Highest known Sterling L34A1 - Mk5 ?

[Peter Laidler]

The only thing you missed Tankie was the cachet of being able to say that you had one! There was nothing in there that we didn't have readily available to us in the basic tool kit and the usual stuff that we had in the Armourers shops. I always looked on the 'special' Mk5 kit as something like a foresight cramp......... Something for your mates to woweeee about on the range!

The tool kit boxes and the Mk5 special keep your dainty hand cool wood fore-stock thing were made by a little woodworking outfit in Dagenham. That hot hand thinggy....... I mean....... would a silenced gun ever get too hot to handle.........?

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[tankhunter]

The only thing you missed Tankie was the cachet of being able to say that you had one! There was nothing in there that we didn't have readily available to us in the basic tool kit and the usual stuff that we had in the Armourers shops. I always looked on the 'special' Mk5 kit as something like a foresight cramp......... Something for your mates to woweeee about on the range!

The tool kit boxes and the Mk5 special keep your dainty hand cool wood fore-stock thing were made by a little woodworking outfit in Dagenham. That hot hand thinggy....... I mean....... would a silenced gun ever get too hot to handle.........?

Pete, yes I agree. We got by with what we had. BUT...In those 'commercial' tool kits, there was one tool that I would say was a VERY important one. That is the alignment gauge rod. All Parker Hale .22" Supressors had one with them when new. As it is obviously EXTREMELY important, that the internal Baffels are correctly aligned upon reassembly. Otherwise, a Bullet would tear a chunk out of the side of them!

As you will recall, at the front end. There are three Allen headed long tie rods, that hold the front bearing cap on. Tightening these EQUALLY, is an area of concern. As you really DONT want any slight misalignment that would cause damage to those baffels!

I never saw such a gauge in service, & it was up to the skills of the Armourer. To tighten up & set alignment correctly as you know. I suppose some Unit Armourers may well have turned up such a gauge. But I never saw one in my Service time.

but I REALLY would have liked one of these commercial tool kits for my own collection!

I concur, as a covert item. The L34 should never be used enough to get hot at all! Thus we deemed the front insulator grip as unnessacary in British service.