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Looks much more like an L1A1 to me. And the presenter doesn't have much idea how to cock it properly, hence he fumbles it. We were always taught: Pull back then let go, Let the springs do the work.
its a nice one - has the cuts for sandy country in the bolt ?
Belgian Rifle using French tilting bolt and SVT GAS SYSTEM. Assembled mine from STG58 and L1a1 part sets. They cost me $500 using semi auto Imbel receiver. Never failed me. Beautiful machine. gary
You're quite right. The only metric parts are the receiver and the magazine. FAL action (recoil) springs can be heavy, and you're correct about slingshotting the charging handle. FrankenFALs are as good as the person who put them together.Quote:
Looks much more like an L1A1 to me.
He certainly was a pompous unknowing individual wasn't he? No actual knowledge or expertise at all!
Plastic? All the ones I got to use were wood. And no-one ever got their handle off...
Like I was saying, Mark...he has no actual knowledge. We used the carry handle extensively. Sometimes hooked on the rucksack frame for marches or just in hand for 10 milers. See if Mr Laidler likes the idea of us cutting off the carry handles?
I thought about that when he was going on about cuttinh them off BAR. I thought what I'd have said if anyone had come in and told me that he'd cut his carrying handle off because '.....I didn't like it....' My reply couldn't be printed in this family forum! I also thought to myself that the average Joe would have a job to cut the handle off because it was fixed to a piece of hard spring steel that would test the best hacksaw!
In Malaya with the Australians we didn't have carrying handles or slings fitted for one long period but that was so that you'd get used to carrying the rifle at the 'ready'
'cutting them off...................' I should co-co!
Re: Carrying Handles.
With regards to Peter's comment as to that Particular 'User' cutting his handle off.
If he had come in to MY Workshop & reported that 'He had cut his handle off'. I would have cut something off of his, that he would have held very dear to Him!.........................;)
Didn't the NZ troops have the carry handle replaced with a washer of equal size? Something about not carrying a rifle like you would a purse?
The other statement that rankles me was about it losing out to the M14. That was political, and I completely understand it. Having carried and used BOTH rifles, I have a hard time actually choosing between them. When you examine the characteristics, they're almost identical...I did find the FN came to hand better but I think that's because I carried it for 15 years through thick and thin. Then the Colt...
New Zealand issued a directive that all carrying handles were to be removed from the Army's SLR's and returned to Base Workshops and it was to be replaced with a Neoprene washer of suitable size. This was in the early 80's and is the reason why so many ex NZ rifles have no carrying handles.
The Rhodesian's did cut the carrying handle off some of their rifles, just leaving the loop in place to fill the slot.
The reason NZ replaced the carrying handle frame assembly according to info from Trentham in the 80's was to extend the life of the rifles pending the introduction of the new rifle. The hard, spring steel carrying handle frame would act as a lathe tool against the slot in the body and would gradually cut away at the slot until the handle became loose and would er..... 'flap around like a bulldogs baxxs' as said among squaddies! You can tighten up the handles by putting a more pronounced bend in the looped end but this is palliative and not a cure. Many of course weren't worn at the carrying handle slot but to remove some and not others woulkd have meant a what we call 'mixed fleet' that is not good. So off they came.
The NZ rifles had had a hard life in both Malaya, SVN and the various UN duties and stockpiles were low.
KimW and I discussed this at some length before he passed on to the great REME/RNZEME Armourers Shop in the sky and it was he who confirmed the instruction that we had originated at Trentham. There was/is no mention of a neoprene washer and I can't see that one would be necessary because the carrying handle screw (or the rear gas cylinder retaining screw) will prevent any ingress of rubbish into the gas cylinder.
Can you comment further NZL1A1 man?
Pete,
The Modification Instruction (NZ 162/Mod 3 Issue) dated 2 Oct 1980. Details the removal of all Carrying Handles, with the destruction of all Wood handles and the remaining Plastic type to be returned to 1 BSB, Trentham.
Para 8. Stores Required Washer, Neoprene, Oil Resistant, Black, 18 mm x 9 mm x 5 mm.
These washers are readily available through civil trade sources. It is not intended to codify this item at this stage.
Para 11. Detail. Remove handle carrying dispose of as per para 9 above and replace with a neoprene washer detailed in para 8 above.
---insert scribble-----
(P.M. ASQUITH)
Major
for Director of Electrical
and Mechanical Engineering
Ah, so my info pretty well ties in with what you've said except for the neoprene washer and the actual reason for removal. I can see why the washer isn't mentioned now - because it was not codified (brought into the Ordnance system) but remained a local purchase item
As an afterthought, unless anyone can come up with anything else, there was no reason whatsoever for the carrying handle in Commonwealth service EXCEPT for light Infantry regiments who carried it like that on the quick march for ceremonial reasons (and I'm not big on ceremonial/red tunics/horses/bulled boots and all that guff..... Just neatly washed and ironed with clean boots or shoes was always good enough for me). Carrying was always by the sling as we've always done or at the ready - as we've always done. The carrying handle doesn't feature in the training manuals at all. It does feature in the EMER of course, just how to keep fixing sloppy ones until the body slot is worn out
a pet hate of mine was the carrying handle sitting with its backside in the air when it was folded... I always fixed mine so it ran parallel with the bore.
some armourers would bend the loop to fix it then bend the wire to the handle the other way to keep the handle in line. (some just left them as they lay....).
I found that after a time of use the wire would get bent back, and the handle would become loose again.
"our lot" would carry 2-3 rifles at a time in one hand using the handles It was never "1 man 1 gun"
I started closing the loop so it was tight on to the carrying handle nut. it took more work, (it had to be tight, but not too tight to deform the nut, (would prevent gas piston running, or unscrew the carrying handle nut when the handle was used)
[QUOTE=nzl1a1collector;202100]Pete,
The Modification Instruction (NZ 162/Mod 3 Issue) dated 2 Oct 1980. Details the removal of all Carrying Handles, with the destruction of all Wood handles and the remaining Plastic type to be returned to 1 BSB, Trentham.
Para 8. Stores Required Washer, Neoprene, Oil Resistant, Black, 18 mm x 9 mm x 5 mm.
These washers are readily available through civil trade sources. It is not intended to codify this item at this stage.
Para 11. Detail. Remove handle carrying dispose of as per para 9 above and replace with a neoprene washer detailed in para 8 above.
Ah, That would explain a lot to me then!
I have just acquired an Ex Aussie L1A1 with wooden furniture (Old Spec) & the aforementioned Black washer is in place.
I had assumed (Incorrectly, as it now turns out!) that someone had removed the wooden carrying handle assembly deliberately.
Possibley as the wooden section had got crushed/fractured & did not know how to repair one.
so I want to replace the handle on mine as it was issued originaly. I will keep the washer as another 'Accessory' in the collection as it now transpires this was an official mod!
Thank you NZL1A1Collector for the info! ;)
For some reason there's a whole bunch of wood carrying handles on ebay at the moment, from a UK seller. Fetching quite high prices too.