didn't care - but I wouldn't have been able to do the restorations that Geoff is doing). And I'm especially keen to find out more on its history and markings! It definately had seen useage as a sniper, so anything will be highly interesting!

Georg, you may wish you had of sold the other...... but a big thanks again, when I mentioned a clean and oil, its just me I like to dose my rifles with oil etc (must be the Engineer side of me), I,m very happy as it is and a perfect example of a used sniper rifle, just the shiny bits on the scope !!! but posting it has brought some info to light and thanks to forum member XL39E1 who sent a PM this morning which was much appreciated,

It is listed in the original batch of XL42E1 rifles that were converted in January 1970.
From what he has managed to work out from the Serial number lists, this rifle was Converted in early 1970, then again converted to true L42A1 spec in early 1971.

I sent a picture of the side of the body as it would of had XL.... but it looks like this was linished and then re engraved to L42A1. I will add a few more pics to the original post, to show the wear and tear and the body side.

Its certainly got a good home for many years to come......

After a lot of handling one thing it does need, is the fore end repairing, quite clear in picture #8, this part has snapped off at some point and has just been glued so no support etc. Will follow Peters instructions regarding the repair in service that he posted in the knowledge library, will need to do the draws also...... there is a lot of creeks and groans coming from it, also a few areas that need a touch up with Suncorite but thats about it, if it was a run of the mill rifle it would get the full monty, but want to do the bare minimum, it will be up to the next owner if he/she wants to make it look all shiny and new.

As mentioned, the rifle got the home it deserved! I am glad that it found such a good home and such a new owner! I don't regret selling this rifle instead of the other one - without you I'd never had known that the rifle originally was a XL42E1! Does this also explain the original question if Peter once had repaired the scope?

Georg, been that busy it was only last night had a good look at what it needs, I'm not planning on shooting it every week in fact I don't do much full bore at all these days, but be nice to take it out once in a while, so the bits I mentioned will give it some new life, as regards to scope I need to speak to Peter and see what he says. I'm sure he will chime in at the end of the week.

I'm working against a deadline at present regarding another project, all will be explained nearer the time and trying to sort out a few rifles to sell plus bits etc, so everything else on hold.

You can't just sit on it and not range test can you ?

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...affaa75a-1.jpg

Patience is a virtue as my Dad used to say, although it does get tested to the limit these days........ must admit if time was on the hands I'd be on the range as I type....... but once the few bits are done, I think it will benefit the trip to the range.

Nice one Dukey - looks the business!

Welcome to the L42 owners Club :beerchug:

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Originally Posted by Simon P

Welcome to the L42 owners Club :beerchug:

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To be honest Simon, I never had any intensions to be in the owners club, as that wasn't the original plan......... in fact I feel a bit guilty as to keeping it, but had a breakdown in comms and was left with a decision to make...... but am sure the other member will be on a winner sooner than later.

There are worse things than to be among the L42A1 owners club ... the entry fee may seem high nowadays, but it definately feels good to be in the club - doesn't it? :lol:

Sad, but true, Bigdukes L42 is generally how the vast majority of L42's looked like at the end of their days. Fore-ends were always 'dues-out', as were the handguards and when replacement fore-ends did come through they appeared to have been stripped from previously ZF'd earlier L42's, linished/sanded to within an inch of their lives. Occasionally a batch of new-made handguards would come through but....... Cheek rests were also....., well, I never saw a new replacement so they were always patched and patched over and over again........ more later..... Wife needs a hand getting her bike out!

The telescopes were even worse. Some could only be sealed/waterproofed with gobs of silicon inside the turrets and ocular lenses.

While I sort of see the point several owners make of keeping them original, I personally can see absolutely no benefit to doing a total rebuild, especially when the stuff is available. There's something about a couple of nice wood patches etc etc. But there's good patches and then there's pxxx-poor patches. Same as metal finish. One of - probably the most senior examiner in the Southern area - ZF'd L42's every day. Saying that they stayed in the 'dungeon' (as the main awaiting work armoured part of the building was called) awaiting spares or he ZF'd them. Whatever route they took meant that they left the workshop aesthetically poor

Sorry to be a pain. Who was it who had the copy of the L42 listings from the Armoury?
Could they PM me please for a quick query check.

Twas I dear boy, hence the sticky. :madsmile:

Make it quick though Gil as I'm buggering off to Italy toot sweet.

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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

Sorry to be a pain. Who was it who had the copy of the L42 listings from the Armoury?
Could they PM me please for a quick query check.

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Simon, by car or by plane? If by car, get your wife to make a stop at my place!

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Originally Posted by Simon

Twas I dear boy, hence the sticky.

Make it quick though Gil as I'm buggering off to Italyicon toot sweet.

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Me to, 4 weeks in the mountains East of Monte Cassino :dancingbanana:

Monte Cassino.......... Your No4 or 4T could have spent a few months of their early life there too........ My dad was at Monte Cassino, or in that part of Italy, unable to move further North. It was his experience there that forged his respect for the Poles and Sikhs

Although only 50 mtr, put some downloads through, apart from the flyer more than happy.


https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...5ka81r3o-1.jpg

The bravery that cost so many allied and German Lives for a bloody hill.....................amazing. Good on you lads, who knows what it was all for? There is nothing to corroberate the "reason why" that I can find.