L8 conversion to L42A1

[Noble_Guardian]

Hello,

I'm currently looking at buying a Lee Enfield Rifle from someone. He says it's a M47C that has been FTR in 1948 and then converted to a L8 configuration. The L8 has then been converted to a L42A1 configuration. Does anyone has more information on that conversion ? I already submitted a search to Simon on the Serial number service thread.

I have some on the pictures he sent me and more is actually on the way at my request (including the barrel and the bolt).

What do you guys think ?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Peter Laidler]

What do I think? I won't sit on the fence. I think that it's about as straight as a corkscrew. I won't bore you by saying anything else about it..............

[browningautorifle]

Love the screw staking on the front pad.

[Noble_Guardian]

Well, I know that it didn't look completely correct, thus the reason why I'm looking for the vast knowledge of people on this forum.

What could this rifle be then ? Could that be a L42 reproduction that someone tried to make with a L8 ? Or it looks like more some No4 Mk1 that someone tried to modified with a number of 7.62mm parts ?

I only know that the mag seems to be a correct 7.62mm mag, but I'm not sure about the other markings. I'm still waiting for picture of the bolt and I also asked for to see the barrel without the upper handguard.

[browningautorifle]

What could this rifle be then ?

An accumulation of parts assembled to a very broad spec?

[Peter Laidler]

It looks to me like a sporterised ten-a-penny BSA No4 that someone has badly made into a fake No4T. He's then obtained No4 profiled 7.62mm barrel and screwed it on. Together with a 7.62mm magazine. Put a fake bracket on it and said that it's an L8. What are you waiting for pictures of the bolt for. It's a standard No4 bolt that's fitted to the correct rifle.

I'm sure that there are already some experts analysing the pictures but you really don't need to be told anything else. It's as straight as a corkscrew is all you need to know

[Noble_Guardian]

Well, thank you very much for the information. I don't really know anything about LE rifle so I'm learning !!

Even if it doesn't have collector value, it can still be used as a decent shooter in 7.62mm, right ?

[Peter Laidler]

Right............. No, wrong! As a shooter, probably OK but as a shooter for putting holes accurately into targets it'll be crap. Just my experience in that format. Sorry to bge the bringer of bad news and all that!

[Noble_Guardian]

No worries !! I prefer to learn the blunt truth before buying the rifle than after !!

[Surpmil]

I suppose it could be a genuine TR rifle that was unconverted until someone got at it, but wasn't the "TR" usually struck through later on unconverted rifles?