L42a1 scope tin

[bigduke6]

It was actually £2,800, Geoff - in July last year.
I used an importer in the UK (can recommend him if anyone is interested) that added about £200 to the cost.
That was for the rifle, scope, tin and transit chest. It wasn't the prettiest in the world having been badly stored and owned previously by someone with a vivid imagination and a paint brush!
With a little bit of sympathetic work though it looks pretty good now, and shoots beautifully.

I have the CES bug though and through some very good friends on the forum have managed to complete the CES for the rifle without having to re-mortgage the house!

Since buying the rifle there have been at least 2 more that have gone through egun for only slightly more money than I paid for mine (one from the same dealer) - so definitely worth keeping an eye out on that site.

How Time fly's, didn't think it was that long ago, I honestly thought it was £3500 maybe thinking about Euro,s ? or was that the one that sold not long after or is that what your cut off was for the bidding ? Still one of the best deals so far.

[PrinzEugen]

I suppose it's down to what people are willing to pay - but auctions in general are a good pointer to what the real 'market' value is (as opposed to someone who's now seen said rifle, must have it and has, er, two bulges). Will someone pay £11k? dunno - but I'm sure with a minor amount of hunting around more of a bargain could be found. They could even extend the search to the USA, where most of the L42 fleet seems to have sailed years ago, and import it back.

I seem to recall that the L42s released onto the market generally came with a much reduced CES, meaning a 'gathering' process has taken place. Personally I'm not fussed re the CES - on the practical side I wouldn't mind the binos and scout scope for use on the range, but the only thing the box can hold in the UK is expensive lens brushes, booklets and fresh air (unless someone has a voluminous secure gun room).

On the debate about shooting the rifles, I don't have qualms about taking mine down the range - after all Mrs P-E would certainly question what's the point in lashing out on the things to sit in a metal cabinet, only to be brought out to be drooled over. Anyway, putting 60-80 rounds through it a limited number of times a year's hardly going to wear them out I would have thought. In any case most of those L42 rifles will be very well used in the main, given the limited number made and the very long service period.

[Gil Boyd]

Just as a recap for those that have the knowledge or the rifle in front of them could someone list the definitive markings from an L42 please, a simple 1 to 10 would do, as if you read the forum bits on the rifle there are contradictory remarks.
In one article on there, there is no mention of "TR" or S51 stamps appearing on the weapon at all.
It would be a great help on an easy to follow identifier list, as I have always assumed that it followed very closely to the 4T, except the inscribed or dotted D after the L42 followed by the year of conversion at H&H and a metric turret fitted.....or am I off the mark slightly.
Also the obvious barrel change, and wood work etc

[PrinzEugen]

L42 Markings:

Will have the TR on wrist and T on bodywork as it was previously a 4t. Woodwork - may or may not have the S51 due to potential butt change. Rear sight will be of the Mk1 variety and will have an M on the slider as it's been converted to metres. Will have short shank king screw swivel. May or may not have loop next to this. Will have S on right side of receiver, as 4ts have (unless it doesn't! some [vdery few] didn't...). The best thing really for any prospective L42 owner is examine a few, and if that's not possible check the pics on here.

The one in the Knowledge Library is a very good place to start! Here's the link to the virtual picture tour:

1971 L42A1 Enfield Sniper Rifle

[Gil Boyd]

Yes thanks for that. The S in my opinion would be missing as the action clearly changes when it is stepped up to 7.62 or am I wrong. It does appear that there is no level playing field of a list in existence to confirm authenticity as there appears to be a lot of variations going on.

Only reason for asking is that I am soon to be examining an "L42" which was listed on a Fultons examination as having spurious markings on it, but the serial number is correct, but has clearly had some work done. I would just like to know what would be there now on an updated 4T from the original markings, which would help me no end.........so I can "buy the rifle and not the history" if that makes sense

Apologies, meant to say, yes I have looked closely at those photos and all shown there is present on this rifle, but there are no images of the S on the action so I assumed rightly or wrongly they would have disappeared with the new action being fitted

[PrinzEugen]

Yes thanks for that. The S in my opinion would be missing as the action clearly changes when it is stepped up to 7.62 or am I wrong.

The receiver would be the same Gil - ie this wasn't changed for the L42 - so everything marked on the original 4t would be on the L42 including the S. It would have a new barrel and revamped rear sight.

I suppose knowing what markings were thought to be spurious would be the key. DId fultons examine it for someone and give a report?

If you could take pics of the markings and post them here we'd get to the bottom of it.

[Gil Boyd]

He said the following:

Blacked later receiver spuriously engraved L42A1D71, side-safety, fully-detachable magazine, stock with characteristic cheek-piece, comb and steel butt-plate, sling-swivels, the hammered barrel with block-mounted blade-foresight and protector, the receiver with folding open-sight and 'Tel.Strt.Stg.L1A1' telescope-sight in correct mounts.
It is believed that the receiver was originally a standard No.4 action which has been renumbered to a known rifle, but that the other parts are all original items

Summary, if you add up the sum total of all the separate parts in the transit case they would go way over the asking price at todays over egged prices for an L42's accessories

In short two ways of looking at this................new action fitted by REME or has it appeared from somewhere which then opens up a brand new line of thought!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Simon]

H&H had nothing to do with the upgrade to L42.

[Gil Boyd]

Simon, yes my slip I meant Enfield

[bigduke6]

The Re-Numbered bit stands out to me, have you run the serial # with Simon ? I remember the Scotarms Auction were an L42 was listed, but it wasn't an L42 far from it, although it was built on a No4T receiver, just a lash up, and the Scope was far from perfect but was marked as a L1A1, the biggest give away on this IIRC was the 1/4" hole drilled in the Butt socket (left side). still went for £2000 (postal bid)

I,d get some picks and see what the resident experts say Gil, but sounds like a lash up to me.