SP L2A1 "look a like"

Afternoon all,

Well I gave up on trying to build up an L2A1 a while back, while the Lithgow parts kit (L1A1) parts kit was doable, as was the barrel, getting the L2 specific bipod/gas block combo was problematic and I would be pushing my luck with my FEO explaining why I needed another 7.62mm rifle.

So I reluctantly put the idea on ice...

Enter, Gils L1A1 builder, he's taken up the challenge and done a pretty good job, he just needs the right butt, carry handle and re profile the safety to match as closely as possible the selective fire unit of the L2A1.

I bet this raised a few eyebrows at the Proofhouse.;)

I salute you sir for pushing the boundaries... :cheers:

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Well don't send it to the London PH if you don't want to rock any boats

The right butt.......? We had about 25 in the battalions and they all had the same but as the L1A1's we had.

British butt fitted on this example Peter, if he wants the "look", then it has to be a Lithgow coachwood butt.

The L2 carry handle and straight 30rd mag would both be an issue to procure, not common items to find in the UK.

Your thoughts on the LPH are quite valid, the fact it looks like an LMG might cause a problem

I see you're using an L4 magazine in the mean time.

I always thought the c2/L2 to be the sexiest rifle possible...until i played with one.

WTF were they thinking with the lack of handguards and exposed barrel??

Another gun designed with too little user input.

The FALO system with the protected barrel was so much better.

As it is at the moment its a plain "old" L1A1 with a NZ past. I haven't changed anything on it, just waiting to see how .380 v 7.62 go through it to avoid stoppages. This one has London PH stamps all over it.;)

Morning all, just compared the pictures of the L2 build on the site against the L2's in my collection and the barrel profile isn't quite right.

Tad too skinny, lots of meat on an L2 barrel.

Been at the range this morning and did a video of the stoppage problem with the top cover off.
Wait Out.

Looking forward to it Gil ... interesting to see what Peter makes of it...

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Originally Posted by Lee Enfield

WTF were they thinking with the lack of handguards and exposed barrel??

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I used a hose clamp to hold mine in place and carried and shot it like a heavy rifle, worked fine...

Lithgow butt on a Lithgow L2 In service it wasn't like that. We had what the poms supplied from Ordnance. Just like everything else in he real world of active service I say. We didn't look around for Lithgow bayonet grips either. Being silly I know but that's life i the real world. Maybe one day I will swop you a couple of straight 30 rounders I've had for a loooooooong time

Evening Peter, the straight 30 rd mags are quite rare items in the UK.

I can't remember if they all came from Canada or Lithgow made there own.

No markings on mine whatsoever. Re the butts, I quite take your point from a service perspective, but today its a collectors perspective, sort of like you wouldn't fit a Late Rover steering wheel, or a 1998 A+ series engine in a 1967 Mini Cooper S.

Sad perhaps ( anoraks, yes, why not), but we collectors try to rebuild Rifles to represent a particular time frame of a types service history.

Tracking down and acquiring the "right" parts for the restoration is just part of the fun of owning any classic really...

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

No markings on mine whatsoever. Re the butts, I quite take your point from a service perspective, but today its a collectors perspective, sort of like you wouldn't fit a Late Rover steering wheel, or a 1998 A+ series engine in a 1967 Mini Cooper S.

Sad perhaps ( anoraks, yes, why not), but we collectors try to rebuild Rifles to represent a particular time frame of a types service history.

Tracking down and acquiring the "right" parts for the restoration is just part of the fun of owning any classic really...

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I look at it as "get what works, till you can find what's 'right' ".

If it's any consolation, C2/L2 parts are no less difficult to find here in the States. Most (all?) of the unique parts were made by Long Branch in Canada, and they shut down for good in 1976...the Canadian MGs all went in the shredder (though spare parts came to the US), and only well-used Kiwi/Malayan L2s made it here as parts kits. If the Aussies made any of the LMG-specific parts themselves, I've never heard of it. I bought my L2 for a bit over $3000...somebody was recently advertising the unique parts on GB for nearly as much. Guess I'll never get a proper rear-sight top cover for mine....

I managed to acquire an ex NZ L2A1 last year, to my knowledge its the only privately owned example in the UK, I have certainly never seen or heard of any other examples of the fully spec'd Australian/NZ L2A1 with the top cover mounted back sight and blanking plate in private ownership.

I can only surmise that a number of them passed through the UK (as the bulk of the NZ L1's did) after being sold into the arms trade and my example was pulled aside and deactivated for some reason.

She's certainly the queen of my Inch pattern collection and by far the rarest of the breed with only a few hundred examples being supplied to NZ.

Long since given up on acquiring a C1 derivative.

A C1A1 backsight ( kindly supplied by Jim) will likely be as close as I get!

John, I know what you mean. C1A1 handguards (as you know the plain ones with no slots in) and new butt plates is where my Canadian project has stalled.
Kev

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Originally Posted by desperatedan

C1A1 handguards

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Originally Posted by desperatedan

new butt plates

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I wonder if I could find a set here? Should I look?

I would certainly be interested Jim, after Kev though as he mentioned it first.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../7yy5s93-1.jpg

I cant find a note of the serial but this was the L2A1 I sold on last year with the bits to go with By any chance is it the same one MrClark aquired? If it is I'm glad it went to a good home!

I've still got the set of Aussie M1956 webbing I built up to go with it.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo.../G4JU9k6-1.jpg

I think that picture dates from after I managed to replace all the US M1956 parts with genuine Aussie ones, hows that for webbing sniffing?! Also got the sleep system that went with it and the diddy cut down mess tins etc.

ATB

Tom

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Originally Posted by tombear

I cant find a note of the serial but this was the L2A1 I sold on last year with the bits to go with By any chance is it the same one MrClark aquired? If it is I'm glad it went to a good home!

I've still got the set of Aussie M1956 webbing I built up to go with it.

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Ah, I think so, I was after it and missed it on Milweb (I think we spoke on the phone mate:lol:), then it popped up at MDW, being parted out .... Top cover had been replaced for a standard example and standard flip sight fitted, I simply couldn't let this rare piece go, I did a deal and gathered the rifle back together...

I cosmetically restored her to join the collection. Here she is now with her Malay contract sister...

Attachment 89131

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I wonder if I could find a set here? Should I look?

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Thanks for the offer Jim but what I meant to say in my haste to post from my mobile phone was that those are the only parts I've got so far here in the UK. So like John's project its a definite "slow burn"!

I came across these handguards on a deactivated L1A1 a few years ago and that's what sparked my interest in the Canadian version.

Attachment 89132

Oh, good find Kev, rare items in the UK. I found building up a C1A1 in Straight pull almost impossible, unfortunately procuring a C1A1 reciver and TMH proved a complete no go...

You can't have everything I guess...

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Originally Posted by desperatedan

I came across these handguards

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Yup, those are they...

I had C1 and C2 parts in quantity years ago during my 10 year "heyday" of importing. Some of them I thought I'd never run out of. I still have a few things squirreled away here. PM me if you have specific needs. I don't have any complete rear sights anymore but I do have some parts for them. I also have a quantity of the C1/C2 cleaning kits. Not all are complete but I think the P-H accessories can still be had. I was lucky to build a C1 clone with excellent condition parts and a new Australian barrel in the early 1990's using an early Entreprise inch pattern receiver. It's as good as any SLR I've ever handled. I've never seen a spare Canadian made barrel here in the lower 48.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Oh, good find Kev, rare items in the UK. I found building up a C1A1 in Straight pull almost impossible, unfortunately procuring a C1A1 reciver and TMH proved a complete no go...

You can't have everything I guess...

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I know what you mean John but "almost impossible" to me just poses a challenge!

Surely it can't beyond the wit of (UK) man to make this happen, even given the constraints of each country. I agree that the receiver is likely to be the main problem (especially if you are considering parts kits in the US which have everything but that for obvious reasons) but when you think about it there is limited overlap with the various jurisdictions. Apart from the need for a new un-ported barrel in the UK and the question of the receiver and bolt/carrier, all other parts needed for a straight pull should be unrestricted over here.

I agree it's never going to be quite as per the original, but given the constraints here and in North America nothing ever will be. But that doesn't stop us all striving to get as near as dammit if we can.

I acquired an HK .22 kit for the C1 from Canada not too long ago which I imported in the most straightforward way on the permissions granted by my firearms certificate. The interesting thing was that when applying for the export paperwork the seller in Canada was challenged by his local customs office as to why he was wanting to ship a kit for a firearm that was prohibited in Canada. I provided a suitable reply (along the lines that .22 semi autos aren't restricted in the UK) and lo and behold it arrived in the UK shortly thereafter. Motto of the story - there's always a way!

If you manage to make some real progress with your C1 project and need some handguards let me know - better that there's at least one complete one in the UK than two collections of parts!

Cheers, Kev

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Oh, good find Kev, rare items in the UK. I found building up a C1A1 in Straight pull almost impossible, unfortunately procuring a C1A1 reciver and TMH proved a complete no go...

You can't have everything I guess...

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Well, if you could find a proper rear sight, clip-loading top cover, carry handle, Canadian-or-metric non-sand-cuts bolt carrier, and walnut furniture (or at least some of it), you could convert a phosphated Australian rifle to look pretty close.

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Originally Posted by desperatedan

I know what you mean John but "almost impossible" to me just poses a challenge!

Surely it can't beyond the wit of (UK) man to make this happen, even given the constraints of each country. I agree that the receiver is likely to be the main problem (especially if you are considering parts kits in the US which have everything but that for obvious reasons) but when you think about it there is limited overlap with the various jurisdictions. Apart from the need for a new un-ported barrel in the UK and the question of the receiver and bolt/carrier, all other parts needed for a straight pull should be unrestricted over here.

I agree it's never going to be quite as per the original, but given the constraints here and in North America nothing ever will be. But that doesn't stop us all striving to get as near as dammit if we can.

I acquired an HK .22 kit for the C1 from Canada not too long ago which I imported in the most straightforward way on the permissions granted by my firearms certificate. The interesting thing was that when applying for the export paperwork the seller in Canada was challenged by his local customs office as to why he was wanting to ship a kit for a firearm that was prohibited in Canada. I provided a suitable reply (along the lines that .22 semi autos aren't restricted in the UK) and lo and behold it arrived in the UK shortly thereafter. Motto of the story - there's always a way!

If you manage to make some real progress with your C1 project and need some handguards let me know - better that there's at least one complete one in the UK than two collections of parts!

Cheers, Kev

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Thanks Kev, let's lease on this, great if one us managed it one day.

I did consider using a Lithgow kit as a base, but the very few dealers who have them in stock are now unfortunately refusing to supply kits.

I do like the look of the late C1A1 with its district gas block, possibly the smartest looking of the Inch pattern family.

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Originally Posted by mrclark303

Thanks Kev, let's lease on this, great if one us managed it one day.

I did consider using a Lithgow kit as a base, but the very few dealers who have them in stock are now unfortunately refusing to supply kits.

I do like the look of the late C1A1 with its district gas block, possibly the smartest looking of the Inch pattern family.

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Guys I’ve used L2 barrel I’m looking to use in a bitch rifle build on a older enterprise spotter receriver , my barrel is missing the L2 gas block , after reading this thread I’m hoping someone may have one they would part with

If so please contact me at bakerwl2000@yahoo.com

Cheers Will

My B/Inlaw riding shotgun in the back of a truck (he told me this) carrying the L2A1 for his whole VN tour after he handed his F-1 back saying it was a POS.

Great pic Ron... Did anyone shoot single shot converted L2's on firearms licences in Australia before the ban, or were they always prohibited?

---------- Post added at 09:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 AM ----------

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Originally Posted by baker72

Guys I’ve used L2 barrel I’m looking to use in a bitch rifle build on a older enterprise spotter receriver , my barrel is missing the L2 gas block , after reading this thread I’m hoping someone may have one they would part with

If so please contact me at bakerwl2000@yahoo.com

Cheers Will

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Rare as the proverbial rocking horse sh*it
Here Will, both me and Kev would love one.

Keep us posted on your progress though, sounds like a fascinating project, will it be class 3?

I built up an inert copy of a bitch last year and would have loved to build up a live selective fire version, we can dream...

I could not afford one of them besides in the day the military rifles (In this state W.A) have always been pretty highly regulated in my youth I only shot full bore, trap, skeet & small bore though we did get to fire the 303's & Brens as cadets it was only later I delved into the military style shooting but by then a great travesty had happened to the shooters he in Aus particularly in West Au where they are gradually tightening the noose on gun ownership.
Sorry Badger its not a political statement it is what cost hikes and licensing principals which are being placed onto shooters now days if you are only adding 1 rifle to your license it is $186/Au the kicker is you have to buy the rifle to get the serial No. & serviceability certificate so you can lodge the application to the police they can then turn around if they wish and not grant you a license or the addition. This also manifested a slowing up of licensing one gun-shop had 70 firearms on hold out the back in storage pending a licence being granted thats a fair swag to have out the back most were paid for but some where just deposits.

And semi auto rifles are long gone for us to shoot I think even collectors can not have a semi auto center fire only dealers, a sad day all because of that terrible thing in Port Arthur but JWH unconstituitionally disarmed us, protect your second amendment with everything you guys have got because if it ever gets changed that will only be the beginning.
I am now collecting rocks from the river as I can make a string slingshot from my sandshoe laces and a leather patch because thats what we are reduced to oh another one is we are not allowed more than 5 kilos of gunpowder stored at home:banghead:

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

is we are not allowed more than 5 kilos of gunpowder stored at home

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Maybe they are worried about a gun powder plot Ron:lol:

And I thought we had it bad in the UK mate ... The ratchet continues to tighten here too, .50BMG rifles are likely to get the chop here, as they are "destructive material" weapons, even though the very thing that makes them "destructive", armour piecing, explosive bullets etc, are (quite rightly) banned from civilian sale here anyway!:banghead::banghead:

I hear they are toying with an energy limit too, initially set at 10,000 ftlb, no doubt to stop anything similar, or anyone developing in a "wildcat" cartridge based on .50 BMG to circumvent any ban.

Trouble is, when a ceiling on energy is introduced into law, you just know what direction it will progressively take and it won't be up!

Also the rather ingenious centre fire self unloading types we have here in the UK are also likely to face the smelter...

As Ron said addressing our American friends, let your second amendment rights go and "the man" will start rolling up your shooting sports too...

Sorry Doug, rant over...:beerchug:

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Originally Posted by CINDERS

And semi auto rifles are long gone for us to shoot I think even collectors can not have a semi auto center fire only dealers, a sad day all because of that terrible thing in Port Arthur but JWH unconstituitionally disarmed us, protect your second amendment with everything you guys have got because if it ever gets changed that will only be the beginning.

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Professional game hunters/cullers can as well, but as I understand it you have to be doing it on a full-time basis to qualify. Though I also understand some have gotten around this by registering them as a landowner (maybe under a trust?) and then "employees" can use them.

Overreacting, overreaching, and outrageous law all the same....

A new guy here but have two complete parts kits for an Aussie and Brit heavy barrel build minus gas blocks. If anyone has a hoard I have these last couple of builds to flesh out most of what I want in my FN/L1/L2 collection. Am not new to this but keep hitting dry holes on heavy barrel,gas blocks for past three years. Went through cancer in 2009 and sold a lot of rifles trying to simplify my estate and darned if I didn't live. Replacing some has been a chore that is still in progress.

Hi Michael, try Brian Dick of this Parish, he should be able to assist with advice and perhaps some parts for your builds. The lack of C2/L2 gas block, bipod legs has stopped me building up a clone here so far.

There are plenty of vendors with L2 bipods lately. Saw one selling them NOS for $89 in past month and most FAL vendors seem to have them ranging up to $149. It's the gas block and mounting hardware for bipod that's hard to find.