Any opinions on this L8A2(T) 7.62 sniper?

[Gil Boyd]

Peter,
Does 19231 register, thats what it looks like after a bit of darkening
Gil

[Roger Payne]

Shouldn't the very fact that it has been engraved 'L8A2' arouse the greatest of suspicions. I don't know a lot about the later 7.62mm conversions but wasn't the L8A2 the converted No4 Mk1/2. As has already been mentioned the rifle shown still appears to be a Mk1 so should presumably be a L8A4. Or gave I goofed?

Engraving also looks sus to me - pix aren't great but have a good look at the EFD logo. I concur with limpet mine.

[Peter Laidler]

19231. Nope....., not one of mine

[Brian Dick]

I've seen one legit one and it didn't look anything like that. I'd have to say it's as phony as three dollar bill.

[gsimmons]

Should it not be an L1A1 scope, being that it's on a 7.62 cal. Rifle?

[limpetmine]

So what was the lost intrinsic value of the base rifle that has been "Bubba'd". A shame......

I've seen one legit one and it didn't look anything like that. I'd have to say it's as phony as three dollar bill.

[Brian Dick]

I've seen one of the six documented "Trials" L8T's and it was equipped with a bog standard No.32Mk.III. The marked one was from a small batch done in the 1970's and it didn't have a scope. I'd guess they would have had an L1A1 on it if it did. I can't remember if the wrist had a scope number stamped on it or not.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

I just unwrapped a couple of "New, old stock", 7.62 "No4" barrels.

6 groove, RH twist. Narrow lands like the L1A1 barrel.

No bayonet lugs, mid-grey phosphate finish.

A tiny stamp on the LHS of the Knox Form.

Attachment 49646

"A W" stamped in 3mm sans serif letters, about 60mm forward of Knox Form, on the lower side of the barrel.

Thread on tenon is longer than a No4 and thus requires a breeching washer.

(No "cold-blue" to test for chromed chamber)

So, any ideas as to the origin?

[Maxwell Smart]

So, any ideas as to the origin?

I still believe the barrel to be of Lithgow origin.

I too have a couple of the parkerized military contour ones as Bruce describes above, but I think that the one one this rifle is what I have seen called a Lithgow 'fatso" barrel. It is heavy profile where the barrel is normally covered by furniture, then slims down to fit the front sight. The front sight ends up a bit further out than on a standard barrel, and there are no bayonet lugs on them.

[Brit plumber]

It looks like there are grinding marks behind the front sight protector, could that be something removed from a Lithgow barrel?