- Enfield Enforcer Serial Numbers List
- Lee Enfield Serial Number Lookup
- Enfield Enforcer Serial Numbers Lookup
- Enfield Enforcer Serial Numbers Number
L42A1 | |
---|---|
Type | Sniper rifle |
Place of origin | United Kingdom |
Service history | |
In service | 1970-1990 |
Used by | United Kingdom |
Wars | Dhofar Rebellion The Troubles Falklands War Lebanese Civil War Gulf War |
Specifications | |
Mass | 4.4 kg (9.7 lb) |
Length | 1,071 mm (3 ft 6.2 in) |
Barrel length | 699 mm (27.5 in) |
Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
Calibre | 7.62mm |
Action | Bolt-action |
Muzzle velocity | 838 m/s (2,750 ft/s) |
Effective firing range | 800 yd (730 m) |
Feed system | 10-round detachable box magazine |
Sights | Fixed front, adjustable rear sight |
The L42A1 was a British Army, Royal Marines and RAF Regiment sniper rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge.[1] It entered service in 1970. The rifle was replaced by the Accuracy International PM as the L96A1 in 1985.[2]
Nov 12, 2018 Possible, sure. We cannot say for certain it is a year, nor can we say for certain much of anything else about that number. All we can go by is the serial number. But here is the thing, that number on that No 4 is stamped in an area where some manufacturers stamped the year it was made. That is a red flag to me.
The L42A1 was the last model in a long line of bolt-action rifles that used a rear-locking action designed by James Paris Lee for the British Army; this action design appeared first in the Lee–Metford rifle of 1888.[3] During its British Army service, the L42A1 was used in active service in several conflicts, including the Dhofar Rebellion in Oman, The Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War,[1] and the Gulf War.
Design details[edit]
- Abbreviations found in service manuals and reports are sometimes quite obvious but at other times, they are not.These abbreviated designations can also appear on weapons, ammunition and equipment. The following list is generally post-Great War vintage and therefore it is applicable to many of our studies, (British, Empire and Commonwealth oriented, that is).
- This is a Genuine Police Issued Enfield Enforcer serial number 295; it is matching on the action & bolt. It is fitted with a correct Parker Hale 5E4 target sight that required the modified safety.
- The Lee Enfield Rifle Association (LERA) LERA's aims are to promote the shooting, collection, and study of the Lee Enfield series of rifles. The majority of members shoot either the SMLE or the No 4, however many of the rarer marks are owned by members.
The L42A1 was a 7.62×51mm NATO conversion of the Second World War era .303 British chambered Lee–Enfield Rifle No. 4 Mk1(T) and No. 4 Mk1*(T), which had remained in service for some time after the 7.62×51mm NATO L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle replaced the Rifle No.4 as the standard service rifle in 1957. It differed from other post-war No. 4 based variants in that the trigger remained hinged on the trigger guard as on the No.4 Mk1 and 1*, not hung from the receiver as in the later No. 4 Mk 2, Mk 1/2 and Mk 1/3 .303 British rifles, and other 7.62×51mm NATO conversions.
The conversion programme was carried out at Royal Small Arms Factory Enfield from 1970 to 1971. About 1,080 rifles were converted. A new hammer-forged heavy 7.62×51mm NATO barrel was installed, with four-groove, right hand twist rifling instead of the five-groove left-hand Enfield-type rifling used in .303 British barrels. The heavier barrel was free-floating, which meant that the required accuracy standard could be achieved without the barrel bearing against the wooden fore-end, as had been the case with the No.4 MkI(T). Therefore the woodwork was modified by shortening the fore-end to 1/2' in front of the middle band, and a new design for an upper handguard was fitted.
The No. 32 3.5 power telescopic sight was refurbished and the bullet drop compensation on the elevation drum modified for the ballistic characteristics of the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge in 50 m (55 yd) increments out to 1,000 m (1,094 yd). The modified version was renamed the 'Telescope, Straight Sighting, L1A1'.
A new magazine suitable for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge was attached; it is recognizable by its more square shape when compared against the .303 British version. A hardened projection of the left magazine lip serves as an ejector, although the .303 ejector screw remained in place. The butt with its screwed-on cheekpiece was retained, however the scope number on the wrist of the stock, was obliterated with 'X'-outs, and new numbers applied. The markings on the left side of the receiver were obliterated and new markings reflecting the new rifle's designation and chambering were applied. The original markings are sometimes partially visible underneath.
A new, larger transit case was made for the L42A1.[1]
Variants[edit]
- L39A1
- a target-shooting variant produced for military full-bore shooting teams. It was similar to the L42A1, except it was fitted with Parker-Hale target tunnel front and micrometer-adjustable rear sights in lieu of the telescopic sight, and the butt did not have a sniper cheekpiece. The rifles were supplied without sights, which had to be fitted by the units to which they were issued. Some rifles are seen retrofitted with a curved pistol grip similar to the butt used on the No.8 .22 rifle. Since magazine loading was not required, the L39A1 as issued had a .303 British magazine, the follower of which served as a loading platform for single shot use, although 7.62x51mm NATO magazines are also seen fitted, as the receivers are machined to accept these. The barrel was the same hammer-forged, heavy 7.62×51mm NATO version fitted to the L42A1, fitted for a Parker-Hale type front sight band.
- No.4 7.62mm CONV
- As for L39A1, except the rifles were supplied from the factory with Parker-Hale 5c sights, No.8-style butt and 7.62x51mm magazine as standard. These rifles share the same serial number range as the L39A1, 1183 rifles (both types plus pre-production experimental types together[4]). These rifles were mostly sent to the Army Rifle Association, and were available for purchase by military units.
- Enfield Enforcer
- a police-specific sniper variant used by various British police forces from the early 1970s. It was similar to the L39A1, with a commercial 'Monte Carlo' style butt with semi-pistol grip and integral cheekpiece. It was provided with a high-quality East German-made Pecar Berlin telescopic sight. The telescope mounts were of commercial pattern; they did not resemble the No.4 Mk1(T) type screw-on mounts used on the L42A1. Target sights similar to those used on the L39A1 could also be fitted to the Enforcer. The 7.62×51mm NATO magazine was fitted, and 767 were made.
- Enfield Envoy
- similar to the L39A1, but was produced with a higher standard of external finish for sale on the civilian market. It had a fore-end of broader cross section of the same shape as the No.8, and was supplied with a No.8 style butt.
Users[edit]
- Military users;
- United Kingdom: British Army, Royal Marines, and RAF Regiment – Enfield L42A1.
- Police users;
- United Kingdom: British police forces – Enforcer (Police version).
- Non-state military users
- Lebanese Forces: Enfield L42A1 and Enforcer rifles.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ abcPegler (2010), pp. 61-62.
- ^Pegler, Sniper Rifles – From the 19th to the 21st century (2010), pp. 62-63.
- ^Pegler, Sniper Rifles – From the 19th to the 21st century (2010), p. 27.
- ^'06. Enfield 7.62 Variant Rifles Manufacturing records - Lee Enfield Rifle Association'. lee-enfield.org.
References[edit]
- Major Frederick Myatt, An Illustrated Guide to Rifles and Sub-machine Guns, Salamander Books Ltd, London 1981. ISBN9780861010776, 0861010779
- Martin Pegler, The Lee-Enfield Rifle, Weapon series 17, Osprey Publishing Ltd, Oxford 2012. ISBN9781849087889
- Pegler, Martin (2010), Sniper Rifles – From the 19th to the 21st century, Weapon 6, Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd, ISBN978-1-84908-398-0
External links[edit]
- [1] Lee-Enfield sniping rifle L42A1
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=L42A1&oldid=975642457'
Over the past several months, Enfield Rifle Research has received dozens of questions about the spate of 'new' and 'rare' Lee-Enfields that have been showing up lately at gun shows and in pawn shops. Many of these are quite handsome rifles with pretty decent workmanship and are probably worth the $125 to $150 that the major firearms distributors ask for them. For the most part, though, they are not recently discovered “unissued” rifles, nor are they long-lost “prototypes” that have suddenly surfaced. The overwhelming majority of these “finds” are recently-made parts guns or replicas or recent aftermarket conversions of standard No. 1, 2A/2A1, or No. 4 rifles.Navy Arms Company is making and selling a lot of these, and they usually describe them (albeit in the fine print) as 'replicas' or 'constructed of original No. 4 Enfields' or some such. SARCO and SOG (among others) are also marketing these (or similar) rifles for comparable prices, again with fair--or at least technically honest--advertising.
The problem arises when these aftermarket replicas pass through several hands and wind up offered for sale at a gun show or in a pawn shop. Typically, the advertising (such as it was) gets lost, the price gets jacked up, and the seller claims (maybe because he believes it) that the piece really is a long-lost treasure. A lot of people are getting burned by these knock-offs, and an even greater number are just plain confused.
Here’s our take on the various 'bargains' that have been showing up lately.
No. 1 Mk III* (Lithgow - 'New')
Often advertised as “collector grade”or “mint - unfired” or “unissued” andselling for $200 and up.
Often advertised as “collector grade”or “mint - unfired” or “unissued” andselling for $200 and up.
Watch out for these! Quite a few “new Lithgow” rifles have been built just within the last few years from spare parts bought from the Australian government. The parts are new, and the rifles were never issued--but they aren’t Lithgow factory rifles by any stretch of the imagination! They’re recently-built parts guns.
It is possible (though not likely) that some Lithgow-manufactured rifles with late-1945 (or later) dates were kept in storage and subsequently surplused out in unfired or unissued condition. Such rifles would have 5-digit serial numbers with either an “E” or an “F” serial number prefix, and the serial number would be stamped on the rear of the bolt handle and on the bottom of the fore-end, as well as on the receiver ring. Neither the nose cap nor the bottom of the backsight leaf will carry a different serial number on these rifles. Also, legitimate factory rifles will have 1/4-inch square brass or copper recoil plates installed on the fore-ends where the sear boss bears against the wood. These plates will be attached with small brass wood screws.
If you find a “new” Lithgow with a 1943 or 1944 date, be highly suspicious. This was the height of the war, and virtually all rifles manufactured were issued. If you find the receiver marked with a “JJ CO NY NY” import stamp, assume it’s a parts gun unless you have clear evidence to the contrary. (Many “new Lithgow” parts guns appear to have been assembled on receivers imported by John Jovino & Co.) If you find a 4-digit serial number with no prefix letter and an “A” suffix, this is clear evidence that it is not a Lithgow factory rifle. If you find different serial numbers on different parts, this is clear evidence that it is a parts gun. And if the recoil plates are missing, it is not only a parts gun--it could be dangerous to shoot. There’s a possibility that the fore-end will be damaged with as few as 20 or 30 round fired.
No. 1 'Tanker Carbine'
Overall length 39-40 inches; 20-21 inch barrel, with fore-endshortened and nose cap moved back. Also called “No. 1 Shortened and Lightened” rifle or “No. 6 Tanker Carbine” or “No. 6 Shortened and Lightened” rifle.
Overall length 39-40 inches; 20-21 inch barrel, with fore-endshortened and nose cap moved back. Also called “No. 1 Shortened and Lightened” rifle or “No. 6 Tanker Carbine” or “No. 6 Shortened and Lightened” rifle.
These are probably either aftermarket modifications or outright fakes. The Australian government did experiment with a shortened and lightened No. 1 rifle, but only a hundred prototypes were made. These have grooved fore-ends, lightening flutes on the barrel knox forms, and extensive lightening cuts on the receivers. Also, the Lithgow factory prototypes all have aperture backsights mounted on the charger bridge and solid handguards. All bear “XP” serial number prefixes.
Some unofficial experimenting was done by a number of unit armourers during WWII in an attempt to create a shortened and lightened version of the No. 1 rifle, and it is possible that a few of these early experiments have survived. The barrels were shortened, and the nose caps were reset, but most retained the barrel-mounted tangent sights. These are historically interesting, but they are not “official” Lithgow factory prototypes.
The easiest way to tell a recent replica from a WWII-vintage experimental model is to remove the nose cap. If you find freshly-cut wood, you know what you have! Also, many of the recent fakes have a hex-nut rather than a standard oblong nose cap nut securing the rear nose cap screw, and the fore-end stud and stud spring are missing.
No. 2A “Tanker” Carbine
Overall length 39-1/2 inches, with a 20-1/2 inch barrel. Fore-end shortened and nose cap moved back.
Overall length 39-1/2 inches, with a 20-1/2 inch barrel. Fore-end shortened and nose cap moved back.
There ain’t no such thing! There never was. This is strictly an aftermarket modification. Such a shortened version of the Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifle was never even considered by the Indian government--never mind adopted--or by anyone else, for that matter.
No. 4 “Tanker” Carbine
Overall length 39-1/2 inches, with a 20-1/2 inch barrel. Fore-end shortened and nose cap moved back.
Overall length 39-1/2 inches, with a 20-1/2 inch barrel. Fore-end shortened and nose cap moved back.
As above, there ain’t no such thing. Strictly an aftermarket modification.
No. 4 Shortened and Lightened
Overall length 39-42 inches; 20-23 inch barrel, withfore-end shortened and nose cap moved back.
Overall length 39-42 inches; 20-23 inch barrel, withfore-end shortened and nose cap moved back.
Probably an aftermarket modification. The Canadian government did experiment with a shortened and lightened No. 4 rifle, and a few dozen prototypes were made; however, these have one-piece stocks! Also, the barrels and receivers were lightened with extensive milling. All were conversions of Long Branch rifles only.
If you see a two-piece stock or a receiver than doesn’t have any lightening cuts, you have an aftermarket modification or replica. The British version of the shortened and lightened No. 4 rifle is the No. 5 rifle (see below).
No. 4 “Collector Grade”
Savage or Long Branch, often advertised as “new”or “unissued.”
Savage or Long Branch, often advertised as “new”or “unissued.”
Watch out. It is possible that a legitimate unissued No. 4 rifle will turn up, but it’s not likely. Most of these “collector grade” rifles were arsenal reconditioned somewhere along the line--but somewhere other than Canada or Great Britain (who marked their reconditioned rifles “R” or “FTR”). Look for black enamel or flat black paint on the metal parts--this is a tip-off that the work was done in Pakistan or in South Africa or in some other country. Original No. 4 rifles have an oil-blackened finish (or possibly a blued finish on 1950 or later Long Branch rifles). Also, look for non-British or non-Canadian ownership or acceptance marks.
We have reports of a number of unissued Long Branch rifles re-imported into Canada from Belgium by Districorp. The story is that CAL sold a bunch of No. 4 rifles to the Belgian government in the early 1950s, and that they were kept in storage and never issued. These all have 95L serial numbers and 1950 dates and look quite nice. They are probably the real McCoy. (We’ll look into them further and report as soon as we have additional data.)
No. 5 “Jungle Carbine”
Overall length 39-1/2 inches; 20-1/2 inch barrel withflash hider. Rubber buttplate; short fore-end.
Overall length 39-1/2 inches; 20-1/2 inch barrel withflash hider. Rubber buttplate; short fore-end.
Enfield Enforcer Serial Numbers List
An honest No. 5 rifle (or “Jungle Carbine”) has lightening flutes cut in the barrel knox form and extensive milling done to the receiver to lighten it. (Take the handguard off and look for the barrel flutes.) Also, an honest No. 5 will be electro-engraved “No5MKI” on the left side of the receiver and will not have “No. 4” stamped or engraved anywhere on it. In addition, an honest No. 5 will bear the proper manufacturer’s code: “(ROF)F” for Fazakerley or “M47C” for BSA-Shirley. Finally, the barrel band will be only 8 inches in front of the receiver ring--rather than 10-3/4 inches as on a No. 4 rifle.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Golden State Arms Co. of Pasadena, California modified quite a few No. 4 rifles by shortening the barrels, adding flash hiders, and shortening the fore-ends. Some were equipped with Fajen or Bishop sporter stocks, as well. These were called various names, such as “No. 4 Jungle Carbine,” or “Santa Fe Mountain Carbine,” or “Mountain Rifle,” but all have “Golden State Arms” and “Santa Fe” roll-stamped on the barrel. Nice aftermarket conversions, but strictly that.
Currently, Navy Arms is doing the same thing with No. 4 rifles and selling them as “No. 5 Jungle Carbines.” At arm’s length they look genuine, but they have standard No. 4 rifle markings and DO NOT have the lightening flutes on the barrel or the lightening cuts on the receiver. These are strictly fakes--or thinly disguised “replicas.”
No. 6 “Jungle Carbine”
Overall length 39-1/2 inches, with 20-1/2 inch barrel andflash hider; brass buttplate.
Overall length 39-1/2 inches, with 20-1/2 inch barrel andflash hider; brass buttplate.
The Australian No. 6 rifle was officially adopted, but only a couple of hundred prototypes were ever built. These have grooved fore-ends and handguards, and most have receiver-mounted aperture rear sights. All have “XP” serial number prefixes, and the bayonet lug on the flash hider is squared to accept a P1907-type bayonet rather than rounded to accept a No. 4-type bayonet. The handguard is the same length as the fore-end and will be solid for its full length or have an unusual set of backsight protectors on it--sort of like the rear handguard on an SMLE Mk I rifle.
Replicas and fakes abound. Golden State Arms made replicas in the 1950s and 1960s, but these are all marked “Golden State Arms” and “Santa Fe” on the barrel. In the 1970s, Federal Ordnance Company (Fed Ord) made some No. 6 look-alikes built on WWI-vintage Lithgow actions, but these are stamped “Jungle Rifle” on the left side of the receiver. Navy Arms is currently making look-alikes with no special marking and selling them as “No. 6 Jungle Carbines.” Don’t pay a premium for these!
Lee Enfield Serial Number Lookup
If you see a barrel-mounted tangent sight, the rifle is a fake. If you don’t see lightening flutes on the barrel knox form and lightening cuts in the receiver, the rifle is a fake. If it has a No. 5 flash hider, it’s a fake. If the barrel band is up within a few inches of the flash hider, it’s a fake. (Or a thinly-disguised “replica,” if you must.)
No. 7 “Jungle Carbine”
Shortened version of 2A/2A1 rifle, with flashhider installed.Like the 2A Tanker Carbine, this is strictly an aftermarket modification. There never was a carbine version of the Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifle, and there never was any such thing as a “No. 7 Jungle Carbine.” The Lee-Enfield No. 7 rifle is a .22 caliber training rifle, similar in appearance to a full-size No. 4 rifle, which was made in both Canada and Great Britain in the late 1940s. They are clearly marked as such.
Shortened version of 2A/2A1 rifle, with flashhider installed.Like the 2A Tanker Carbine, this is strictly an aftermarket modification. There never was a carbine version of the Ishapore 2A/2A1 rifle, and there never was any such thing as a “No. 7 Jungle Carbine.” The Lee-Enfield No. 7 rifle is a .22 caliber training rifle, similar in appearance to a full-size No. 4 rifle, which was made in both Canada and Great Britain in the late 1940s. They are clearly marked as such.
A Final Word
We believe that Navy Arms and others are missing a bet by not labeling their products for what they are. Aftermarket modifications and replicas have been around since the days of Francis Bannerman, and they are an interesting part of the history of military rifles. Bannerman Krags are definitely collectable, and there is a growing interest in Golden State and Fed Ord Enfields--but mainly because they are readily identifiable for what they are.
We believe that Navy Arms and others are missing a bet by not labeling their products for what they are. Aftermarket modifications and replicas have been around since the days of Francis Bannerman, and they are an interesting part of the history of military rifles. Bannerman Krags are definitely collectable, and there is a growing interest in Golden State and Fed Ord Enfields--but mainly because they are readily identifiable for what they are.
The problem with the current crop is not just that the marketing borders on deceptive: ten or twenty years from now nobody will be able to tell an honest Navy Arms look-alike from the one-off handiwork of a basement wood butcher. We believe that the aftermarket modifications and even “replicas” would sell just as well if they were labeled as such, and we have no doubt that doing so would save a lot of grief for collectors--both now and in the years to come.
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