The Mossberg Model 42M-B Lend Lease .22 caliber rifle,During the early years of World War II, Britai

The Mossberg Model 42M-B Lend Lease .22 caliber rifle,During the early years of World War II, Britain suffered a terrible shortage of small arms.  To better arm themselves, the British turned to the United States, which supplied weapons through the Lend Lease Act.  One unique shortage was in the supply of small caliber rifles to train raw recruits who had little or no experience with rifle shooting.In the United States the firearms company Mossberg and Sons was famous for producing sporting firearms, especially bolt action shotguns and small caliber bolt action rifles.  During World War II Mossberg was contracted by the US Government to produce .22 caliber bolt action rifles for training purposes.  One contract was for a supply of .22 caliber training rifles to Britain.  The Mossberg Model 42 was a .22 bolt action rifle popular in America for target shooting, plinking, and small game hunting.  Mossberg modified the Model 42 design by including a more durable, beefier stock, a grip which contoured with the hand, and a more durable trigger guard.  Many of these modifications would become common in later Mossberg bolt action rifle and shotgun designs.  Chambered in .22 long rifle, the new Mossberg design used a five round detachable magazine.Called the Model 42M-B, all of the rifles were stamped “United States Property”.  They were also stamped with with British markings, including Birmingham “crown” proof marks.  Between 1941 and 1943 around 46,000 Model 42M-B’s were produced and delivered to Britain.  After 1943 it is unknown how many more were produced and shipped to British destinations.  Many were also sent to other allies such as the Soviet Union and China. -- source link

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