Serial Numbers on L42 Brackets (One for PL).

[Roger Payne]

I was asked yesterday by someone if the rifle serial numbers on the scope brackets on L42's were always engraved or if they were sometimes stamped. My impression was that I have seen both engraved & stamped rifle serials, but when I stopped to think about it I couldn't be absolutely sure I'd seen stamped numbers. I have seen lots that were engraved (often within a milled oval panel) & I'm sure I've seen stamped serials as well (I mean other than as originally stamped on the bracket during it's No4 T incarnation in the 1950's), but the old grey matter is failing & I can't be absolutely sure of I'm not mixing up stamped L42 era serials with the original ones that were done just post WW2.

In a nutshell, are both milled & stamped rifle serials acceptable on L42 scope brackets?

I'd better write the answer down.......

Information

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[chosenman]

Roger, would it help if L42 owners on the forum submitted pics of their brackets?

[Roger Payne]

Great, but not necessary to go that far, really. I'd just like to know if both are 'acceptable'.

[Brian Dick]

I've seen them both ways Rog.

[Peter Laidler]

Both. Contrary to what I have been told by the many experts, the telescopes DID NOT go back to Enfield during the conversion programme. They went to 3 or 4 of the big workshops with dedicated Instrument sections and were converted and IF NECESSARY, repaired, in a what was called a WORP or War Office Repair Programme.

Sterling Catterick, Warminster and Aldershot were the usual ones but Bovington was another who workshop who did a few.

I don't think 27 or 43 Command milled a slot and engraved but I have seen a couple that would seem to contradict this. Warminster were guilty for re-engraving the new deesignation BELOW the old designation where it became illegible when assembled to the bracket. Later when the spec was clarified, they re-engraved to the norm of ABOVE the old designation. That's why you'll occasionally see the new designation engraved twice!

[Roger Payne]

Cheers Peter & Brian. I was pretty sure I'd seen both but when I stopped to think about it I couldn't be absolutely certain I wasn't confusing stamped rifle numbers on brackets from the earlier 4 T era.
You know, it's like when you're convinced you locked the front door before you went out, but........

ATB.