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MODEL 42M exceptional condition for a early 1940’s trainer
Guns International #: 101606198 Seller's Inventory #:
Category: Mossberg Rifles - Military Rifles - Trainer Rifles
Seller's Information
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Seller: meyek
Member Since: 7/20/09
First Name: mike
State: Kansas
Country: United States
Seller: Private Seller
Return Policy: 3 day inspection and return policy on used guns.
Payment Types Accepted: money orders, Cashiers Checks
Description:
.22 S, L, or LR cal., 7 shot magazine, bolt action, two-piece Mannlicher-style stock, 23 in. barrel, 40 in. overall length, front ramp, open bbl., and receiver aperture sights, trapdoor buttplate for extra mag. in buttstock, 6 3/4 lbs. Mfg. 1940-1944. This rifle is in great shape especially for age and use. Top of the barrel is drilled and tapped for a rifle scope.
Rear peep sight. The rear opening has a cleaning rag in there now. It is meant to house another magazine which can be found on Jack First, Numrich, ebay or Havlinsales
Just two years into the 1939-45 War, Britain was suffering a serious shortage of suitable training rifles. With all local manufacturers committed to the far higher priority of Service arms production, there were simply not enough small calibre rifles to go round. Local Defence Volunteer units ( latterly Home Guard) were utilising almost anything on which they could lay their hands, and such small-bore rifles as were in stock with gunsmiths or manufacturers were taken over by the War Office for distribution anywhere thay might be of value for economical trainig purposes.
The U.S.A. were already supplying much miltary matériel, and a request was made for a consignment of .22 rimfire rifles suitable for the purpose. The Mossberg Model 42 rifle was a sporting/target based design which offered an excellent basis on which minor modifications could comparatively easily be made to current production lines; the substitution of the three-quarter length stock with a full-length military style stock being the most significant and obvious.
The initial contract, in June 1941, was for 10,000 rifles. Previous to this date, Mossberg had used only a letter code on their production rather than serial numbers. Arranging to add the serial numbers required by the British Government took time, and the first 2,500 rifles left the factory not so marked. Thus the latter three-quarters of that contract ran from serial number 2501 to 10,000, and no earlier numbering should be seen. There was, not surprisingly, a delay in the despatch of this early batch due to the numbering requirement.
There were further contracts for rifles over the next eighteen months; a batch of 8,000 later in 1941, another 20,000 in March 1942, spares in June, and two more batches of rifles, totalling 8,000, early in 1943. Precise numbers allotted between U.S. and British destinations are not known at this point, but most production came to the United Kingdom.
Incidentally, the "M" in the rifle's nomenclature is reputed to be for "Mannlicher", being the style of stocking used, with the pistol-grip wrist.
SOLD
Curio/Relic: Yes
Manufacturer: Mossberg
Model: 42M
Serial Number: NSN
Condition: Very Good
Metal Condition: Very good
Wood Condition: Very good
Bore Condition: very good