For you L1A1 Anglophiles

I found the CES issue sheet for the L1A1 rifle this week. The Issue table is numbered 3051/10 and the last issue/amendment is dated January 1985. The last amendment relates to the change of graphite grease from XG-340 to XG-263. XG 340 was graphite grease while XG263 was listed as 'graphited grease' Quite what the difference was I have no idea but there you go.... It also deleted from the schedule the useless 'SHOE, butt, 7.62mm rifle. This was a rubber butt cup that slipped over the butt and was supposed to prevent the butt plate from bashing the floor of vehicles. But when the plastic butts came on stream, it was redundant. The CES is the Complete Equpment Schedule, the list of parts that are issued with every rifle and with which every rifle is classed as 'complete'. Nothing too mind boggling, but if you want authenticity for your L1A1, here goes;
RIFLE, 7,62mm L1A1
MAGAZINE, 20 rounds, L2A1. 5x for Infantry. 4x for other arms
BAYONET, L1A3
CORD, pullthrough Mk7
WEIGHT, cord, pullthrough
BRUSH, cleaning, 7.62mm chamber and gas cylinder
COVER, foresight, 7.62mm rifle, Mk1
CONTAINER, cleaning kit, small-arms, L1A1, plastic
SCABBARD, bayonet No5
BOTTLE, applicator, plastic, 1/2 fluid oz.
BRUSH, cleaning, small arms, L14A1
TOOL, combination, 7.62mm rifle, Mk1
SLING, small-arms Nylon or cotton webbing Olive drab, Mk1
GREASE, XG-340. WSE* use
GREASE, XG-264

The rifle wouldn't be issued or returned to Ordnance without this stuff.

Next question..................
* = when stocks exhausted

THANK YOU for the info Peter, you don't know how revealing it is. I've been wondering about and looking for the rubber boot for a number of years, now I know what it really is called SHOE, butt, 7.62mm rifle. I don't suppose it lists the NSN for it?

Grease XG-264 (Joint Service Designation)

This Standard relates to one grade of grease intended as a general purpose graphited lubricant, when specified, for leaf springs and lift guides, a lubricant and protective for steel wire ropes, and for certain antiseize purposes over the operating temperature range from minus 54 to plus 52ºC. Also for the lubrication of machine guns and small arms in hot dusty conditions and in heavy rain.

The grease, graphite, medium, XG-264,shall consist of a homogeneous mixture of grease XG-279 complying with the requirements of Def Stan 91-27 and between 4.5 and 5.5 per cent by weight of graphite synthetic, milled, 300 mesh (i.e. 53μm).


Grease XG-340

Aluminium stearate based grease containing graphite and used for lubricating small arms and certain other equipment as well as for rust proofing. Meets IS 408 specification. Temp range from 0 to plus 60ºC.

Your wish is my command NZL1A1 collector.........
The NSN for the shoe thinggy is/was B1/1005-99-962-9350 and deleted from stock on 25th November '85

Hi Peter,

Any chance of geting a copy of the said CES documents :-)

It's in the post as we speak.................