L8 conversion to L42A1

[Beerhunter]

The L8 has then been converted to a L42A1 configuration. Does anyone has more information on that conversion

Peter will correct me if I'm wrong on this nut seem to remember that the seminal work on this subject says that all L42s were converted from No.4Ts.

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

Yep, all converted from existing No4T's - of which this one ain't.

[Brian Dick]

Not to mention the (F)FTR '48 markings on the body side. I could be wrong but I don't think No.4T rifles went through FTR at Fazakerley post WWII. Someone in the know correct me if I'm wrong please. I've sure never seen one sporting those markings and I've had over a hundred through here in the past 21 years.

[mrclark303]

On the subject of No4T' FTR's, my father was a National Service armourer 1954 to 56 and he can remember as a lowly NS conscript, getting the very grubby job of removing stored No4T's from their crates after they were delivered on a convoy of army lorries, cleaning off the cosmoline, checking them over and test firing them, a very large quantity of 4T's and a very dirty job!

This stuck in his mind because of the sheer number of them and the bloody cosmoline removal....on the job for weeks! None of these had been FTR'd (that he could recall) and they had apparently been quickly checked over and stored after WW2.

I would guess they were replacing examples that were worn out and kept in service post 1945...

He did say that a small number were condemned and striped for parts, scopes etc

A very long time ago now, but it does also add some additional credence that 4T's never went through the massive post war FTR program.

[Peter Laidler]

It is on record that they did go through the FTR system at Enfield. And if at Enfield, then Fazakerley would seem natural too! But there wouldn't be any facility to examine/repair/rebuild telescopes at Faz whereas there would at Enfield because the large Optical workshop/facility was close by at the big Base Workshop at Woolwich But that said, I don't recall seeing the FTR marks. But does anyone know what FTR at Enfield marks on a No4 look like?

[Lee Enfield]

It is on record that they did go through the FTR system at Enfield. And if at Enfield, then Fazakerley would seem natural too! But there wouldn't be any facility to examine/repair/rebuild telescopes at Faz whereas there would at Enfield because the large Optical workshop/facility was close by at the big Base Workshop at Woolwich But that said, I don't recall seeing the FTR marks. But does anyone know what FTR at Enfield marks on a No4 look like?

Are not the Weedon "Star" markings on the bottom wrist of No4T rifles an indication of (at least) examination and upgrade to current spec (whatever that might have been)?

Markings

[mrclark303]

Evening Peter, you would have thought that the FTR markings would be standardised across the factories, obviously not though!

[Brian Dick]

The Enfield FTR markings I've observed are just a small, (1/8"?), F.T.R. and stamped on the left side of the butt socket just below the serial number of the rifle.

[Peter Laidler]

As I mentioned in the previous thread which you refer to in thread 17, that 6 pointed star doesn't feature as a Weedon Repair mark in the little markings book that was available to Armourers and quartermasters until the 70's............

[Roger Payne]

I've got a number of brand new unissued Sykes manufactured wartime walnut butts that bear the star marking, so I don't think it indicates FTR although I don't know what it does indicate on a brand new unused butt! Interestingly some SL butts bear it & some, otherwise identical, don't.