November 15 & 16, 2022 Extraordinary Firearms & Militaria
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/16/2022
The L42A1 was the last sniper rifle of its kind before the British replaced it with the now-legendary L96 developed by Accuracy International. The L42A1 was essentially a continuation of the No.4 (T) that served so admirably during World War II and converted to 7.62x51mm. There had been some experimentation with converting No. 4s to 7.62x51mm, but they were abandoned. While the military struggled, competition shooters at Bisley had managed to successfully achieve the conversion, hacking off the forearm down to a sporter length and utilizing a heavy profile barrel. The designers took note of the commercial successes and essentially duplicated the design, leading to the L42A1 in 1970. This example is one of the few L42A1s that survived the decommissioning process that the UK Ministry of Defense underwent when these guns were exchanged for the L96 and is correctly fit with the hammer forged barrel with protected post front sight and ladder aperture rear sight. Shortened forearm, and action converted over to 7.62x51 instead of .303. 4 groove cut rifling. Correct scope, renumbered to the new catalog number when they were converted from .303 calibrations to 7.62 calibrations, scope rings are correctly matching. Numerous proof marks throughout from the various conversions this rifle went to on the path to becoming an L42A1, including an M47C conversion code for B.S.A Shirley, 1944 date, TR code, wrist with insert reading "21655" matching the new number for the scope, with an X'd out series underneath it, now illegible. Small splice ahead of cheekpiece. Sling swivels at toe line and tip of forearm. Appropriate 19T proofs for 7.62x51mm ammo. Fitted with one original magazine. Housed in the appropriate wooden transit case with sheet metal case for scope (serial number matching to scope), bikini scope cover, user handbook, copy of an article by Garry James, 3 boxes of match ammunition (37 rounds of Lake City match with 3 fired cases, 20 rounds Federal; see Morphy T&C regarding ammo), and IWS mount. CONDITION: Overall very good plus as arsenal refinished. Retains virtually all of the arsenal blacking with some handling marks throughout, including some lifting of the enamel visible at bolt handling and some silvering, primarily to receiver, commensurate with use. Wood also excellent as arsenal refinished with some very minor handling marks; splices as aforementioned and one repair ahead of the sling swivel at toe line. Mechanically fine, bore is very good with sharp rifling and some minor oxidation in the groves. Accessories all very good with some appropriate age related distress. This is a nice example of a fine sniper rifle that saw action in the Falkland War, The Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the Dhofar Rebellion. EMW
Accessories
Transit chest, Scope, Scope case, Scope mount
Caliber/Bore
7.62x51mm NATO