Gil Boyd -L42 serial number 13328

[Sgreg]

Gil- the above rifle you recently researched for me seems uncommon. It has no M47 or TR on the wrist band and no T on the left side of the receiver.
Is this unusual? I have never seen an authentic L42 with so few markings ? Any thoughts ? Thanks
Sgreg

Information

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[GeeRam]

You would have been better off posting these questions in the specific Lee-Enfield section of the forum?

[Gil Boyd]

Sgreg,
Totally agree on trying to obtain the finer details on the makeup of the L42A1 rifle, and what manufacture marks should be on them, is for the Lee Enfield section mate, another expert area to negotiate I'm afraid, welcome to the site.
Good Luck

[Roger Payne]

Do you have more info on this rilfe? Any photo's? The serial number alone suggests it may be an early Maltby rifle, in which case you will not see M47C on it, nor the TR & so forth. Further, a large part of the Maltby markings would be obscured by the front body pad, thus adding to the difficulty in identifying it. But some photo's would really help, preferably with the scope & bracket OFF.

[smle addict]

Serial number seems to indicate a Maltby manufactured rifle. Posting some pics of the rifle would definitely help us sort it out.

*Dah! Roger beat me to it!

[Roger Payne]

We must have been typing at the same time!

[Sgreg]

Do you have more info on this rilfe? Any photo's? The serial number alone suggests it may be an early Maltby rifle, in which case you will not see M47C on it, nor the TR & so forth. Further, a large part of the Maltby markings would be obscured by the front body pad, thus adding to the difficulty in identifying it. But some photo's would really help, preferably with the scope & bracket OFF.

Are Maltby produced L42s rare ? It also is all beechwood. Just a different bird as compared to the BSA produced rifles. Thanks for the info. Explains everything.

[Roger Payne]

Any manufacture of 4T, including those converted to L42's other than BSA Shirley rifles are scarce. Only relatively few Maltby, Savage, Long Branch, & Trials rifles, were converted to 4T's, & very few indeed produced at Fazackerley. Add to this that probably a little less than 1100 L42's were produced in total, so it gives you some idea of what you have (assuming we are correct & that it is a Maltby). And yes, when it was originally produced during (probably) 1941 it would have left the Maltby factory dressed in beech woodwork. If its wood never needed changing it will still be stocked in beech......although most of the L42 era wood used in refurbs was also beech.

Hope this helps a little.

[Sgreg]

Any manufacture of 4T, including those converted to L42's other than BSA Shirley rifles are scarce. Only relatively few Maltby, Savage, Long Branch, & Trials rifles, were converted to 4T's, & very few indeed produced at Fazackerley. Add to this that probably a little less than 1100 L42's were produced in total, so it gives you some idea of what you have (assuming we are correct & that it is a Maltby). And yes, when it was originally produced during (probably) 1941 it would have left the Maltby factory dressed in beech woodwork. If its wood never needed changing it will still be stocked in beech......although most of the L42 era wood used in refurbs was also beech.

Hope this helps a little.

awesome information. As they say, you all have forgotten more than I know !! Thanks