Enfield LA 89 A 1

U

uglydukwling

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Has anybody heard of this designation? I couldn't find it online or in Skennerton. I know the L prefix generally means British military, but I'm not sure about LA.

Anyway, this one is marked LA 89 A 1 and SN 90 and ROF EN and x 90001. All of these appear on the receiver, barrel and stock. The barrel is also stamped 7.62 x 51 mm 20 tons. I would assume ROF EN stands for Royal Ordnance Factory Enfield. Either SN 90 or X90001 must be the serial number.

It's built on a no 4 action. The barrel is 1 1/4" diameter and partially fluted. It has Parker-Hale target sights. The buttstock has a rubber recoil pad and an inletted cheek piece that as been grooved to allow the bolt to be removed. It has a short magazine, presumably 5 rounds.

I have other Lee-Enfield target rifles by Parker-Hale, Fulton, etc., but what's intriguing about this one is that it appears to be an arsenal build.

Any ideas?
 
I'm pretty sure about the markings. They're crisp and legible, as well as being repeated in 3 places. I was hoping that someone knew what they meant. I don't know how much difference it would make to post pictures so you can read them yourself, but if that's what it takes, I'll try.

I've never used any of the 3rd-party photo hosting sites, but I guess I can figure out how to do it. It always seemed like it was more trouble than it was worth, if the site wouldn't let me post directly. What site do people on here recommend? (I understand that Photobucket doesn't work) Is there one site that's more compatible with CGN than the others? It might even be worth paying to be allowed to post directly, but only if I can get my act together to start selling my collection on EE. Not for one inquiry.
 
According to Skennerton (page 262) "A number of specialty 7.62 mm target rifles were produced, with sporter style fore-ends, heavy profile barrels and butts which incorporate a comb or cheekrest. Various markings will be found....they were made up over more than a decade and on different orders. Provision was for user supplied tunnel foresights and aperture rearsight....

Maybe you have one of these
 
Thanks for the info. I'll eventually get pictures up, but it takes me a long time to get around to things. Meanwhile, I guess I should apologize if I gave the impression that I expected an appraisal. All was hoping for was that someone was familiar with the model designation.

It sounds like I have one of those "various markings" that Skennerton alludes to. Several variants, some probably one-offs, and nobody bothered to keep track of what they were called.
 
It was undoubtedly made for the civilian market, as it has the pressure test figure for 7.62x51 NATO. The .308Win stamp reads 21 TONS PER [square inch symbol].

I've never seen a fluted barrel rifle though...and 1.25" is a mighty big diameter.

tac
 
yTV2nph.jpg

mZRw2KY.jpg

VDJjHyS.jpg

h8U8bFh.jpg

QiQWtzD.jpg


I finally got around to taking some pictures and (I hope) figured out how to post them.
 
As has been said, that is FUGLY! In the spirit of use what you've got and don't ignore any evolutionary opportunity, it was probably as good as available at the time. The DCRA target shooters were quick to adopt commercial 7.62 rifles, when the ammunition changed over. So Carl Gustav Mausers, Kongsberg Mausers, Sportcos, Musgraves, Remington 40X and 700s, Winchester 70s, CIL (ie Savages) and other available rifles were the bridge between .303 No. 4s and 7.62 conversion No.4s. I'm sure there was a very similar technological flurry in UK. In the 80s when the ammo was still supplied and often crap to boot, No.4s had a cachet for having the right barrel flip at the long ranges.

If the first NRA in the world encouraged reuse of existing actions, then this heavy barrel conversion makes sense. Shooters, especially citizen marksmen, are a notoriously cheap crowd. We can be sure these rifles were either made by a single gunsmith's shop or possibly a military workshop. The only reason I suggest the latter is the L in the marking. Military rifle teams would have used what was provided by HM, or if the price was right might have used their meagre unit resources for a block of similar guns. Who knows?
 
Fantasy markings added in someones basement i'm afraid.

To clarify, fantasy designation, fantasy serial number.

Hand stamping the side of the receiver in that way would have had a military armourer up on charges.

And by the time they were in the L80's Enfields were out of the system.

L39s and L42 date to 1969 to 71, enforcers and envoys are just commercial L39s.

Then; British serial numbers require a manufacturer and country of origin and year designator.
Ie.)
UE 90 1235

UNITED kingdom, Enfield, 1990, serial 1234
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom