Sterling L2A3 New Zealand Contract Serial Numbers

Hi,

not sure how useful this will be but here goes....

as promised, here are the serial numbers I've tracked down with the corresponding NZ number and note on the finish. Looks like the NZ numbers were not issued sequential to serial number. Where I've put suncorite, it is a smooth black finish.

So far there don't seem to be many left with crackle finish.

Please feel free to copy / past the list with any additions.

KR24800 NZ 705 suncorite, clear markings well refinished but worn deact
KR25078 NZ 691 refinished Suncorite
KR25489 NZ 1710 parkerized Deact
KR25644 NZ 83 crackle (worn) deact
KR25648 NZ 1647 or 1047 suncorite deact
KR25751 NZ 175 suncorite over crackle worn away in places deact
KR26012 NZ 462 suncorite worn to parkerized Live ? in NZ
KR26093 NZ 1604 suncorite deact
KR26665 NZ Unclear suncorite deact

Be warned, NZ Firearm collecting is highly addictive, I bought my L2A3 and thought I could leave it there ... Next it was an WW1 issue NZ SMLE, then came my NZ L1A1 followed by my NZ L2A1, what's next, probably an NZ Long Branch No4 if I can find a shooter.

Point being I am totally addicted and can't wait for the next NZ fix!

Hum ... I also have a mark VI webley that has an NZ stamp on it, just a shame that the top 1/2 isn't matching. Perhaps the NZ habit has snuck up on me :0)

It's not looking good, seek help fast before you get as bad as me!

Joking aside, well done for starting the NZ L2A3 list, interesting I assumed (dangerous thing I know) that the Census number would have some correlation with the S/N.

That's clearly not the case, so were they census numbered as part of the inspection and Service induction process?

I had this old spec 1995 deact until a couple of years ago.

KR25511 NZ1402 some traces of original crackle but now worn Suncorite

Cheers

Kev

David Howroyd told me that NZ marked their guns with the NZ census number at the factory. I"m not quite sure that I can agree with that because the natural thing to do would be to number them BEFORE they went through the (crackle) paint plant and oven. But clearly, the NZ guns were numbered AFTER they were phosphated and AFTER they went though the paint plant. So they could have been done at the incoming Northern District Ord Depot on arrival. But one thing is certain is that they weren't NZ numbered sequentially with the KR numbers.

Notice how deep the KR serial numbers are engraved. This was a security feature to ensure that they couldn't be ground out - or it would be easily noted if the number had been ground out. We were always having to re-number Faz serial numbers or get re-allocated SA numbers for them.

Thanks for that info Peter, the census number system seemed to be used for about 90 years from the Snider (earlier perhaps?) all the way to the L1A1 era and eventual phase out in 1960.

As they already have the S/N, what was the point of the census number? I never really understood quite what it was for...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrclark303

As they already have the S/N, what was the point of the census number? I never really understood quite what it was for...

---

It’s a way of expressing ownership… like dogs lifting their leg and marking their territory. A lamppost is not their lamppost until they have marked it.

The NZ Bren and Tripod are the same, the NZ number is out of such with the Serial. Obviously a first out of the box etc etc.

One thing I noticed with the Bren is that they started as N^ZA xxxx and ended up with just N^Zxxxx.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brit plumber

The NZ Bren and Tripod are the same, the NZ number is out of such with the Serial. Obviously a first out of the box etc etc.

One thing I noticed with the Bren is that they started as N^ZA xxxx and ended up with just N^Zxxxx.

---

More interesting Census number info Chris, my WW1 NZ issue SMLE is marked S21061 she seems to be among a very few to survive with the number intact. All the others I have seen have a flat milled into the top of the receiver ring (Census No location) and the "SS" Sold out of Service marking added in its place.

Latest List:

KR24800 NZ 705 suncorite, clear markings well refinished but worn deact
KR25078 NZ 691 refinished Suncorite
KR25489 NZ 1710 parkerized Deact
KR25511 NZ1402 some traces of original crackle but now worn Suncorite, UK Deact
KR25644 NZ 83 crackle (worn) deact
KR25648 NZ 1647 or 1047 suncorite deact
KR25751 NZ 175 suncorite over crackle worn away in places deact
KR26012 NZ 462 suncorite worn to parkerized Live ? in NZ
KR26093 NZ 1604 suncorite deact
KR26665 NZ Unclear suncorite deact

Lowest NZ 83, Highest NZ 1710

While we are on the subject of the glorious L2A3, here's another one I restored and sold a few years back.

Not an ex NZ example (KR 53360), but who needs an excuse to post more Sterling pics ....:lol:

Its rare that it was on the UK market and not an ex NZ to be honest...

Attachment 83973Attachment 83972Attachment 83974Attachment 83975Attachment 83976Attachment 83977Attachment 83978

Portugese Army? Was it phosphate or just paint? Looks phosphate in photo 1.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Portugese Army? Was it phosphate or just paint? Looks phosphate in photo 1.

---

Afternoon Peter, it was in a very battered state when I bought it. Looked like it had been stored out in the open! I cosmetically restored her.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Brit plumber

One thing I noticed with the Bren is that they started as N^ZA xxxx and ended up with just N^Zxxxx.

---

In 1939 when the first Brens arrived, N^ZA meant NZ Army but as the war progressed distribution of new weapons was made to the Navy and Air Force, so the stamp was changed back to the old N^Z ownership mark.

Any idea what the S stood for at the start of the Census number on my WW1 SMLE Woodsy?

I assumed​ it stood for Service?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mrclark303

Any idea what the S stood for at the start of the Census number on my WW1 SMLE Woodsy?

I assumed​ it stood for Service?

---

New Zealand has used a variety of markings over the years and the country is divided into 3 military districts which are largely population based. N = Northern (the top half of the North Island, C = Central (the bottom half of the North Island, S = Southern (the whole of the South Island and Stewart Island). In WW2 the Home Guard rifles, which were largely impressed from the civilian poulation with back-up from obsolete Army stores (mainly MLE's), were stamped with a digit from 1 - 10, a bar, followed by a number. 1 = Auckland in the north, 12 = Invercargill in the south. Thus 10/2443 means rifle 2443 in the Christchurch district. After the war these rifles were first offered back to the owners, and the balance were sold at auction (I recently sold a .303 M95 Winchester with the Invercagill number). Whilst the military districts still exist there is no identifying marks placed on weapons these days. The initial 1988 batch of 5,000 Steyr AUG's were supplied from Austria as Lithgow had not yet got into production, and the serial number on these rifles began with NZ0001 through to NZ5000. I handled NZ0001 after it was recovered from the field after a couple of months of issue, as it was on its way to the Army Museum where it was meant to go when new (another wee 'oops'!).

Many thanks for the info Woodsy, its the first time I have heard this explained.

I was wondering what variation of this system was used in WW1. My 1917 Enfield was NZ marked and census numbered prior to issue to the troops in the UK before heading off to France... Or perhaps marked up and issued at a base workshop in France??

As my rifle is a 1917 example, it would suggest interestingly that NZ kept largely seperate stores during the Great war.

I believe it must have been handed back at the end of the war, as I understand NZ troops were issued with new replacement rifles before packing up for home.