Enfield 1983 dated rifle??

[mrclark303]

Morning all,

On my morning trundle across the internet I came a cross this L1A1 deactivated wall hanger, on the face of it, an average Enfield manufactured example, with typical 1970's/1980's mods, Nylon furniture and three slot flash eliminator.

So far so good....then I noticed the serial number, UE83!!!! This is entirely new to me and places this rifle in a production lot at least 15 years after the end of British production, I always assumed ended in 1966, certainly never seen a rifle dated after that point....

In fact by 1983, most of the L1A1 plant was with Parker Hale and they were manufacturing replacement barrels etc.

It has me quite stumped, I have dealt with many L1A1's and researched the type quite thoroughly, this is new to me, any ideas guys??

An un-issued reserve receiver rebuild perhaps, its clearly factory stamped??

http://www.csmilitaria.co.uk/viewphoto.php?x=3

Information

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[Peter Laidler]

The body was never made as a spare part per-se as this was what we called the 'master component'. This part was in fact 'the rifle' and was never available via Ordnance. So that puts that theory out. 1983 just seems impossible to me. At that time we could have just purchased directly from Australia. We regularly used to see Lithgow L1A1's dated '73 and 74 and those that we'd inherited from SEATO/pooled stockpiles in the Far East.

I wonder what the actual serial number part was?

Maybe Kev the Kiwi can come up with some explanation as by '83 we already knew that the L1A1 was due for the chop

[mrclark303]

Hmmm, just looked more carefully at the serial number picture, you can clearly see machining marks below the serial number, that indicates a Lithgow to me, Enfield and BSA made rifles are better finished cosmetically, with these markings smoothed off (not starting a Antipodean quality argument here guys), its just these markings are always evident on Lithgows I have seen and they are not typically present on UK manufacture rifles.

The mystery deepens, don't know what it is about that rifle, but it just doesn't look quite right to me, just cant put my finger on it.

I wonder if its a civilian US made 922r compliant receiver, (minus Auto sear) L1A1, that somehow arrived over here and was deactivated, these have faux UK military type serials applied sometimes ??

Got me stumped.

[Paul S.]

All US 922r compliant components - even the small bits, are clearly marked "MADE IN USA". They do not have faux markings, and are usually stamped with something to the effect of "922r COMPLIANT" as well as a maker's indentity.

[Peter Laidler]

The more I think about it, the more it don't sound right to me either! Did Enfield make civillian compliant/less auto sear L1A1's as you suggest in para 3? If I was a betting man, I'd venture to suggest that someone was cooking the books there.............

[tankhunter]

Im not 'Happy' with the engraving on this one either!..............Check it against a REAL L1A1!.....................

Just MY, thought's about this particular 'Rifle'.........

[mrclark303]

All US 922r compliant components - even the small bits, are clearly marked "MADE IN USA". They do not have faux markings, and are usually stamped with something to the effect of "922r COMPLIANT" as well as a maker's indentity.

I have seen US rifles marked up to replicate the number on the TMH before Paul (by the owner I would assume).

To be fair, you cant really see what other markings are present, something is stamped ahead of the magwell.

Easy way to tell...does it have an auto sear fitted, if it does, then its got to be Military in origin...if not then a Civvy.

I might ask the vendor to have a peek, as the carrier is welded solid he would need to pop out the pivot and see if its sear cut.

[enbloc8]

Im not 'Happy' with the engraving on this one either!..............Check it against a REAL L1A1!.....................

Just MY, thought's about this particular 'Rifle'.........

My thought too...shouldn't those markings be filled with the finish paint from the factory, instead of looking like they were pantograph-engraved on after the paint was applied?

[Lee Enfield]

Hmmm, just looked more carefully at the serial number picture, you can clearly see machining marks below the serial number, that indicates a Lithgow to me, Enfield and BSA made rifles are better finished cosmetically, with these markings smoothed off (not starting a Antipodean quality argument here guys), its just these markings are always evident on Lithgows I have seen and they are not typically present on UK manufacture rifles.

The mystery deepens, don't know what it is about that rifle, but it just doesn't look quite right to me, just cant put my finger on it.

I wonder if its a civilian US made 922r compliant receiver, (minus Auto sear) L1A1, that somehow arrived over here and was deactivated, these have faux UK military type serials applied sometimes ??

Got me stumped.

That receiver was manufactured by Lithgow, you can tell by the contour of the lightening cut through the magazine well and the contour following lightening cuts where the lower and upper receivers join.

[nzl1a1collector]

Certainly the Body is Australian as Lee Enfield said.

What peeks my interest is a marking that you can't see very well and one that might answer the question as to whats going on. if you look closely there is a stamping on the left hand side just below the cocking handle on the magazine well.

I think its possible this is a replacement body, sourced from Australia and used to rebuild rifle A20xxx in 1983

I think you will find whoever did it engraved the typical British markings on the lefthand side including the original Serial number. If we can get some decent close up photos of the left and right hand sides of the Body and of the markings in front of the magazine well I might be able to give a better explanation.

The third rifle that company has for sale with the L1A2 BFA attached to it looks to be one of the 1970's rifles Lithgow sold to the UK without furniture that Peter mentioned.