This was standard on ours Peter. It took us until we went to Australia before we saw the grooves. I understand them, it's just that we didn't seem to need them for the most part. Our warfare doctrine was mostly open country...
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At my unit (Canadian Scottish Regiment) the breech blocks were stored similarly but they were marked to match the rifle's serial number. I don't remember exactly how they were marked but I do remember that we had to recite the rifle's serial number when drawing the breech blocks from the weapons vault. Don't remember my C1's serial number anymore except that it was a '58.
Some times we had pigeon holes to match the rifle number. That was for accountability... I don't recall breech blocks marked with a serial number...
I just checked my other C1, the one listed in the thread link above. It is also a 6L series, with a C2 heavy barrel and bipod. It is apparently a civilian or DCRA sale item from the days when regular mortals were allowed to own lethal equipment like FNs, cars, chainsaws, air compressors, and Bee Gee recordings. Of course, come to think of it, we can own all that stuff now except FNs. Anyway, the breech block on it is not numbered either, but since it was a "civilian" sale I thought maybe that was a different thing. It's been so many years since I owned my ex OPP 8L series rifle that I can't remember if its block was numbered or not.
Looking at the sniper unit again, it has a higher front sight than seems normal, hiding under that little protective plastic dome. Stevens book doesn't really say what regular sights are on these scoped rifle; iit talks at length about the reinforced action cover designed to take the scope mount, but not much about the iron sights. Neat rifles, these FNs. I wish I was allowed to actually shoot them.
Ed
The front sight shouldn't need to be higher for the C2 sight. 200 was 200 regardless of weapon. Same parts. They aren't a sniper rifle either, they're a marksman's rifle. I was issued one in 1975 while guarding peace talks overseas...they're good but not that good. I'd say the C2 sight was just what came to hand.
You're right, of course. It was used for more accurate fire than the standard, but was not a sniper rifle. Sorry for the sloppiness in terminology.
Ed
200 is 200? I believe the C1/C1A1 sight is in yards, while the C2A1 sight is in meters.
Possible Ralf, but we were always taught the rifle was in meters also. We always discussed things in meters. I know the big one was marked in meters like you say. The RANGES were built in yards though.