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Scarce British L42A1 Sniper Rifle with Matching Scope and Mount with Original Wooden Storage Chest

Currency:USD Category:Antiques / Firearms & Armory Start Price:1,400.00 USD Estimated At:3,500.00 - 4,700.00 USD
Scarce British L42A1 Sniper Rifle with Matching Scope and Mount with Original Wooden Storage Chest
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This is an excellent example of a very scarce British L42A1 Sniper rifle. These rifles were developed during the mid-1960s and actually put into service in the early 1970s using the original WWII British Enfield No 4 MK 1 (T) sniper rifle as the basic weapon platform, with the intent to introduce an updated sniper rifle that utilized the 7.62 NATO round. These rifles were used until the mid 1990s when the British adopted the L96A1 rifle. It is estimated that approximately 900 rifles were converted/produced and approximately 450 were actually imported into the US in the late 1980s early 1990s by Navy Arms, with the rest being destroyed by the British Government. The original WWII rifles were stripped down to the basic actions with the original WWII scopes and mounts, with completely new rifles being built from the ground up. During the conversion to the 7.62 NATO round, a new heavy weight, hammer forged barrel was used to converted them to the new configuration along with a new bolt head, (correctly engraved 19 T and a number 3) a new box magazine and ejector. The old No 32 MKIII scopes were rebuilt to new standards and calibrated to "meters" calibrated for the 7.62 NATO round, with the old scope markings were just lined out with the new NATO markings of "1240-99-962-2063" /"TELSTRT.STG.L1A1" /"OS2429G", engraved on the side of the scope tube. The left side of the receiver, butt socket still retains the original WWII markings of "M47C,/1944/M37044/TR" and the left side of the receiver has the new markings of "L42A1/D71.T". The original scope mount has been reused/renumbered three times which would be correct for these rifles as they were all original WWII models that were used over and over, because no new mounts were ever manufactured. The buttstock is made of walnut with the forend and hand guard made from birch. The rifle is complete with only the original cheekpiece, the original WWII British metal scope can and original green painted wooden storage chest. The chest has a hinged lid, three latches, two canvas carrying straps and metal corner protectors. The inside of the lid has one affixed label, that reads "CHEST RIFLE, 7.62mm L-42 A1 / EQUIPMENT LIAI (CR 185 A)". In the chest are a green metal cleaning kit that has a plastic oiler and pull rope bore cleaner, inside. The rifle and scope have been painted black overall which was the correct finish used on these rifles.
BBL: 27 1/2 inch round
Stock: hardwood
Gauge: 7.62 mm Nato
Finish: black paint
Grips:
Serial Number: L38651
Condition: Arsenal refurbished with the 98% of the British style flat black repainted finish on all the metal parts, with wear on the edges and high spots overall. The scope and mount also retain 80% of the original British black painted finish overall with the balance showing a flat black repainted finish on the remainder of the scope. As noted, the mount carries several rifle serial numbers and is now correctly numbered to this rifle which is directly below the rear scope ring on the left side of the mount. The buttstock, forend and hand guard are all in excellent condition with a nice medium brown color on all three pieces. The heal of the buttstock and right side of the fore stock have a small original old field or ordnance repair, that match perfectly. As noted the rifle itself has an original matching bolt, with the mount being correctly renumbered to match the rifle along with the scope serial number remarked on top of the grip area of the buttstock. The green metal scope can retains 95% of it's original paint with the it carrying both the mount and scope numbers painted inside the lid. Actually, an excellent example of an actual field use British L42A1 sniper rifle.