Quote Originally Posted by nickenfield View Post
one thing that does puzzle me is why it was ‘bought out of service’? at a time when rifles were probably in demand .....
Don't get confused with thinking this was simply a 'war-time' rifle.
My No4T was still in service with the RAF into the '70s and had a 'major overhaul' in '68 at Base Workshops.

These rifles were still in use until a replacement came into the picture.

In fact, about 1200 of the No4Ts were taken and modified into the L42A1 and calibre converted to 7.62 NATO for the Falklands campaign (we had no other sniper rifle available).

When eventually a new Sniper Rifle was procured the No4T would be 'retired' and go into stores, it would then eventually be declared obsolete and 'sold out of service' ('de-mobbed' if you like).