L42A1 rebuilding

[Roger Payne]

I heard that the supply of actions that Bert Whittaker & later Geoff Hart used to build their specials had been the disposed of left overs from the programme to strip down 4T's & then gauge them to see if suitable for the L42 conversion programme. Bodies that were not deemed suitable or which were supernumerary eventually finding their way into their hands. However, I must emphasise that I only heard this from one source (Geoff Hart) & have never seen it substantiated elsewhere. Certainly, in about 1992 I bought an old hessian sand bag from Geoff. Inside it were four 4T bodies, all with pads on. One was a Trials action & the other three were BSA Shirleys. That is when he told me the tale. Strangely Brown has a keen interest in these derivative rifles - Mick, can you shed any light on this story?

Apologies John - I forgot to mention this when I pm'ed you yesterday!

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[Strangely Brown]

I bought an old hessian sand bag from Geoff. Inside it were four 4T bodies, all with pads on. One was a Trials action & the other three were BSA Shirleys. That is when he told me the tale. Strangely Brown has a keen interest in these derivative rifles - Mick, can you shed any light on this story?

Roger,
From memory Bert Whittaker was buying in No.4's from schools who were upgrading, although not necessary to Bert's Whitaker "Special". St Elizabeth's School rings a bell although at the moment I cant find the sale notes in my research papers. (When I croak I dare say the lot will be binned by Mrs SB)

I also seem to recall seeing papers which indicated he was buying No.4 actions (possibly T's) from Fultons; given that Bert was assembling his Specials in the South London Rifle Club which shares the back half of Fultons building that scenario seems entirely plausible.
I have no other knowledge of where any of the other rifles came from apart from the serials numbers of actions that Bert's son sold to Geoff Hart. (I have one of Geoff's RFD registers)