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L1A1 Original Top cover fitted with Picatinny Rail
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42 Commando's Royal Marines L42A1 Sniper Rifle
Complete Chest with the official CES Equipment
This is a very rare 42 Commandos Royal Marines L42A1 Sniper Rifle , this L42A1 Sniper rifle was original manufactured at the BSA & Co Shirley Factory, near Birmingham from a Number 4 Mark 1 and is dated 1944.
It was selected for conversion to the British Army Number 4T .303 Sniper rifle program by Holland and Holland gun makers who did the Number 4T Sniper conversions.
After the end of WW2 all the Number 4T's was placed into War Reserve Stock at the British Army for deep storage at Central Stores.
After the approval of the L42A1 program in late 1968 by the Ministry of Defence, the British Ministry of Defence was driven by the escalating troubles in Northern Ireland and on 20th August 1968 the Soviet Union invasion of Czechoslovak.
The program took traction and in 1969 R.S.A.F Enfield tried to sell a number of the first batch of the 'new' L42A1 Sniper rifles to the Met Police but to no avail.
The first deployment of the L42A1 by the British Army to Northern Ireland started in late 1969 and to B.A.O.R on the Eastern front as a responds to the build up by the Soviet Union in East German (DDR) boarder, the area opposite to the British Army sector of West German.
The main concern by the Soviets Army high command at the time was that B.A.O.R had no means of retreat or evacuating its troops and would flight much harder than the USA troops.
Again the main problem for the Soviet Army was the British Army Chieftain Tank L60 engine which was so unreliable that the Soviets had to place two battle groups opposite the British front line as the British could not extract there troops.
Most of the L42A1 deployed in 1970 were to B.A.O.R to add support any evacuation of the retreating British troops if the Soviets over ran the British lines. This over watch by British Sniper teams was to eliminate any Soviet command and control units and any and all Soviet officers.
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This rifle was converted at Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield in 1971 to the L42A1 7.62 Sniper rifle and then sent to British Army Donnington.
This L42A1 with Serial Number M33831 , on the 10th August 1971 was sent to Donnington after the conversion from a Number 4T .303 Sniper rifle by R.S.A.F Enfield. The group number of this rifle was A.I.N 405038-23 and its batch number was 21 in that consignment.
The batch size was 20 of that consignment of L42A1's and were sent from R.S.A.F Enfield to British Army Donnington 10th August 1971.
Donnington was the processing centre for small arms for the British Army.
In 1982, following the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands, the 42 Commando's were deployed on Operation Corporate.
On 21 May the Commando were Brigade reserve at San Carlos under Lt. Col. Nick Vaux RM.
The unit was deployed to seize Mount Kent in a night move by helicopter and by 4th June the unit had moved forward, mostly under cover of darkness, to positions west of high ground overlooking Port Stanley and the last Argentine stronghold.
After days of probing reconnaissance, a Brigade assault took place on the night of 11/12 June in which the Commando's task was to secure Mount Harriet on the Brigade right flank.
By moonlight and in freezing temperatures, 42 Commando moved undetected through enemy minefields in a 9 km (5.6 mi) right-flanking movement to surprise the enemy in their rear. Consecutive assaults by "K" and "L" Companies followed, up steep slopes onto company positions.
Against strong resistance and continuous artillery bombardment, the Marines prevailed and by first light more than 30 enemy had been killed and over 300 prisoners taken as 42 Commando consolidated on Mount Harriet. 42 Commando suffered two fatalities themselves – one on Mount Harriet and one on Wall Mountain.
For the bravery shown in the attack on Mount Harriet, 42 Commando was awarded one DSO, one Military Cross, four Military Medals and eight men were Mentioned in Dispatches.
42 Commando's deployment to 1982 Falkland War
'Operation Corporate'
This fantastic 42 Commandos L42A1 example has the full kit including all the original parts
Lense Cleaning Bottle
One Nylon Sling
One 1903 Leather sling
Chamber Cleaning Stick
Scout Regiments Telescope
L5A1 IWS Bracket
7.62 cleaning kit in tin
42 Royal Marines Commando's
The information on the CES Transit case states that
DUN-83 83A66195 (either its rack number or location number )
42 CDO (Commando's) RM (Royal Marines)
Bickleigh BK (Bickleigh Barracks)
Plymouth
Devon
From the Royal Navy website
RM Bickleigh is a military base located in the village of Bickleigh, near Plymouth City Centre. It is the home of 42 Commando Royal Marines.
All the writing in RED is unreadable on the CES Transit case
R.S.A.F Enfield L42A1 Serial No M33831
This Rifle has a very good rifling in the barrel and looks almost un-used, the condition of the barrel appears to have had under 100 round though it.
The headspace is correct and the action is very smooth
The tigger has a good second pull
The bolt was replaced at time of the L42A1 conversion (1971)
All matching numbers including the Magazine
Holland and Holland inspection stamp on rear left hand side of the back receiver. very faint but readable
Proof Tonnage stamp on right hand side with its Enfield inspection stamp
Above
Lense Cleaning Bottle
Above
CES Transit case contents plate and date 1971
Above
42 Commando's CES Transit document
Above and below
Writing on outside of CES Transit case,
What was happening on Wednesday 8th December 1973...?
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View of other side of CES Transit case
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Square type scope tin with written instruction on lid
Metric Number 32 Mk3 Scope
We supplied a reproduction leather lenses protector for the optics
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Outside view of No8 Mk1 scope tin
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The original Scope imperial number is bared out (.303)
The Metric Scope number is 26038 (7.62 x 51 Nato)
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A close up view of the Factory inspection No32 Mk3 stamp
The Number 32 Mk3 scope has 'M' on the turret for metric conversion
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N92 is stamped on the scope mount is the WW2 Factory code for Dalgleish
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Matching upper and lower numbers on scope mount
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WW2 Dalgleish casting of scope mount
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Very faint Holland and Holland WW2 Factory acceptance stamp
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Proof tonnage stamp and factory inspection stamp
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Nice photo of all stamps
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There is a 'M' and 'F' stamped on the rear sight 'M' is for metric conversion and 'F' is for R.S.A.F Fazakerley
Please note:
The rear sight was manufactured by Fazakerley in WW2 as R.S.A.F Fazakerley was closed down completely by the British Government on 20th June 1960 because of Labour issues .
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M47C is the WW2 Factory war code for BSA & Co Ltd
1944 is the dated of manufacture
M33831 is the rifles serial number
The stamp 'TR' is for Telescopic Rifle
There is an unreadable number stamp under the butt , it should be S51 for Holland and Holland but time has worn it down so much it is now unreadable
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The is a very faint but readable stamp 'S' on the upper front receiver
in the photo below its just under the bolt head
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This L42A1 had its bolt changed at time of the 7.62 x 51 NATO conversion
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Matching serial number on CR141A 65 D (ENFIELD STAMP) 7.62 Magazine
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Nice clear photo of the 'M' stamped for metric on No32 Mk3 scope
Also nice clear photo of the NATO Stock number stamped on the scope as well
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Nice view of the left hand side of the receiver
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A nice view of the complete rifle left hand side
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A nice view of the complete rifle right hand side
We have absolutely no idea of the history of this rifle but the Falklands connection could be very real possibility as 42 Royal Marine Commando's must have sent all there Sniper Teams to the Falklands, but this is only speculation.
We can only show you the facts, nothing else. Like all military weapons it is almost impossible to find out there history.
It is a very nice historical piece of British military history and everything is complete.
The condition of the barrel is fantastic for 54 year old sniper rifle. The L42A1 was the last Enfield military Sniper rifles and with its 42 Royal Marines connection who knows...!
£13,500.00