Do it NOW, while you can..............

[Peter Laidler]

Good idea to keep an extractor, spring and stay plus a couple of backsight adjusting screws and z spring. I have to say that I never used any of the 'special tools' except the butt removing tool and used the combination tool for the extractor. I've never even seen the gas cylinder retaining pin tool! The pin was captive in any case, held in place by the gas regulator. Incidentally, the markings on your tool KtK includes the initials A in U. That indicates an item that is on charge (on the technical quartermasters books) but is in use somewhere in the workshops, hence the ARTICLE IN USE code that would indicate that it was on charge and accountable.

Another example of this was the slave No4T and an L42 used to test the 'fastness' of No32/L1A1 sights. It would be on the books of course but held somewhere in the workshops. There, just another bit of rubbish.............

[bigduke6]

If anyone has any 'locally made' or even production Armourers tools for the L1A1 they no longer use or want, I would love to add them to the collection

If you dont have one of these then drop me a line,

[nzl1a1collector]

Incidentally, the markings on your tool KtK includes the initials A in U. That indicates an item that is on charge (on the technical quartermasters books) but is in use somewhere in the workshops, hence the ARTICLE IN USE code that would indicate that it was on charge and accountable.

Thanks for the info about the markings its nice to know what they finally mean (ARTICLE IN USE)

Its what I liked about the piece, it served no practical purpose. it would of cost £100's to make with all the time and machining, when a £2 pin punch can do the same job, and a lot quicker too.

[David TS]

I've got an EMERS and Skennerton's SAIS parts list courtesy of Brian Dick, plus a repro operating manual for my straight pull L1A1, I just need to learn how to shoot the damn thing now

[Peter Laidler]

I remember that 'special tool' Big Duke. If anyone out there is still wondering what it is/was............ The jig was mounted onto a .30 Browning tripod and the rifle was placed into the jig and using the reflector (middle item, bottom picture) and the crosswire adaptor (same pic, right item) the rifle was bore sighted at the target at X yards away.

THEN, the SUIT sight or the big IIW L1A7/SS20 night sight could be bore sighted and zeroed.

I know.............., I know................ a cheap commercial bore sighter or collimation device could do the job cheaper and easier. But rather than spend a few ££'s, it's easier to say to a sergeant who might be kicking his heels somewhere '..............Go and invent me a gadget that will do this that and the other. Make it really cumbersome and heavy, using loads of angle iron, steel and other fittings and things. Ensure that in doing so that there is at least one part that will snap shot quickly that will cause the user to jump up and down like a frog on fire after trapping his fingers somewhere. Take your time............ I need it tomorrow'

There it is........., exhibit A......... an IIW bore sighting device

[nzl1a1collector]

Here's Exhibit A, the Boresighting Device, fitted to the L2A1 Tripod

[Peter Laidler]

Can you believe that someone would invent such a monstrosity. When you took the rifle onto the range to fire a check group, it was always miles out, especially with the IIW night sight. That's because the weight of the sight would drag the rear end down and flex the barrel which in turn made any bore sighting hopeless.

Like I said, a few ££'s spent on a commercial collimator and you'd be home and dry. Talking of which, I saw the first UK milspec collimators being evaluated. Talk about complex, heavy and with so much unnecessary crap. When all you needed was........... a cheap commercial off-the-shelf collimator!

[bigduke6]

will cause the user to jump up and down like a frog on fire after trapping his fingers somewhere

Sounds like one of the jobs you would rather pass on to someone else?

[tankhunter]

Can you believe that someone would invent such a monstrosity. When you took the rifle onto the range to fire a check group, it was always miles out, especially with the IIW night sight. That's because the weight of the sight would drag the rear end down and flex the barrel which in turn made any bore sighting hopeless.

Like I said, a few ££'s spent on a commercial collimator and you'd be home and dry. Talking of which, I saw the first UK milspec collimators being evaluated. Talk about complex, heavy and with so much unnecessary crap. When all you needed was........... a cheap commercial off-the-shelf collimator!

Peter, when I was 80 yards away from your present workplace. there USED to be Two of these boresight adaptors on the shelf in the Armourers Shop. I dont think they EVER got lifted off the dexion shelving! They were always coated with a layer of grey dust, because they NEVER moved!..... Wonder if thery are still there?..............

[Peter Laidler]

Don't remember seeing them Tankie but does anyone remember that much later, instead of using the breech and muzzle plugs as a means of viewing, you could use the rifle broken - with the trigger mechanism housing hanging down, less the breech block and carrier but using a .22" sub-calibre barrel inserted as a quicker and more accurate means of aligning the barrel onto the target.

The breech and muzzle plugs were always kept in a safe place, separate from the aiming device. So safe in fact, that nobody ever remembered where they were! As a result they were always missing......................., but safely missing of course.

What a contraption! Incidentally, it was Geoff Payne that dreamed up the idea of using the sub calibre barrel instead of the breech mirror and muzzle stop-down plug