L8A2 Value

[Peter Laidler]

Point taken but the L8 markings are well marked on the rifles and he'd certainly have seen the markings - if they were present. I saw several L8's that had come through on a workshop refurbishment programme from Ordnance among another 20 or 30 No4's. I really don't think they knew what they'd sent down. At the same time another batch of rifles came down for cannibilisation for spares and conversion to L59 spec. At the time, thie workshops were being switched to civilianisation mode and so the time management was strictly controlled. Conversion to DP was quite labour intensive at the 'civilianised' workshops but not the REME controlled workshops so they were done there.

There's absolutely no doubt(?) that it's a bog standard rebarrel with a Belgian or Canadian 7.62mm barrel.

[Lee Enfield]

Canada ordered the 2000 Ex1 & Ex2 FN-FAL trials rifles in June 1953 with the proviso that they were not to be manufactured until the 7.62 chamber was finalized. That occurred in Nov/Dec 1953 when the UK ordered their X8E1 & X8E2 rifles and the US ordered their T48 and T48E1 rifles.

So I doubt that a 1951 L8 rifle with a 7.62x51 chamber could exist, especially as the UK adopted the 280/30 cartridge AFTER that date...

[Tarheeler]

Have a no4 mk1 converted to 308 in 1051, it's marked L8A2, has John Willes rear sights on it. Rifles came from collection at US- Canadian border, looks new but has been fired. Market value and how rare are these rifles

[Aragorn243]

Peterson's lists them as: Excellent $900, Very good, $700, Good, $450, Fair $300, Poor $150. Based on the price markups from the non-converted rifles, I'd say they are not nearly as common.

My price guide is six years old so prices may be more or less than above but it should give you a rough idea. I've found the six year old prices are about right for most items. The trouble is, your particular rifle may be one of the movers because the Indian models, the 2A's, have increased in value quite a bit based on Gunbroker sales. Then again, true value is only what someone else is willing to pay you for it or if you are the buyer, what you are willing to pay.

[Tarheeler]

This is not an Isaphore rifle

[Tarheeler]

Sorry can't type, converted by the British to 308 in 1951

[Roger Payne]

Can you get any photo's of the markings? The 303 wasn't officially replaced by the 7.62mm cartridge until 1956, so 1951 sounds a bit early as a conversion date.

[Peter Laidler]

I have a funny feeling that this (?) rifle was featured in this forum sometime ago

[Vincent]

This one? L8A2 Value

[Tarheeler]

Same rifle. Forgot I had posted it