My new Lithgow, New Zealand contract L1A1

[Peter Laidler]

Yep, we did have a couple of Canadian C1's at Warminster. Thje odd thing is that of the thousands and thousands that I saw, I could recognise the Australian one of course that'd come from the large pooled stores stockpiles in the Far East, but don't think I saw a Canadian on in service even thoug we had pooled Ordnance stocks in Germany (or was that just pooled ammo supplies) but the weapon stocks were pooled for UN duties in Cyprus (?BAR, comment). Those handguard dates certainly equate to when I started to see them but KtK will come on stream and tell us the exact date!

They were certainly more robust than the solid wood versions that were nothing but trouble. They used to split forwards from the screw holes which was a reasonably simple cut-out and patch repair or just a slip patch. But if the threaded insert started to rotate with the screw, that meant the handguard was scrap. What a waste and dues-out (the wait for stores) was months ahead due to the backlog! The rear used to split along the thin part alongside the rear end of the gas tube/carrying handle nut. You COULD repair this bit if you were bored witless but I don't know anyone who did it except as apprentices. I did do one on a nice looking deact for someone recently but under duress followed by a nice bottle........

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[browningautorifle]

but the weapon stocks were pooled for UN duties in Cyprus (?BAR, comment).

Until we started discussing this a few years back Peter, I had no idea you had used ours and we(?) had used yours. Even on overseas duty, I never saw a UK or Assie rifle in our stores. Never saw or even heard of a non Canadian serial number in passing. It would have been talked about by the troops...eg, I knew of serial 0L0004, and 0L 0001...anything unusual. I knew of rifles that had been tested for Rockwell, and (RC)MP issue/return rifles. I never saw foreign parts on our rifles either. Perhaps they were culled upon initial inspection by the armorers. They would have to be examined upon delivery before acceptance.