Sterling Mk4 L2A3

[mrclark303]

Afternoon Vincent, is that a small Fazakerley F56 I can see above the main number?

---------- Post added at 04:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:24 PM ----------

Got round to fishing my No.5 bayonet out of storage + have fitted it with the early sling I found on Saturday.



A minor moment in bayonet collecting history... it's the first time the bayonet has been attached to a gun in the 16 years I've owned it. I got it at the first War & Peace Show I attended in 2000 and IIRC it was just south of £40. Even then, that was a good price.



I also have a couple of the magazine pouches and an example of the military type L1A2 magazine that I'd have liked to include, but they're currently deeply buried.

Cheers,
Mark

I would love to get hold of a bayonet to complete mine, I wonder if the NZ contact L2's were bought with bayonets and if so, were the bayonets "NZ" marked too??

[Vincent]

Oh boy! Those pictures put smile on my face. It looks so original.

I think a lot of guns and ammo are really going to be buried here soon. Some people are already buying those waterproof gun containers that are designed to be buried.

[Peter Laidler]

I would imagine that NZ simply used the bayonets that were in Ordnance from their old No5's that were issued and in use in Malaya. We had No5 bayonets in our armoury while I was there.

[mrclark303]

I would imagine that NZ simply used the bayonets that were in Ordnance from their old No5's that were issued and in use in Malaya. We had No5 bayonets in our armoury while I was there.

I didn't know they were a direct fit Peter, did the No5 Bayonets require any adjustment?

[Vincent]

Afternoon Vincent, is that a small Fazakerley F56 I can see above the main number?[COLOR="black"]

Not sure, but I think it is “F56”.

Here’s a better picture of another one.




So “F56” is a Fazakerley marking?

[Flying10uk]

Here is my Sterling SMG, U.K. deactivated but mid spec with moving cocking handle. Will not cock/dry fire, however.

Could any-one, please, suggest likely previous owner/s. There are no signs of U.K. military issue markings which I can see. Thanks.

[mrclark303]

I believe there is a list in Peter's book Guns of Dagenham, covering contract S/N ranges, unfortunately I haven't got a copy and my own tinternet searches have turned up nothing..

It's not UK issue or NZ contact for what it's worth..

---------- Post added at 06:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:10 PM ----------

Not sure, but I think it is “F56”.

Here’s a better picture of another one.

http://i548.photobucket.com/albums/i...2A3%20bolt.jpg


So “F56” is a Fazakerley marking?

As far as I know yes, like Faz made L1A1 parts (of about the same date), they carried the F prefix and the date too.

[Vincent]

Could any-one, please, suggest likely previous owner/s.

The late serial number puts it in the period where production records were “lost”. Peter would probably know if the records had ever surfaced.

The only thing I see out of the ordinary is it looks like the crackle paint was put on over a coat of smooth paint. The magazine catch was also painted.

Nice late production gun. Thanks for posting the pictures. Looks like you have got digital photography worked out.

[Flying10uk]

I've stated using the digital camera, Vincent, but I'm not too confident that I know what I'm doing with it at the moment. The Sterling came with what I would describe as a "commercial" or export mag rather than a U.K. military mag. I have since obtained a U.K. military mag and will post a picture of it another day showing the 2 mags side by side for comparison.

[Vincent]

Those pictures are excellent, especially the close-up’s,,, very nice!