slr history

[Peter Laidler]

BSA were commercial contractors to the MoS and Enfield were a Govt factory wholly owned and operated by the MoS for the Govt. So export contracts would be for the Govt. on a Govt to Govt basis. The L1A1's were all made under tight and strict conditions set out by FN. Our rifles were sold at crippling prices and other Govt buyers soon discovered that it was FAR, far cheaper to buy from the more friendly and easier-to-do-business-with Lithgow.

The archive records from Enfield are held at the old Royal Ordnance/BAe historical centre at Glascoed. Maybe you could ask.... I forget his name now but I'm sure a letter would get there.

What Govt's do you think the UK Govt sold L1A1's to?

[mrclark303]

Thanks for that Peter, I will request information and report back any findings to the group.

Rhodesia was one buyer, I thought the Bahamas also bought them along with Lithgow L1A1's ?? Lots were later gifted/sold to stable peace loving countries like Sierra Leone and the Lebanon of course!

I wonder how many of the ex Lebanese L1A1's are now plying their trade in Syria!

[Peter Laidler]

Ah, Lebanon......... They turned them down during the trade deal that turned sour in the mid 90's as my pal Sgt Ed xxxx was part of the ill fated team that took them there for trials. They thought that they were getting something new for peanuts apparently.

[Bruce_in_Oz]

About the only "continuous" records are the "gun-plumbers" logs and "maintenance" records that are / were supposed to follow EVERY piece of major kit. Armourer's logs are kept by the armourer as a personal record of work done. They usually contain a "potted" version of work done and parts exchanged on each piece of gear. This information is also copied into OTHER, more comprehensive documents that are held by the "owner unit" and generally travel with the gear if it is "permanently" transferred to another unit.

Once gear is "out of the system", i.e. sold or destroyed, there is little point in retaining such records.

Tracking "transfers" from unit to unit is a non-starter, as well. In many commonwealth forces, it was traditionally the practice for the soldier / airman etc, to take his "personal" weapon from unit to unit, as and when transferred / posted. Usually, in the days before computers, the armourers paperwork for that weapon would be part of the bundle of documents handed / transferred to the new unit on arrival of the serviceman. When a unit is disbanded, a LOT of paperwork will be culled.

[nzl1a1collector]

The only paperwork I've manage to find with some sort of 'history' for the rifle was the stores transfer forms (packing slip) that were left or discarded in the Transit Chests when the rifles were returned to 1 Base Workshops during the changeover to the Steyr. Each chest was stuffed with 10 rifles. On the form it lists which unit the rifles were from and their serial numbers. Unfortunately I only have about 14 pieces of paper.... history for 140 rifles out of 15,000.

New Zealand didn't issue rifles to Individuals, they were issued to a unit and when needed the unit would simply take X number of rifles out and issue them to the solider when required for training, exercises, drill etc.

[Charlie303]

I went to Nigeria on MOD business in about 2003. The honour guard (for my boss!) had L1A1s. I heard that we sold them to the Nigerians for not a lot, if anything. Better than cutting them up I suppose.

[tankhunter]

The Sierra Leone Defence Force was 'Gifted' L1A1 Rifles.

A LOT have turned up in Germany. And have been deactivated for the market there.
'Some' parts have found their way back to the UK through the Trade.
And have been utilised in building Straight Pull Rifle to Legally comply with the UK's Stupid
F/Arms laws.....

The deal was, that NONE of these Ex UK Force's Rifles. Once exported. Were not to be re-imported back here.......The UK Government does NOT like or Want to sell Smallarms to the British Public/Trade. In ANY form whatsoever!

I believe that is also Policy for Aussie Smallarms now as well?.............

[Eaglelord17]

That is the way most countries are going. In Canada they lost the ability for police and military to sell there small arms to civilians in 1994.

[browningautorifle]

In Canada they lost the ability for police and military to sell there small arms to civilians in 1994.

Thus all ours went to the shredder...picture that in your minds eye...?