Guns International #: 103572691
Seller's Inventory #: 259922

Category - Mossberg Rifles - Military Rifles - Trainer Rifles

Category
Mossberg Rifles
Military Rifles - Trainer Rifles

World War II MOSSBERG M42M-B U.S. LEND/LEASE .22 Training Rifle C&R BRITISH UNITED STATES PROPERTY Marked FULL STOCK

Description:
World War II MOSSBERG M42M-B U.S. LEND/LEASE .22 Training Rifle C&R BRITISH

UNITED STATES PROPERTY Marked FULL STOCK

Here Ancestry Guns presents a C&R O.F. Mossberg & Sons Model 42M-B(a) Lend/Lease Act Training Rifle, chambered in .22 Rimfire, made circa 1943 in New Haven, Connecticut. 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 caliber rifles to go round. Local Defense Volunteer units (latterly the Home Guard) were utilizing almost anything on which they could lay their hands, such small-bore rifles that were in stock with gunsmiths or manufacturers. These were taken over by the War Office for distribution anywhere they might be of value for economical training purposes.

The United States was already supplying a lot of military material to Britain, 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 with minor modifications could fairly 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 with no serial number. After those, the latter three-quarters of that contract ran from serial number 2501 to 10,000, and no earlier numbering should be seen. There were further contracts for rifles over the next eighteen months which included a batch of 8,000 later in 1941, another 20,000 in March 1942, and two more batches of rifles totaling 8,000 rifles early in 1943. Incidentally, the “M” in the rifle's nomenclature is reputed to be for "Mannlicher", being the style of stock used with the pistol-grip wrist.

The overall condition is good. The action is excellent. The bore is bright with sharp rifling. The stock is solid. There is a repair in the stock just under the bolt handle. The plastic trigger guard is split. A great piece of American & British history from World War II!

Own the original! This firearm is classified as a Curio & Relic.

Barrel is 23 inches.

Caliber: .22 S, L, LR Rimfire

Overall condition as seen in photos.

Very Fast. Very Safe. FREE SHIPPING. Will need to be sent to your local FFL or C&R licensee. This firearm is classified as a Curio & Relic.

Guaranteed AUTHENTIC & Includes CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY.

$1250

#259922
 

SOLD

Curio/Relic: Yes