When was the last L42 withdrawn from MoD service?

[mrclark303]

Got to love the 1A1, rather rough in build to say the least with some unique measurements (don't try fitting a Fal top cover, or a de-tabbed Inch pattern example, they jam solid)! I bet they are just as typically reliable up in the high Himalaya, the jungle or dessert as their cousins though!

[Gil Boyd]

Take on board lots of tales about Police mishaps here in the UK, but I would like to think noone this side of the pond would stack weapons up like that all loaded.
If they were for a parade, they clearly don't care what the wood work or cleanliness of the weapons were going to look like on the day!!
Sterlings with mags fitted

[mrclark303]

(independently invented in India by the way)

We will take that with a healthy dose of sarcasm as I am sure it was intended ... the 1A1 cross breed mutt, is the result of direct and total rip off of Fn's copyright's, perhaps by blending Metric and Inch design features they though they would get away with it!

They didn't, were forced to eventually pay some money to Fn and place orders for inch pattern (and metric?) rifles as part of the agreed settlement.

[Vincent]

Sterlings with mags fitted

That’s what we call “Open Carry” here.

[Promo]

We always guessed that after their hard service On Her Majesty's Service, the rifles that weren't culled for scrap were all purchased by Charnwood Ordnance and Navy Arms. As Peter mentioned, they had to be exported so came to Canada and the USA. Many were returned too, mostly from Canada so they could legally go on the UK market. I exported them to Canada, England and New Zealand in small quantity. Also guessing that half of the original production were relegated to scrap over time in service. I had over 60, the majority directly purchased from MoD disposals at Donnington by Charnwood Ordnance.

Don't forget quite a lot were sold in Germany by Frankonia.

[Brian Dick]

I'd guess Waffen Frankonia got a quantity from Charnwood Ordnance.

[bigduke6]

I'd guess Waffen Frankonia got a quantity from Charnwood Ordnance.

Would anyone know how many they got ? Brian you mentioned the condition that some were in could you be more specific? I remember DRP mentioning something similar.
Only ask as one arrived on my doorstep last week, (Big thanks to Promo for that.)

[Roger Payne]

I saw all of the L42's that Charnwood got from Dince Hill (who in turn got them from the MoD disposals). Charnwood had them all stacked up in their transit chests. NoBS Dave & I spent ages looking over them with Robert Hallam (Tony's son). I recall being told at the time that there was a total of either 380 or 385, although I know that other keen L42 enthusiasts believe there were rather less in the batch released. I must say I accepted the figure I was told & didn't count them all individually! There was certainly a shed load of them, & I didn't see any L39's, Enforcers or other heavy barrelled 7.62mm variants mixed in with them - they were all L42A1's.

[Brian Dick]

They varied cosmetically but were all in need of TLC. There were a handful of exceptional rifles too. Mostly from from Robert Hallum's personal collection. I still have one of those, a 1975 conversion. I purchased the last 30 remaining that no one else wanted. It was a long project getting them all back up to snuff but well worth the effort.

[bigduke6]

Thanks Rog, the figure 380-385 was this all the rifles Dince Hill had ? or was this just the number supplied to Charnwood ?