L42A1 experts. Need Info.

[Charlie]

I don't know much about the L42A1's. Recently I aquired a nice L42A1. It has some problems, but all things considered the price was more than right. The basic rifle is in excellent+ condition, shows very little wear and retains 96/98%of the original finish. The bore is perfect. The receiver is from an original No.4 Mk.1 T dated 1945 and has all the correct T markings plus the L42A1 designation on the left receiver rail. The scope mount is an original , but don't know if it's original to this rifle. The scope is a No.78 Mk.1 and is marked 99-960-6970, 12372/87. Scope is in excellent condition with clear optics. The original magazine is missing. On a whim I stuck in a mag from a Ishapore A1. It slides right in and latches and it feeds pretty good. No ejection of course but looks like it could be modified to work if nothing else available. The old numbers on the butt and forearm are barley readable and do not match the receiver. No rear sight. My questions are:
1. Is the scope correct.
2. Should the scope mount be numberd to the receiver.
3. Are there any correct mags available.
4. Should the stocks have matching numbers.
5. Should it have a rear sight or were they eliminated on the L42A1

Information

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[Badger]

A good place to start would be to check the 1971 L42A1 Enfield Sniper Rifle (click here), located in the England - Milsurp Knowledge Library (click here)

Regards,
Badger

[Amatikulu]

Is the left side of the receiver marked like this?





I am sure that Peter Laidler will be able to answer your questions with specifics but I have the following concerns from your description:

1. The L42A1 had a barrel with cordal rifling which to me seems far from perfect (in fact until it was explained to me I thought my rifling was stuffed as it apeared shallow and rounded).

2. The L42A1 was "linished" to remove the original markings from the left side of the receiver so the "T" marking by the ejector screw is not normally visible

3. The scope should be an rebuilt No.32 mark 3 cancelled out and redesignated L1A1 (If I recall correctly), to designate metric conversion

4. Mine has a rear sught fitted with the battle sight removed.

[Steve H. in N.Y.]

The No.78 Mk.1 scope is for a (Carl Gustav?) anti-tank weapon.

[MJ1]

.....MJ....

[FlightRN]

Greetings,
Where are you? The are some reports of faux L42A1 surfacing and yours does sound like it has some issues. Did you receive anything else (i.e. transit case, scope can, cleaning items, ect)? Pictures are a must in this situation to figure out what you have.
The number on the butt should match the scope (not the rifle serial number) if you are refering to the numbers just aft of the receiver that is readable as you look down on the rifle. The correct 308 mag shows up once in a blue moon on ePay ...but you just have to be lucky. The last one I saw went for $250+. I can not remember if the ons made by Sterling eject or not. Peter L. or Brian D. will hopefully enlighten us.

Regards,
Michael E.

[Mk VII]

The scope is for a Charlie G. Hope you didn't pay too much, as the right scope will set you back a chunk of change, even in these hard times.

[Charlie]

Thanks for the answers guys. I knew this rifle had problems, but the price was so good that I couldn't pass it up. I have been able to determine that the scope base is correct and original. I'd like to find a a mag for it but for a shooter, a good modern scope will be better than an overpriced original. But even with iron sights it should be a tack driver.

[smle-man]

Seeing the comment that the #32 scope was redesignated the L1A1 scope clears up where some of the L42 scopes went. I remember seeing them sold by Paragon sometime in the late 80s (telescope L1straight sighting) along with Numrich selling L42 barrels (the ad copy said that they were 7.62 Enfield barrels made to an FAL heavy barrel pattern - must have been L42s). Wonder how many of the scopes were sold here in the U.S. and who has them but doesn't know what they fit?

[Simon]

Thanks for the answers guys. I knew this rifle had problems, but the price was so good that I couldn't pass it up. I have been able to determine that the scope base is correct and original. I'd like to find a a mag for it but for a shooter, a good modern scope will be better than an overpriced original. But even with iron sights it should be a tack driver.

The NFC (formerly the Pattern Rooms) holds a list of serial numbers of those rifles converted to L42. Let me have the serial number of your rifle and I'll get it checked against it.

Please keep in mind though that although the list is comprehensive there are several known genuine rifles which do not appear on it.

Cheers,

Simon.