NOT QUITE A No4T or an L42 but…………..

[Peter Laidler]

Not exactly a Lee Enfield but certainly a worthy successor to the venerable L42A1. Here is a CES of the last days of the trusty old L96 rifle before it was declared obsolete and withdrawn from the UK Military. Some owners of ‘commercial’ or Police versions/variations of the same rifle might find their CES slightly different. Additionally, someone with an earlier ex-army rifle might find that this differs slightly in the content. Several things were added later on in its life as equipment progressed and improved. But this CES shows most of the kit from day one.

Attachment 37853
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Things to note in the photo above are the several additional close-cell foam pockets or additional recesses cut for additional equipment


Attachment 37854
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Photo above shows the nylon cleaning rod with slipped over it (in black) is the protector that slips into the bolt-way. Then the cleaning rod slips through the protector and centrally into the chamber and bore. Quite what it protects has always been questioned by Armourers – but there it is! The camouflage pattern item is the breech and telescope cover and underneath it, the standard 3-part screw together cleaning rod. Not visible is the rifle serial number on the rear of the bolt and on the clamp-plate of the telescope bracket (other side). Numbering the clamp plate was authorized because the telescopes weren’t originally numbered to the rifle. The clamp plate could easily (and cheaply) be changed in the Instrument or Armourers shop should the telescope or bracket be changed for any reason.

Also not shown is the fact that while the telescope was a pretty much standard but militarised S&B 6x 42, in the UK Military it was in fact the Telescope Sighting L13A1 and after a Base Workshop repair, this was engraved into the left side


Attachment 37855
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

The above (Muzzle) photo shows several interesting features including at the top, an additional telescope bracket for the later 4x -12x magnification larger diameter L17 telescope. Just visible on the top front is a picatinny dovetail which you could use for a laser rangefinder or…….., well, anything really! The standard cleaning kit contains the wire brushes, allen keys, pullthrough and 4x2 flannelette. Also shown in the pockets is a lens cleaning brush and screwdriver. The spotting telescope is the current KOWA. Well liked now and a VAST improvement on the older SWIFT spotting scopes that were neither wet or dust proof, even when the internal sliding parts were locked in position


Attachment 37856
(Click PIC to Enlarge)

The above photo (butt) a better illustration of the black plastic protector on the cleaning rod. Below the butt spike is the standard L8 rifle sling. These and the chamber cleaning sticks were removed from the old L42 rifle CES prior to their being withdrawn. A later addition is the prismatic compass shown end-on in a tight fitting pocket at the left side. Also visible just below the S&B sight is the rear iron sight. This is clamped onto the 12mm sight rail by an allen screw. To be honest, this sight was flimsy, difficult to read and not soldier proof. It was best left off and tucked away in the cleaning kit box! This CES was well thought out and improved over the life of the rifle. As you can imagine, combining the CES into one chest made it a VERY expensive box of tricks.

The astute among you will/might notice a couple of things. The first is that the butt plate part of the adjustable-for-length butt has been flattened and rounded from its previous concave ‘shoulder’ shape by the sniper because some of them found that the curvature didn’t suit the body armour. I suppose that it’s a bit like adjusting the cheek rest…….. The next point is that for some reason or another, the 8” or so long CWS/night sight bracket is not present. This should be recessed into the closed cell neoprene/foam block just below the trigger to back to the rear of the butt. I have a feeling that these IWS brackets were retained for use with the night sight for the new .338” rifle. Alas, nobody thought to mention that the new rifle was configured for the picatinny rail! Such is life

These rifles are available albeit quite rare so if you do get a chance, get one now, while you can. Enjoy………..

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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.

[RobD]

Peter, you say "these rifles are available" - can you give us a clue where?

[Peter Laidler]

Like me and the others who own one, you'll just have to keep your ears to the ground and eyes peeled. Let your local dealer know that you're after one - you know the sort of thing. The single shot target rifles are a variation of the L96 and can be converted so I am lead to believe

[newcastle]

Can't seem to find one here in the USA. HAVING said that, it would be better to find one in a year or so when I can afford it. Twould be worse to have on within my reach and have to behave horribly responsibly and not buy it as I need the money.

[fastback]

Obsolete? is one of the best sniper designs and completely current. I envy the possibility of acquiring such beauty

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Now that is some serious "kit"!

[Peter Laidler]

Ah.......... many thanks to a non forum member who's pointed out a small querie that I'd often wondered about myself. Some of you might have noticed............... At the right hand side of the box (photo 1 and 3) there is a close cell foam block that acts as a spacer. Some chests are very slightly shorter and DON'T have this block. The reason for this was to standardise the chests between the L96 type rifle WITHOUT a muzzle attachment and the slightly longer barrel commercial or Police rifles that had a fluted 'swirl' flash eliminator fitted. As a matter of interest, if you happen to have such a thing fitted to your rifle, this flash eliminator is a left hand thread (don't ask me why.....) and being made of aluminium alloy, any attempt to unscrew it in the conventional direction will buckle it

The forum is indeed an everlasting learning curve..........

[PrinzEugen]

Thanks for posting that Peter - really interesting to see it in all its glory. Given the wanton destruction by the army arse-coverers of this rifle (if it's obsolete then why not sell them off eh, especially given the dire finances facing the military) it must be one of the rarest military firearms in the world.

Let your local dealer know that you're after one - you know the sort of thing.

Sadly my local dealers tend only to be interested in stuff with two barrels which fire at round clay 'pigeons' and suchlike. Although, in general, interest in military shooting is on the up, this upsurge hasn't been recognised by those rfds with shops. Only specialists like DRP etc really cater for it - or indeed know anything at all about it. Mostly queries about Lee Enfields or any other armed forces rifle (or indeed any 'modern' high powered Accuracy International-type rifles) is met with dazed silence. It has happened to me on so many occasions I can only assume this is the case in most gunshops.

[Brian Dick]

There were only 13 imported into the USA back in the late 1980's or early 1990's I think. They came in through Gunsite in Arizona and how they managed to get them approved is beyond me. The same holds true for the 10 Australian SR98, (AW), rifles that were imported to AI's pre bankruptcy HQ in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in the late 1990's. There are only 12 L96 rifles here now as I exported one back to England! They are not legal to import being military issue and since they aren't 50 years old, not even eligible for addition to the C&R list. I know there are a few that have come to the USA through military channels but getting one here by normal commercial channels would be quite a feat.

[Hoskinstown_Garry]

The SR98, now that is a nice rifle, used one for four years and loved it. It could put your bullet right where you wanted it, any time. We were told that our SR98 had an Australian barrel, can you have a look at that one of yours Brian and confirm or deny?

Garry