L1A1 topcovers for the SUIT

[Longshaor]

OK, here's an odd question, did all the manufacturers involved in L1A1 production also make topcovers for fitting the L2A2 SUIT? I've got an Enfield marked topcover that came with my L2A2 (though some idiot ground the tabs at the rear off to get it on an FAL), but I'm wondering who else may have made them.



Cheers!

[NavyShooter]

I have 2 of the top-covers. 1 with the mount sheared off (I do have the mount though!) and the other is serviceable.

Each only has the faintest of stampings on them.

The stamping is inside the top-cover, near the front, on the left hand side. The location is not identical on both, and the 2nd one is barely imprinted, so I cannot get a photo of it.

I'm including a photo of the "D" that's visible on one of them.

[Longshaor]

NavyShooter,

Mine is marked in the same location, though rotated about 80-degrees relative to yours. The stylized 'D' is RSAF Enfield, so hopefully someone with an example from another manufacturer will chime in - or we'll find out that Enfield was the sole producer! Either way, my curiosity has, once again, gotten the best of me.

Cheers!

[NavyShooter]

Well, we're 3 for 3 right now.....a random sample of 100%.....not statistically significant!

[nzl1a1collector]

Do those with the Enfield logo on their mounts have flat rivets holding the 'T-Bar' on? From the dozen of so I've looked at the flat riveted T-bars will have the Enfield Logo stamped on the top cover somewhere,. The T-bars with the domed rivets I believe have come from MANROY ENGINEERING. I have a NIW mount from MANROY, but I don't know what the rivets look like as it's sealed in plastic.

[Longshaor]

Mine has the flat rivets and what look to be two markings on the top. The first is a letter 'C' almost as large as the front rivet and partially obscured by it. Directly to the rear of that is a marking inside a triangle, IIRC it's a 'D', but I'm not sure and I don't have it accessable at the moment. I'll update after I get a look at it this evening.

Cheers!

[Rotor]

I have some pics of two S.U.I.T. top covers. There are some slight variations I always wondered about too.
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The Enfield (black one) is stock. The tan one has been neutered for metric and has the “C” and D in a Triangle.

The Non Enfield type is slightly lower. The Enfield version is higher and the mount on top has reinforcing weld at the back and front where the S.U.I.T. mount meets the top cover bracket.
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The rivets are taller on this Non Enfield type in tan.
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Also the Enfield stamped mount has more pronounced spot welds at the attachment point to the top cover.
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The non Enfield type has holes in the top cover under the S.U.I.T. rivets.

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JR

[Longshaor]

Very interesting, Rotor. My mount is a dead ringer for your tan one, except that the topcover it's mounted to has an Enfield 'D' stamped in it, roughly where shown on your black one. The plot thickens...

[Rotor]

Hmmmm.

Perhaps what I am calling an "Enfield mount" is just an Enfield dustcover and the variations of the final assembly into a a S.U.I.T. mount happened at different times from different batches of parts.

The "C" and /D\ marked S.U.I.T. top ends might just be a contracted item that found their way based on what box was at the front of the bin.

Now the weld, bracket height, and holes might better denote the source.

JR

[Peter Laidler]

Might it be that the actual COVER part was a bog standard item that was taken from Ordnance Stores and modified to SUIT configuration as and when more SUIT covers were required. Hence the reason why the add-ons differ but the actual covers are all (?) Enfield