Sterling 7.62 conversion questions.

[Sapper740]

I'm considering buying a Sterling 7.62 NATO conversion but the U S stamped on the receiver ring concerns me. Lacking any Flaming Bomb ordnance stamps elsewhere my concern is the U S stamp could mean the rifle is "Unserviceable"? I'm waiting to hear back from the seller but he doesn't appear to be much of a Lee Enfield expert so my questions may not get answers. Would any of you Sterling conversion experts please take a look at my pics and offer your opinions?

Thanks, Derek

[browningautorifle]

I don't think it's UnServiceable...the terms used were ZF, BER, DP... I expect the rifle is in as good shape as it appears from here. As always, you're on your own buying from a stranger. You won't be able to examine under the wood and so on until you have it.

[mmppres]

Is that a strange looking US make to begin with?

[Peter Laidler]

I'd say that it was a Maltby rifle and the AA marking on the butt socket indicates ex Indian STATE forces property. I got a list of these from our Indian Army Liaison Officer and AA was AlAmbarahad. But feel free to correct me.

It doesn''t have the magazine charger insert either that I seem to recall, was rivetted onto the bridge. Or was that the L8 version?

[browningautorifle]

I'd say that it was a Maltby rifle and the AA marking on the butt socket indicates ex Indian STATE forces property.

So...it was converted by John Q Public then?

[Sapper740]

So...it was converted by John Q Public then?

This is my thinking too. My research has found that the government conversions usually had all the bells and whistles: charger guide insert and spring loaded ejector nub installed, at least according to BoTR who produced an excellent video on this subject. Kits that were installed by civilians quite often lacked such refinements although most if not all had bayonet lugs and a Parkerized barrel. I have a spare No.4 Mk I with a shot out barrel so if I'm the winning bidder and this rifle has issues I'll swap out receivers.

Regards, Derek

[Peter Laidler]

You're saying what I am thinking BAR......

[browningautorifle]

That would explain the stellar condition. As for the charger insert, don't even know if you can find them now. We didn't have the magazines over here until the late '80s or early '90s. I had a CAL barrel hung on a Long Branch receiver with a PH5C, shot wonderfully.

[Surpmil]

Buy if for the value of the barrel, mag and woodwork I'd say, and no more.

Whoever parkerized it should have filed off those nasty burrs first.

No markings of any kind on the bolt head? That's rather odd too.

[Terry Hawker]

Perhaps it is just a trick of the lighting in that particular photo, but if not, I would be concerned by what appears to be evidence of a rather hefty bash on the edge of the receiver ring.

On another point, the only Sterling conversion in the collection was performed on a No. 4 Mk I (T) (I know, sacrilege!), and I notice the 7.62 barrel is without bayonet lugs. Previously I thought all Sterling conversion kit barrels were "lugless" as well, but as Sterling was hoping to get a contract from the Indian Government to convert their No. 4's, it would make sense that they would provide accommodation for continued use of the bayonet. Are there other Sterling 7.62 conversions out there in Collector World with bayonet-lugged barrels?