L42A1 1975

[desperatedan]

With prices going the way they are, it was only a matter of time before L42's etc started to appear in the "faked to be sold as real" category just like all those K98k sniper's have been for the past 30 odd years.

It's not just firearms. One of my other interests is military issued watches and prices of those have also rocketed over the past few years. This has now seen the emergence of fakes of not only the rarer expensive types but even the humble CWC Quartz G10 is not immune to attempts to pass off copies or made up "bitsas" as originals.

[desperatedan]

Now I realise who the seller is I must say I find it hard to accept that he is knowingly behind this. I don't know him well, but I do know him, & I think it is far more likely that he has been sold a pup. He has shown me several unsolicited kindnesses when we have had dealings over the past few years.....

These things can happen of course. Only last week I saw a well known specialist auctioneer sell what they had described as a "scarce MkI late model Fairburn (sic) Sykes dagger" for £2500 (£3300 inc fees). The trouble was it wasn't a "late" First pattern FS but was an early nickel plated Second pattern model worth perhaps half that figure at best. No doubt the misdescription wasn't intentional on their part but I feel sorry for the purchaser. It just shows that you should do your own research when you can and not to rely on descriptions even from the highly reputable houses.

[Promo]

.. so did anyone also tell the seller on his phony L42A1 rifles, or do we only discuss it and later tell people coming up with them to forums they should had known better?

PS: someone should also save pictures of those and post them in here, in case the listing gets deleted, so that for future reference they are recorded.

[bigduke6]

.. so did anyone also tell the seller on his phony L42A1 rifles, or do we only discuss it and later tell people coming up with them to forums they should had known better?

PS: someone should also save pictures of those and post them in here, in case the listing gets deleted, so that for future reference they are recorded.

Totally agree Georg, problem with Knock ups in the UK, they gain providence on the circuit, Even a very reputable and famous gunshop on a famous range, have been known to knock up something and punt it on, a member here who has turned his hand to writing was on the receiving end of such a rife.

Other knock ups are passed through the auction etc, Desperate Dan mentions K98s, I,m sure you cringe when you see the crap some have knocked up and tried to punt it on through Scotarms.

As for the dealer regarding the L42,s I have to grit my teeth and avoid any mud slinging but his knowledge on firearms is about as good as mine on wild flowers.

He contacted me many years ago when he was with Jeff Organ regarding a knock up by The Late Chris Barber, a pile of crap I bought but was sale or return, asked on this forum about it and recieved the truth behind it, totally made up but the workmanship was abysmal to say the LEAST, was returned for a full refund, as that dealer was a true gentleman.

I told him all the info I had, but fell on deaf ears, they still went ahead and sold it, it had gained an extra 0 on the original price since I had it.

So if anyone here has a so called, yeomanry Light horse SMLE then you have in fact a item of someone's imiganination and the whole story behind it is pure fairy dust.

[Alan de Enfield]

Totally agree Georg, problem with Knock ups in the UK, they gain providence on the circuit, Even a very reputable and famous gunshop on a famous range, have been known to knock up something and punt it on, a member here who has turned his hand to writing was on the receiving end of such a rife.

I have seen them sell 'totally original' Enforcers that were never assembled and were originally sold off as barreled actions at the end of the contract.

I did contact them about one, and was told 'its a mistake, its been removed from sale' the next day it was back with the same details so I called again, I was told they had no idea why it had appeared again, and anyway it had sold that morning.


They had a Mk1*** which was clearly marked DP but they were selling as a 'live rifle', and no mention of drill-purpose in the description. Similar story to above when I called them. It was removed, came back onto their website and was sold a couple of days later.


Sharp practices abound in the secondhand gun market.

[Roy W]

.. so did anyone also tell the seller on his phony L42A1 rifles, or do we only discuss it and later tell people coming up with them to forums they should had known better?

PS: someone should also save pictures of those and post them in here, in case the listing gets deleted, so that for future reference they are recorded.

Someone being someone else, presumably?

Here they are then

[bigduke6]

There is, which I thought an original 4T out there which was made up took like a L42, it was sold at Scotarms same time as the rifle I mention in my previous post, it did have the correct scope etc (not matching) but had a hole drilled in the butt socket ( I suspect for a sight etc) but no engraving etc. I tried to tell Mike at the time its not a L42 but fell on deaf ears, I need to try and find the auction catalogue see if I can find the serial number.

I have mentioned this rifle before so its not new to the forum, I do recall these things now and again as its how these knock ups are circulated (in my eyes) its basically crap some one has bought, sit on it then punt it on later etc when the heat dies down.

Chris Barber had a big collection of crap so there must be a lot of his stuff out there popping up now and again.


If only a lot more folk come forward with information on the melons they have bought in the past etc, it would make the hobby a lot easier, we have all done it at some point regardless of what it is.

[Melanie_Daniels]

The Enfield ledger I believe, it lists most L42 conversions by serial number and conversion batch/date.

And where is it possible to find it?

[Gil Boyd]

Melanie,
If you put up the S/N of an alledged L42, I along with two others on this site hold that information. We will in return, IF, it is on the original conversion lists, provide you with the date and batch, and its final MOD destination for storage forthwith with the full amount sent on that day...........or at least after breakfast

[BigBadDog]

Sharp practices is perhaps a bit of an understatement.

These retailers trade on their expertise and reputation, so they are either exposing their lack of knowledge and professionalism or their outright fraud and dishonesty, either way purchase with extreme caution.