Is it me....( brit. Serial numbering)

[skiprat]

I have seen many " matching British L1A1 Kits" in America with the serial number on the breach block and carrier without the year prefix.
eg UEA12345 (or UBA12345) they just dont look right and I can not remember them been written like that

As an Armourer I am sure we were required to mark them with the full serial number including the date eg UE68 A12345 (or UB68 A12345) although some armourers pushed for time may have missed out the prefix altogether eg A12345..

Is it me getting old and loosing my marbles ? (under the bench with all those rearsight springs and ball bearings) I worked on L1A1s from 1985 till 1993

or a marketing ploy... re marking carriers (incorrectly) to make them match
or have these "Kits" spent time away from the British army so not required to comply with EMERs?

Information

Warning: This is a relatively older thread This discussion is older than 360 days. Some information contained in it may no longer be current.

[Patrick Chadwick]

I haven't a clue, but I would like to know what an EMER is!

[skiprat]

its the old type AESP.

---------- Post added at 07:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:27 PM ----------

EMERs were the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Regulations..
they told us what to do and when to do it.....
they were publications setting out the repair, maintenance, and inspection of all military equipment (each equipment had its own book)
similar to the American TMs

AESP are the newer Army Equipment Support Publications

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, yes. Skippy......... For the breech block and carrier plus things like the Bren/L4 breech block and piston extension, the numbering was as you've described it. So that UB 58 A 12345 would be etched in as UBA12345. That's because the actual year of manufacture, that was left out, wouldn't affect the actual serial number as such

[Brian Dick]

If anyone needs a set of EMERS for the British L1A1 hit me up. I've got them.

[tankhunter]

Skippy, Check your PM box Mate!

[Peter Laidler]

Anyone who owns a UK/Australian/Canadian ought to beat a path to Brians door and get a set of these. Patrick Chadwick asked what they were and Skippy told. These EMER's are the technical bible for the L1A1 rifle. The amount of info they contain is out of this world. Thread sizes and many dimensions plus the real gem, why certain things have been done

[David TS]

Anyone who owns a UK/Australian/Canadian ought to beat a path to Brians door and get a set of these. Patrick Chadwick asked what they were and Skippy told. These EMER's are the technical bible for the L1A1 rifle. The amount of info they contain is out of this world. Thread sizes and many dimensions plus the real gem, why certain things have been done

Thanks Peter, i've just ordered something I didn't even realise I needed until this morning