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British L42A1 (D71) Bolt Action Sniper Rifle

Currency:USD Category:Firearms & Military Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:NA
British L42A1 (D71) Bolt Action Sniper Rifle
Auction Location:

16600 Aston Street
Irvine, CA
British L42A1 (D71) Bolt Action Sniper Rifle, #A1991, 7.62x51mm., 27.5'' barrel, stove black finish, cheekpiece beech stock with grooved upper handguard and matching numbered magazine. Topped with an upgraded No.32 Mk.3 fixed 4-power scope with leather covers on a matching numbered side mount. Correct unmarked leather M-1907 sling is retained. This sniper variant was an update of the venerable WWII No. 4 Mk1(T) with the biggest changes being the heavier free-floating barrel and conversion to the NATO version of the .308 cartridge, an extensively modified extractor and a magazine change. Accessories include segmented telescope in leather case, scope case numbered to scope (26097), and several cleaning kits. The L42A1 was used with great success by the SAS, Royal Marines and paratroopers in Aden, Northern Ireland, and the Falklands with some being pulled back into service during the First Gulf War. The most remarkable encounter using an L42A1 was when a contingent of 22 Royal Marines held off an Argentine Navy Corvette in Stromness Bay during the Falklands War. On April 3, 1982 a 37-year-old Command Sgt. Major named Peter Leach firing an L42A1 from a second-story position took out all the windows on the bridge of the Argentine warship allowing his men to exact further damage causing the ship to list heavily and retreat. Condition is near excellent retaining approx. 94% of its black finish with light scuffing. Stock is fine to excellent with hardly a mark showing anywhere. Action functions flawlessly with a bright bore and clear scope optics. WWII scope has been upgraded and re-marked. Exterior of scope with losses to paint at adjustment knobs and to highpoints of rings. Accessories are at least fine showing little use; transport case has excellent straps and nearly all of its original green paint. Est.: $5,000-$7,000. (C&R/PPT) (Receiver dates from WWII.)